Learn about sustainable farminf on a historic property between Breda and Antwerpen on the border of Belgium
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: 29 Apr. 2025
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Feedback (6)
I have been whit Maj and GJ since January 2022 and I'm still here now.
From the very beginning they took me as if I was family, taking me in they're day life routine and I did love that, no fake expression or something else.
I enjoy can talk about everything whit them, Maj show me how to cook nice meal, nice place around...
Guerrit-Jan truly teach
… read more me a lot about how to take care of animal or the forest or to work with wood (making furniture like table and benches) but also how to built Woodstock or sheep stable, I love to can listening to him explaining everything happens in Ter Meiren or what he knows! Always a beautifull stories to share! 😄
If you are interested in nature, animal and you looking for a nice place to stay, that is it!
Also want to say a thousand time tank you to both of them!
Whith Love,
Max
Vom Workawayer (Maryse) für Host
I spent a month with Gerrit-Jan and Maj! It was a very intense month but in a good way: I learned a lot (about permaculture, animals, how our world works, cooking, etc.) and I also worked a lot. Gerrit-Jan keeps a list of things to do to maintain the house and the surrounding area but each Workawayer can choose what he/she likes to do and take
… read more initiative! For me I spent most of my time outside but when the weather was poor, I did job inside (sanding the stairs, cooking, oiling the basement). Maj is a very gentle person who always listens carefully and with whom it is easy to have a real and honest conversation. Gerrit-Jan loves to learn and teach, he was always available to answer my questions. I am very thankful to have been able to spend this month with both of you, for all that I have learned and because it allowed me to meet you guys! Wish you all the best!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Mathieu) für Host
I spent 6 weeks with Maj and Gerrit-Jan, and I can say that these have been 6 pretty intense weeks, in every sense of the word !
Maj and Gerrit-Jan invite you to be part of their family and of their daily life, which is something I really appreciated: no artificial or tailor-made "false" experience; just a true, authentic down-to-earth experience
… read more with a deep exchange of thoughts, conversations (and beers/wines).
There is no lie in the life they live there, and don't be tricked by the marvel of a castle they have: it's a simple and joyful life, made of farm and forest work, chill social times with friends and contemplation times in front of the beauty of their place and its inhabitants.
To be honest, work is hard, and long. Because when you have 25ha to manage, there is always something to do, it's not because they like exploiting people. They just need help, no lie here as well. But on the other hand, you get so much in return of the help that you provide: you get to learn quite a lot about forest, vegetables, animals, even machines (even if I was absolutely not good with the last ones, and tested Gerrit-Jan's patience multiple times by breaking them), you learn some cooking (and try delicious one as well), you have great times talking about everything with a cold beer or a glass of wine in hand... And of course, if you need some time by yourself for visiting around or just chilling a bit, it is totally possible, just see with them when and where :)
It was a joyful experience to be there with them, and I am glad that I could spend this much time with them.
Wish you all the best for the future, and if the possibility occurs for me to pass by I definitely will !
Take care !Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Feedback
Dies sind zusätzliche optionale Bewertungen, wenn Mitglieder Feedback hinterlassen. Es wird die im Schnitt hinterlassene Bewertung für jede Option angezeigt.
Korrekte Angaben im Profil:
(4.7)
Kultureller Austausch:
(4.8)
I have been whit Maj and GJ since January 2022 and I'm still here now.
From the very beginning they took me as if I was family, taking me in they're day life routine and I did love that, no fake expression or something else.
I enjoy can talk about everything whit them, Maj show me how to cook nice meal, nice place around...
Guerrit-Jan truly teach
… read more me a lot about how to take care of animal or the forest or to work with wood (making furniture like table and benches) but also how to built Woodstock or sheep stable, I love to can listening to him explaining everything happens in Ter Meiren or what he knows! Always a beautifull stories to share! 😄
If you are interested in nature, animal and you looking for a nice place to stay, that is it!
Also want to say a thousand time tank you to both of them!
Whith Love,
Max
Vom Workawayer (Maryse) für Host
I spent a month with Gerrit-Jan and Maj! It was a very intense month but in a good way: I learned a lot (about permaculture, animals, how our world works, cooking, etc.) and I also worked a lot. Gerrit-Jan keeps a list of things to do to maintain the house and the surrounding area but each Workawayer can choose what he/she likes to do and take
… read more initiative! For me I spent most of my time outside but when the weather was poor, I did job inside (sanding the stairs, cooking, oiling the basement). Maj is a very gentle person who always listens carefully and with whom it is easy to have a real and honest conversation. Gerrit-Jan loves to learn and teach, he was always available to answer my questions. I am very thankful to have been able to spend this month with both of you, for all that I have learned and because it allowed me to meet you guys! Wish you all the best!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Mathieu) für Host
I spent 6 weeks with Maj and Gerrit-Jan, and I can say that these have been 6 pretty intense weeks, in every sense of the word !
Maj and Gerrit-Jan invite you to be part of their family and of their daily life, which is something I really appreciated: no artificial or tailor-made "false" experience; just a true, authentic down-to-earth experience
… read more with a deep exchange of thoughts, conversations (and beers/wines).
There is no lie in the life they live there, and don't be tricked by the marvel of a castle they have: it's a simple and joyful life, made of farm and forest work, chill social times with friends and contemplation times in front of the beauty of their place and its inhabitants.
To be honest, work is hard, and long. Because when you have 25ha to manage, there is always something to do, it's not because they like exploiting people. They just need help, no lie here as well. But on the other hand, you get so much in return of the help that you provide: you get to learn quite a lot about forest, vegetables, animals, even machines (even if I was absolutely not good with the last ones, and tested Gerrit-Jan's patience multiple times by breaking them), you learn some cooking (and try delicious one as well), you have great times talking about everything with a cold beer or a glass of wine in hand... And of course, if you need some time by yourself for visiting around or just chilling a bit, it is totally possible, just see with them when and where :)
It was a joyful experience to be there with them, and I am glad that I could spend this much time with them.
Wish you all the best for the future, and if the possibility occurs for me to pass by I definitely will !
Take care !Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Liam) für Host
Although I only stayed with Gerrit-Jan and Maj for two weeks, I felt very much at home and enjoyed the overall experience. Gerrit-Jan knows a lot about pretty much everything and you can learn so much about both permaculture and how the world works. He has some amazing stories to tell and they get even better while trying out different Belgian
… read more beers he is passionate about.
The accommodation is very comfortable and both Maj and Gerrit-Jan are very generous and place trust in you not to abuse this generosity. The work does not have strict hours but expect to work whenever Gerrit-Jan is. Personal responsibility is placed on you to complete the work to a good standard and no one will check up on you afterwards. Gerrit-Jan will teach you anything you want to know, whether its how to drive a tractor or how to take apart a lawnmower.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and hope to return sometime in the future :)
Vom Workawayer (Nathva) für Host
We stayed for more or less one month at Gerrit-Jan’s and Maj’s place. We were really glad to have been able to enjoy the beautiful fall colors, the love from all the animals and the feeling of being part of their family. We also had the luck to meet their wonderful neighbors Irene and Tony who were kind and humble people.
A bit on the practical
… read more side: For breakfast and lunch you could prepare something yourself. At dinner’s we spend time taking care of it together and chatting about inspiring topics and this was the moment of the day we enjoyed a lot (Thank you for Herman and for the MAYonnaise). Being there they took us along to the windmill, the light festival in Eindhoven and to the Verbeke Foundation. It is also an ideal place for smokers (smoking inside) and beer lovers (lot of local beers!). We had our own room and we shared the bathroom with another workawayer.
The day usually started around 8am to take care of the animals (feeding sheep, chicken, dogs). Then breakfast followed and we continued our day. Most of the time there was a sense of openness with learning, with terms like: Project mentality, time effectiveness, and taking ownership. During that month, we worked in the garden, fertilising the soil with cow-poo (freshly picked up from the field), harvesting (witloof!), we became experts in picking up the leaves (through Gerrit’s advice;)) and taking care of the garden. Also some tractor manoeuvres were made! We cloved wood, worked inside of the house (cleaning, sanding and oiling floors) and in the two towers (were flies had some overnight party, haha) and we stripped down the tower outside (soon to be L.O.V.E).
Concerning the days it is important to point out that they don’t work in the traditional Workaway-way (meaning working 5 hours, 5 days per week). They rather work 7/7 and if you want to have free time you should indicate it in advance, so no difference is made between weekend/weekdays. Instead of counting hours, they want you to fully be part of the scene and feel free. Due to too little/miscommunication we were sometimes put in a bit of unpleasant situations. But at some point we talked about important practicalities (how they see Workaway and that they operate differently) even though they normally do it always in the beginning. Since that moment, things got better in terms of work and free time. :-)
As a way to conclude, we truly value our stay with Gerrit and Maj in our hearts, we had an enriching time with them. Today we keep in touch and went back for dinner back again after Christmas.
Thanks Gerrit and Maj and see you soon!
P.S. Ask Gerrit about Thailand or about random visitors of the property and you are in for a ride on an emotional rollercoaster ;).Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Marion)
Marion stayed with us for 3 weeks, and was nearly immediately fully part of the family.
She claimed her own jobs to do, but never hesitated to offer a helping hand on other things.
Good sense of responsibility and taking well care of animals and plants. Also helping in the kitchen (good cook!) and other daily duties. She was further very pleasant
… read more company and we had a lot of fun at times.
We'll be glad to see her return soon!
gerrit-jan & maj
Vom Workawayer (Marion) für Host
I had the pleasure to stay in your family for almost 3 weeks and it was a true immersion in this very special place. I've enjoyed a lot your warm welcome, making me and Dan (the other Workawayer here at the same time) as part of the family team and treated as well.
There's a lot to do here, I liked that, everyday a new challenge! From the
… read more permaculture vegetable garden to the forest, the sheeps, the cows and the bulls, the chickens, the 2 lively dogs, but also the garden and around the house... there's no way to get bored :)
GJ and Maj are very sociable and interesting people, with a lot of friends, enjoying everything about sustainably but also with interests in much more. And you can feel they love to share. We had great dinners with lively conversations, always tasty food from the garden mostly, and local beers to cheers up :)
So, what else? Life was beautiful in paradise !Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Come and share a nice time with us two in the countryside of Ferrières, Belgium
Welcome to our little family farm in Lier, Belgium
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Belgien
Wenn du nicht EU-Bürger bist und Belgien besuchen möchtest, um dort zu arbeiten, zu studieren oder als Volunteer tätig zu sein, brauchst du das entsprechende Visum. Um mehr darüber zu erfahren, solltest du dich vor deiner Abreise von zu Hause an die Botschaft in deinem Land wenden.
Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten
Gartenarbeiten
Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten
Betreuung von Tieren
Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie
Hausarbeiten
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Nachhaltigkeit
Kultur
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Gärtnern
Heimwerken & DIY
Kunst & Design
Gartenarbeiten
Kochen & Backen
Tischlerarbeiten
Tiere
Outdoor-Aktivitäten
Natur
