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Last replied
22 Feb 2025
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Hi, how nice that you have landed on our profile. We are Edward (54 years young) and Ingrid (57 years young), Dutch and living in Ballenstedt since September 2020, where we bought an old and ruinous train station. We instantly fell in love with the building and its historical details, which have many stories to tell. Ballenstedt is located in the beautiful region of Harz, in the former East Germany.
Since July 2020 we have been working on the mega job and we would like to invite you to help us and have adventures with us. We have already had fantastic help from dozens of WorkAwayers from as many Nationalities and love the Workaway platform to get to know other people and cultures. Ingrid has been a Workawayer herself.
We are already very far along with the renovation. The downstairs and first floor are finished and we are now in the process of creating rooms on the 2nd floor. And we could use some help with that. Do you like carpentry and painting, or would you like to learn? Then get in touch with us. Beside that there is always something to do, like gardening.
We are open, honest, enthusiastic, welcoming and love challenges. A station is always a lively place with people from all over the world who have their own life stories. That is what we also want to achieve with our station (unfortunately without rails, but with a beautiful bike path). We enjoy connecting people at our station and contributing to their travel stories.
Our English is very good, our German good (and getting better every day) and Ingrid also speaks a little French and Italian. Of course you become a part of our life and we like to take the Workawayers everywhere (if you want to, of course).
Our project gets a lot of attention from the Dutch and German media. We have even been on Dutch television (2021 and 2023) and are followed by German television, which is broadcast in 2023.
The town of Ballenstedt is small (about 5,500 inhabitants), but has a beautiful castle that is also related to our train station. Tourist places such as Quedlinburg (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Wernigerode and Thale (Central Mountains) are close by, as well as trendy cities such as Leipzig (75 minutes by car), Magdeburg (50 minutes by car) and Berlin (2 hours by car). Ballenstedt is located in a quiet area, with beautiful nature. You can enjoy biking and hiking in the area.Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The Workaways are becoming a part of our lives. We really enjoy involving the Workayers in our daily activities and social life. At the station you will get to know the various German and Dutch craftsmen and perhaps other WorkAwayers. You can join us to explore Ballenstedt and its surroundings, but of course you can also go out on your own.
Help
We would love some help with
-carpentry
-sanding
-painting (doors, windows, walls, sealing ect)
-gardening
- And more ...Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Italian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
We are living in the station building since the end of 2022. In the large living room we have a comfortable sofa, chairs and a television, perfect for relaxing. We sleep in the basement, which is basic.There we also have small spaces for our WorkAwayers. Of course, we have a (shared) bathroom with toilet and shower. And comfortable beds.
We make sure you lack nothing and provide plenty of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and of course fun! Of course, we take you into account and make the shopping list for the supermarket together.What else ...
We have a passenger van for 8 people, so after work we can arrange nice trips to explore the natural and cultural richness of the area. Unfortunately, there is no longer a railroad line in front of our station, but there is a bus station right next to our building, with good bus connections to the various places around Ballenstedt. Train stations are located in Quedlinburg, Aschersleben and Hoym-Nachterstedt.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We can host Digital Nomads. There is plenty of space to work online. We have stable and fast (500Mbits) Internet.
Space for parking camper vans
We have garden space around the station building. The bathroom with shower and toilet is in the station building.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (35)
This was my first Workaway experience, so I was a little nervous in te beginning; also because I had very little experience with building or renovating anything.… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
This was my first Workaway experience, so I was a little nervous in te beginning; also because I had very little experience with building or renovating anything.… read more
...because they were so awesome that I didn't want to leave! 🥲 My experience with them was SO fun & meaningful, the time just flew by.
Ingrid & Edward are two truly amazing people. Ingrid is extremely warm. Her smile lights up a room, and her honest &… read more
This was my third Workaway experience, and Edward and Ingrid’s place gave me a completely homely feeling.
The work of renovating an old house is incredibly satisfying, and… read more
The basement can take some getting used too,… read more
I had a wonderful 10 days here! I have learned a lot of skills and gained a lot of good memories! The first night I went to bed feeling cold and the next day I received an electric blanket from Exward; Ingrid prepared Rosenkohl and Dönerbox for me for dinner after hearing that I like them - a touching surprise... ...where I… read more
The work there is also really nice. Ingrid is a good… read more
The building is amazing and the project is huge and there are a lot of things to try on. I really liked sending and restoring the doors...if you are searching for a kind of zen-immersive practice i highly raccomend. Ingrid and Edward always do their best to… read more
Good luck with the project guys, it's looking great! Bernhard
My stay with Ingrid and Edward in Ballenstedt was great! Ingrid gave clear instructions and tips on what to do and how, Edward was always making jokes and asking if everything was alright :)
They took me on day trips to Magdeburg, Quedlinburg, to a glass factory museum... and gave good advice on what to visit nearby. If you love nature or… read more
It was a pleasure to be part of your beautiful project for like a month.I always felt like I was at home and it was a beautiful feeling for me most of all because I'm very shy. You’re really kind, nice and generous people, so thank you so much for letting me work with you. It was my first experience with Workaway and it was… read more