Fertile ground for alternative ways of living
On an open stretch of land just outside the village of Ten Boer, near Groningen, a remarkable experiment has been underway for years. On almost 40 hectares of land, the Woldwijk cooperative is developing new approaches to housing, work and community. Tiny houses, nature conservation, local food production and community initiatives are all part of the picture. The aim is to show an alternative way of living and working: one that’s more mindful, sustainable, and close to nature, with fewer possessions and a greater sense of community.
An answer to major societal questions
This project isn’t an isolated one. The Netherlands is grappling with major challenges around housing, sustainability and social cohesion. There is a severe shortage of homes, and the demand for affordable, sustainable and community-oriented forms of housing is growing. Around the country, citizens are coming together to find local solutions. The Woldwijk cooperative is just one example. Its residents are actively shaping their own living environment and showing that alternative forms of living, building and collaboration are possible.
How space for change emerged
In 2007, the municipality of Ten Boer purchased a plot of land for a housing development. Shortly afterwards, however, the financial crisis caused the plan to be shelved, and the land was temporarily leased for agricultural use. In 2015, the municipality issued a call for alternative plans that would enhance the area’s societal value. Around 40 local residents came together to discuss possibilities, and the idea of a cooperative emerged. Five organisations are now jointly managing and developing the Woldwijk site: Agrarisch Natuurbeheer, StaatjeVrij, Energie Coöperatie Ten Boer, Tiny House Woldwijk and Stichting Landjegoed.
The power of community
At Woldwijk, residents don’t just talk about new approaches to living, working and housing – they practise them. They share their experiences and this special place with locals through guided tours; singalongs and film nights in the Wereldhuiskamer (World Living Room); live music at the outdoor café in summer; and a midwinter festival for local schoolchildren, complete with a bonfire.
Woldwijk also has a close relationship with the neighbouring care home, Innersdijk. Residents of both might socialise at a summer pizza evening or the monthly coffee afternoon at Woldwijk, or when a cooperative member pops round to Innersdijk to borrow the bingo machine. Some Innersdijk residents say the interaction broadens their horizons. In this way, Woldwijk is creating an inclusive community that welcomes a wide range of people. Thus, it contributes not only to sustainable innovation but also to a stronger community in the village and the region.
“I love coming to Woldwijk. With all the activities, I get to meet people I wouldn’t normally, and it’s easy to strike up a conversation. The buildings are pretty special, like the communal living rooms, where we often pop in for a coffee or tea, and the tiny houses.”
Nel Stalenburg, Innersdijk care home resident
Exciting news for the future
Over the past decade, Woldwijk has demonstrated what’s possible when pioneers are given the freedom to experiment together. The greatest challenge now is to ensure the experiment’s long-term sustainability. The site belongs to the municipality of Groningen, and the exemption that allowed people to live there was due to expire at the end of 2027, causing years of uncertainty.
Luckily, thanks to the support of the Postcode Loterij Buurtfonds, the cooperative has been able to take significant steps over the past year to secure the site’s future.
For example, various plans for the heritage-listed farmhouse have been drawn up and costed on the basis of studies relating to function, commercial use and renovation. The process involved architects, financial specialists and process facilitators. Woldwijk also brought in experts to investigate various ownership and land-use arrangements to help ensure the area remains accessible and affordable in the long term.
Woldwijk’s thorough approach has made it a trusted and equal partner of the municipality. Partly as a result of this status, the exemption has been extended by five years, and the authorities have expressed an intention to allow the cooperative to continue its remarkable experiment indefinitely.
“One of the things that makes Woldwijk special is they don’t just talk about great ideas, they put them into action straight away. The people living in the five-hectare residential area have the freedom – and the responsibility – to demonstrate different ways of living and working together. They’re living examples of successful pioneering, and we’re delighted to be supporting them.”
Manon Schoneveld, programme manager, Postcode Loterij Buurtfonds
Investing in joint decision-making
Because Woldwijk consists of various projects that need to function well as a unit, effective internal decision-making is very important. For this reason, the cooperative has invested in community organisation over the past year, for example with training in consent-based decision-making. This helps large groups of residents to make decisions together, on an equal footing, about the future of the area. Such professionalisation strengthens the cooperative and increases the likelihood that it will be able to continue in the long term.
“The Postcode Loterij Buurtfonds’ support is incredibly important to us. It’s allowed us to bring in professionals and to get training in the often invisible tasks that are necessary for developing a strong vision for the cooperative’s future. And we now have an equal seat at the table when it comes to the future plans for Woldwijk.”
Nadine Spigt, chair, Woldwijk
Looking ahead
Though Woldwijk’s future is uncertain, its ambition is clear. The residents want to expand their community, ensure its long-term sustainability and show that collectives can play a valuable role in addressing societal issues. With plans to preserve the farm, continue developing sustainable forms of housing and maintain a connection with Ten Boer, Woldwijk aims to remain a place where people work together to build a different way of life; a place that inspires not only its residents but also other communities seeking new approaches to housing, work and community.
The Postcode Loterij Buurtfonds is able to support Woldwijk thanks to the players of the Postcode Loterij.
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