Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 May 2025
Reply rate
92.3 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
11
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We ( Jeroen and Dirkje) have a huge garden (one hectare) with (wild) vegetables, fruit bushes and trees, a food forest in the making, in the middle of which is my artist studio. In two greenhouses subtropical fruits and some vegetables are growing. The beautiful garden is an inspiration for my work as a silk screenprinter. The garden offers varied and joyfull work.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Culture
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Farming
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Performing arts
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Art & design
Outdoor activities
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Hiking
Cycling
Camping
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You wil enjoy both experimental gardening as well as life in the Dutch country side. We live in a rural village called Schellinkhout, with livestock farmers and fruitgrowers as our neighbours. Schellinkhout is very well situated to learn about the Dutch history and culture, with very attractive towns within an hour travelling distance. Schellinkhout lies at the Markermeer, the biggest central lake of The Netherlands. It has a sandy bay and a longstretched meadow along it's shore for daytime leisure activities, barbecueing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and kite-surfing.
Apart from my garden skills, I am also very willing to share my 30 year experience as an artist with you.
Help
At the moment we are looking for two people or couple to help painting a wooden barn, general diy. Also there's a vegetable garden to maintain, as well as a food forest wich we started 5 years ago and needs some attendance. The vegetable garden and two greenhouses needs seeding, planting, weeding, snailhunt, watering and harvesting. When produce is abundant there's work on processing the harvest. General maintenance of the property will include repair chores. (later this summer, on Saturdays there is a holidayhome to clean together with us so workingdays are Tuesday till Saturday)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: IntermediateThis 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
Like us you will really live in the garden, you will sleep in a caravan or comfortable and well equipped gipsywagon (suitable for max 2 persons. The bed is 220 x 160. There's a woodstove for heating and possibility to cook) Or a Glamping tent according to your preference. During the week you will have several vegetarian meals together with us. But we ask you to make your own meal when we are too busy. We start at 8 or 9 in the morning and work 5 hours, 5 days a week. (note: Tuesday till Saturday) There is also a pizza oven and bathroom with hot shower. And wifi, of course ;-)!
You are part of a joined household, meaning you will help with cooking and washing dishes. Sunday and monday are holidays.
What else ...
A bike is available for easy transport to town or a ride in the country side. For leisure, at 1 kilometer you can swim in the Markermeer, and rest at the small beach and long-stretched meadow. The bay of Schellinkhout is popular amongst wind-surfers and kite-surfers. At 5 kilometres biking distance you can relax on a terrace in the historical centre of Hoorn. Another interesting small town to visit is Enkhuizen, with it's ancient harbour and open air museum which I highly recommend! At 30 kilometers, the city of Alkmaar is famous for it's cheese market. The city of Amsterdam is 40 minutes away. Amsterdam harbours various museums, has various concert halls for popular music, and is famous for it's canals. Hoorn train station is 15 minutes biking from our place.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (5)
Even if it rained a lot the first two weeks (which is unusual for this time of the year, in August it's usually sunny), we had a great time staying with Dirjke en Jeroen. Dirkje is an expert in cooking all kinds of dishes full of flavour, using the freshly harvested… read more
The work varied every day, but it was well organized. I especially loved being able to snack on the fruits while working in the middle of the garden.… read more
I would have never expected to find such paradise near Hoorn where I had the chance to meet Jeroen n Dirkje !
I was looking for an experience related to sustainability n permaculture in Netherlands which was the first step along my journey all the way up to Sweden!
I found wonders n marvels Dirkje n Jeroen's garden! Their project of… read more
Photos
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Even if it rained a lot the first two weeks (which is unusual for this time of the year, in August it's usually sunny), we had a great time staying with Dirjke en Jeroen. Dirkje is an expert in cooking all kinds of dishes full of flavour, using the freshly harvested… read more
The work varied every day, but it was well organized. I especially loved being able to snack on the fruits while working in the middle of the garden.… read more
I would have never expected to find such paradise near Hoorn where I had the chance to meet Jeroen n Dirkje !
I was looking for an experience related to sustainability n permaculture in Netherlands which was the first step along my journey all the way up to Sweden!
I found wonders n marvels Dirkje n Jeroen's garden! Their project of… read more
I stayed 3 weeks with Dirkje and Jeroen and it was perfect. The place is amazing and it feels like a second home. Dirkje and Jeroen are super friendly and open minded, we had many discussion about many interesting subjects.
I had to leave to continue my journey but I wish I could have stayed longer. It feels really like home to be… read more
