Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Jun 2025
Reply rate
94.7 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
22
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Hi there!
We are Annemiek, Martijn and young daughter Nelli, a family from the Netherlands that moved to Portugal three years ago to start a new, more quiet life in the countryside surrounded by nature. To pursue this dream we are renovating a beautiful old Quinta (Portugese farm) and have the plan to set up a huge vegetable garden for the future. The idea of the project is to create an ecological place where we can live as self sufficiently as possible and more in line with nature. We are into permaculture and want to apply the principles to our land in future projects.
The Quinta used to be a farm with a lot of forrest and agricultural land surrounding it. It has an idillyc river that you can refresh yourself in on warm summer days and an old mill, which was used to grind the wheats back in the day. It has several old buildings on the property that had different purposes. One being a bakery and another being a primary school for instance. It's a beautiful green area with rivers, waterfalls, lots of hiking trails - one even starting on our land - and a long cycling path leading to the coast and to the city of Viseu. We are located close to the town of Oliveira de Frades and are 40 mins away from the beach and one hour from Porto.
We have done a lot of renovations to the house already and can live in it quite comfortably, although it’s always a work in progress of course. Further, we are also working on improving the surrounding land at the moment.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Pets
Architecture
Winter sports
Mountain
Beach
LGBTQ
Van life
Self development
Farming
Culture
Sustainability
Gardening
Languages
Carpentry
Animals
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Music
Plant care
Art & design
Nature
Camping
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Water sports
Yoga / Wellness
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
At the Quinta we can offer learning what it involves to renovate century old house, skills to build, how to take care of the land and how it is to live in the countryside of Portugal.
We have a lot of things to do in and around the house, but we firmly believe that life should be about fun and feeling well. What we are seeking is not just a volunteer to help us with the work, but to have an exchange of experiences and good conversations. We highly value mutual respect and to take good care of each other, especially because we will live under the same roof together. This is why we also find it important that potential volunteers read our profile before contacting us.
So, in order for us to know that you are serious and have read our profile, we thought it would be fun to write a little codeword down here. If you're interested in contacting us, please write in your message that you like Koala's :D
Further, Martijn is a Dutch language teacher, so if you are interested in learning some Dutch he is perfectly happy to teach you some!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for help regarding the maintenance of the land and house.
At the moment, these include for example:
- Upgrading our swimming river
- Preparing wood for the winter
- Making shelters for future sheep and chicken that we would like to look after
- Maintenance of the land, like taking care of the fruit trees and plants and clearing terrain.
- Updating the water system
- Doing some building projects
- Helping us get some ideas for future projects!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Portuguese: 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
In exchange for 5 hours of help per day, 5 days a week, we can offer three great daily meals and a spacious private bedroom on the top floor of our house with your own lounge area to chill and to retreat in. This space can host one person or a couple as it has a double bed. We will be living in the house together and will be using the same facilities.
We both enjoy spending time in the kitchen and are happy to provide three comforting meals a day that we can enjoy together. So generally we will often cook the meals, but will sometimes also ask for a little of your help with this here and there as being part of the same household.
What else ...
It's a beautiful green area with rivers, waterfalls, lots of hiking trails - one even starting on our land - and a long cycling path leading to the coast and to the city of Viseu. We often take hikes with our dog, which you are of course welcome to join us in! Also, Martijn loves surfing, so if you're into it as well, he's happy to take you with him.
We are located close to the town of Oliveira de Frades and are a small 40 mins away from the beach and one hour from Porto.
To get here by public transport you would have to take a bus from either Porto (Campanha bus station), Viseu or Aveiro to Oliveira de Frades, where we can pick you up!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have working wifi.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a parking lot that is a bit further away from the house that can be used by campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (10)
Jan was eager to learn about everything that we are busy with the life on our farm and was a great help working with us on… read more
Ana and Martijn are extraordinarily wonderful and warm people who made it so easy for me to feel welcome from the moment I arrived. Together with Baby Nelli and dog Fred, it truly felt like being part of their little family even in the short time I was there.
… read more
In… read more
I really enjoyed my stay in their house. I had a beautiful own room/space for myself, Ana cooked amazing food, it was very easy to work with Marly- he always gave clear instructions and Todos.
I really appreciate to not be forced to do babysitting, but I still really enjoyed to… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Jan was eager to learn about everything that we are busy with the life on our farm and was a great help working with us on… read more
Ana and Martijn are extraordinarily wonderful and warm people who made it so easy for me to feel welcome from the moment I arrived. Together with Baby Nelli and dog Fred, it truly felt like being part of their little family even in the short time I was there.
… read more
In… read more
I really enjoyed my stay in their house. I had a beautiful own room/space for myself, Ana cooked amazing food, it was very easy to work with Marly- he always gave clear instructions and Todos.
I really appreciate to not be forced to do babysitting, but I still really enjoyed to… read more
They are so welcoming, kind and they truly care about the wellbeing of their guests/workaways! We couldn't wish for a better stay!
During our short stay we helped them with the ongoing renovation process: correcting (with wood filler) and sanding some doors. Their property and house is huge, so… read more
The girls helped us with some good land clearing, making a trench for the excess water to pass, planting new… read more
Wat hebben wij genoten van jullie aanwezigheid en de vriendschap die we hebben opgebouwd. Bedankt voor jullie gezelligheid en al jullie geweldige hulp. Jullie weten wat aanpakken is en in de tijd dat jullie hier waren hebben jullie zo veel voor mekaar gekregen. Er zijn prachtige houten deuren en kozijnen gekomen, er is een… read more
Dankjewel voor een geweldige tijd op een magische plek.
Hoe mooi is het om te zien dat jullie leven hebben gebracht in deze prachtige oude Quinta.
We zijn blij dat we konden helpen om een stapje verder te komen met jullie droom.
Vanaf de eerste dag voelden we ons thuis. Positieve energie straalt alle kanten… read more
Ana and Marly are very chill people… read more
