Art projects and bio-diverse garden in Haarlo, Netherlands

Infos

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  Description

  We are a creative Dutch–South African family living on a former farm in the countryside of the Netherlands.
  
  Our home is a place where nature, creativity, and community come together. Over the years we have planted fruit trees, created a wildflower garden, built a ceramics studio, and are currently developing a large natural wildlife pond and sculpture garden.
  
  What we enjoy most about hosting is meeting people from different cultures and walks of life. Some of our former Workawayers have become lifelong friends, and many stay in touch long after leaving. We love hearing different perspectives, sharing meals and stories, and introducing visitors to daily life in rural Holland.
  
  Life here is very different from the big cities. We enjoy spending time outdoors, working on creative projects, visiting local villages and markets, and sharing the slower rhythm of life in this part of the country.
  
  As a ceramic artist and teacher, I also enjoy sharing my knowledge of pottery. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time in the studio, learn new techniques, and experience a working ceramics environment.
  
  In return, visitors help us with practical projects around the property. Tasks vary depending on the season and may include gardening, planting, spreading wood chips, helping around the pond project, light maintenance help, and keeping shared spaces tidy.
  
  The exchange is about more than work. It is about sharing knowledge, experiences, skills, cultures, meals, and everyday life.
  
  What we offer:
  
  • Private accommodation in our guest cottage
  • Meals and shared dinners
  • Pottery and ceramics opportunities
  • A chance to experience Dutch countryside life
  • Nature, creativity, and a peaceful environment
  • Opportunities to meet local people and take part in community activities
  
  We welcome people who are reliable, curious, respectful, and interested in genuine cultural exchange. We value open communication and mutual respect and enjoy hosting people who want to contribute while also becoming part of daily life here.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Baby-sitting et jeux créatifs

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Garde de maison et d'animaux
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  LGBT+

  

  Ferme

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Culture

  

  Musique

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Histoire

  

  Jardinage

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Livres

  

  Art et design

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Sports d’hiver

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Voile / bateau

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée

  

  Danse

  

  Cyclisme

  

  Camping

  

  Plage

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We believe that cultural exchange happens through everyday life rather than organised activities.
  
  By staying with us, you will experience life in the Dutch countryside and become part of a Dutch–South African family. We share meals, stories, traditions, and conversations, and many of our visitors tell us that these informal moments become some of their favourite memories.
  
  You will have the opportunity to learn about:
  
  • Pottery and ceramics, including wheel throwing, handbuilding, decorating, glazing, and kiln firing
  • Creating and maintaining wildlife-friendly gardens and natural spaces
  • Sustainable living and small-scale food growing
  • Dutch culture, traditions, and daily life in a rural community
  • Life as a working artist and running a creative business
  • Practical DIY and outdoor project skills
  
  We also enjoy learning from our visitors. Every person brings their own experiences, culture, skills, ideas, and perspective, and that exchange is one of the main reasons we host.
  
  Over the years, we have hosted people from many different countries, and many have stayed in touch long after their visit. We hope that visitors leave not only with new skills, but also with friendships, confidence, and a deeper understanding of a different way of life.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  The projects here change throughout the year, depending on the season and what we are working on at the time.
  
  At the moment we are creating a large natural wildlife pond, expanding our sculpture garden, planting for biodiversity, and continuing to develop the land around our home and ceramics studio.
  
  Visitors who stay with us become part of these ongoing projects. The work is varied and practical and can include:
  
  • Gardening, planting and weeding
  • Spreading wood chips and maintaining pathways
  • Helping with pond and landscape projects
  • Moving materials such as stones, soil or wood
  • Painting sheds, fences, and other outdoor structures
  • General outdoor maintenance and small building projects
  • Helping to keep shared spaces tidy
  
  No special experience is needed. A willingness to learn, contribute and help outdoors is far more important.
  
  We particularly enjoy hosting people who are comfortable working independently once they understand a task. We are happy to explain and demonstrate what needs to be done, but our home and projects are best suited to people who can take initiative, think for themselves, and enjoy seeing a project through to completion.
  
  As part of the exchange, visitors are welcome to spend time in the ceramics studio. Depending on the workshop schedule, there are opportunities to learn pottery techniques, create your own pieces, and experience life inside a working ceramics studio. We are always happy to share our knowledge, and we often learn new things from our visitors too.
  
  We usually help around 25 hours per week, leaving plenty of time to explore the area, relax, work on your own creative projects, or simply enjoy the countryside.
  
  What matters most to us is not how much experience you have, but that you are reliable, respectful, and interested in being part of daily life here. We value cultural exchange, shared meals, good conversations, and learning from people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
  
  This is not a hotel or retreat. When you stay with us, you become part of our home, our projects, and our daily rhythm. The best exchanges happen when both host and visitor contribute with openness, curiosity, initiative, and mutual respect.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Hollandais: Courant
  Afrikaans: Intermédiaire
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Espagnol: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
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  Hébergement

  We offer a private cottage with a private room, your own toilet & shower & private living room & kitchen. You can join the family meals. Help prep meals or cook for yourself in your own kitchen. We will provide all food that is needed for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  Accommodation: We expect you to keep it clean and neat. Leave the cottage as you received it.

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  Autres infos...

  We can provide a bicycle for transport. Closest train station is Ruurlo. Closest Bus station is in Borculo. You can visit various estates, farms, artists, wine farms, canoeing, swimming and many other activities here in the Achterhoek.
  No smoking in the house. (Outside only).

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have fast internet. Cell phone reception is not that good.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  More then enough space

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  We have a dog.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  Chickens

  Minja

Sécurité du site

Discutez avec des workawayers qui ont séjourné chez cet hôte

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