Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
5 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Details
Description
Imagine a beautiful house, build with materials from a medieval church nearby. One big part was build as a carpenter shop, connected to a farmhouse. An old family lived here for generations till 1975. In 1959 the farmhouse was broken down and rebuilt into two small houses in fifties style. One of the houses is sold, the other one is still connected to the big carpenter shop annex art studio and I am living there. I am a widow.
The carpenters never used electricity or heating in their shop and that might be the reason why the house is filled with a very special atmosphere. Everything is made and re-used with full attention and craft. The people were poor in Zeeland.
We tried to maintain and built in the same tradition for 50 years but of course have full electricity, water and heating, insulated walls and windows. Though the old family owned all the four houses in a row in the only street of the village at the time, now there are four families all-together. The garden space is also separated into four gardens. It is still a magical place.
Next to the big shed in the garden there is a studio at the second floor of the big house. The first floor was my silkscreen studio. I rebuilt it into an apartment with a bathroom and a bedroom. The big space needs some finishing touch with painting some inside doors. So does the hall. The big and small house are linked together and share one head entrance.
Eating and socializing we do mainly in the kitchen in the small house, bordered by the garden with a terrace. There is a big wood burned stove for heating and cooking. We always have a big supply of wood.
Apart from my art and repair chores I am working with plants, make my own medicines and collect food next to growing it.
I want to rent the studio out to artists and travellers in the near future, give workshops bookmaking and printing in the shed and focus on my own art projects in my upper floor private studio.
Types of help and learning opportunities
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Plant care
Nature
Yoga / Wellness
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Pets
Fashion or beauty
Culture
Writing
Cooking & food
Photography
Languages
Gardening
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Cycling
Drawing & painting
Animals
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am living in a nice community in a small village in the beautiful Bag of South-Beveland in the province of Zeeland. Zeeland is a former island group, since the flood disaster of 1953 connected by bridges, a tunnel and dams in the South-West Delta aria of the Netherlands, surrounded by seawater. (The Delta Works). You may learn/experience to face people open minded and with trust. We speak English and Dutch at home, so it will improve your English. My artwork is innovative, sustainable, different and linked to human rights. I am always open for new ideas and personal input and can teach you a lot about art, bookmaking, printing, herbs, cooking and renovating. You may be introduced to different artists and techniques. We have high standard talks at the kitchen table. Most of my guest have different nationalities.There are many festivals, very old and historic cities to visit, exhibitions, museums and beaches. Belgian is a stone warp away, so is Antwerp.
You can go swimming and do water sports a little away.
Help
Hi, my name is Iris, the only workforce of the property for everything. I am also a visual and graphical artist. Due to my husbands long illness, his recent passing and my grief period, many things need care in and around the house. With repairs, painting, and
garden maintenance. It is to much for me alone right now. I am also an Ayurveda adviser and give cooking courses. In return I also can give you a workshop in cooking, printing, art or creative bookbinding.
I live in a very nice tiny village, close enough to a city in the beautiful province of Zeeland on the isle of Zuid-Beveland and the cleanest sea arm of western Europe: the Oosterschelde.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Accommodation
Your room will be upstairs.The bed is very comfortable. Bathroom downstairs.
If you wish we may share lunch or dinner, or you may take care of yourself in the kitchen. You are free to take what you need for three meals a day. You are supposed to take care of yourself during work off days, mainly the weekend. Fruit and salads are always available, as are nuts and dairy, bread and butter. If you want more or special food you have to take care of that yourself or discuss it with me. Shops about 5 km from here in another village or in the city of Goes. A bike is available. We have no car.
Neighborhood bus every hour to our place on demand two hours in advance. There is also a regular bus every half hour. From busstop to my house is about 20 mins walk.
What else ...
There are many Festivals in Zeeland. Just search for it on line
Also look for info about the Zak van Zuid-Beveland, for walks and bike trips. You can swim close by, around 30 minutes biking to the Ooster- or Wester Schelde. Antwerp is rather close, nice for a day trip. Many exhibitions and museums are open to visit. We have a small tent available so you may like to use it for longer trips. If you like to visit gardens, Zeeland’s gardens are famous. In the village is a tennis court.
I expect my guests to take care of themselves when they want to entertain themselves. There is internet of course, no tv. There are bikes available. Station at 20 mins bike distance.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (9)
Life there… read more
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Life there… read more
His thoughtful intelligent personality turned out to be a great help, who was nothing too much and thought along to find solutions to problems that arose. He was always friendly and good-humoured, a fine person in a group with equally fine other WorkAwayers. His big pans of beetroot… read more
The place is surrounded by nature, a perfect refuge for those seeking… read more
I love the kitchen, my favourite area, but I loved my room and the studios and the atmosphere of the whole house. Iris was always ready to share more and more of her… read more
