200 years ago, a village was built in Drenthe where vagrants and beggars were put to work: Landbouwkolonie Veenhuizen. The hard work and the fresh air would straighten out these people, who were unwelcome in the big cities, and transform them into good citizens. Even today, the emancipating effect of agriculture still plays a role in Veenhuizen. Instead of waiting for effective policy plans, farmers are taking matters into their own hands here. With their broad knowledge, farmers are looking for solutions to challenges regarding nitrogen, nature, water and soil. Towards a nature-inclusive system, with a focus on what is possible. This approach suits Veenhuizen, a place that has been characterized by resilience, innovation and progress for 200 years.
To celebrate 200 years of Veenhuizen, KETTER&Co, Hotel Restaurant Bitter en Zoet and a number of designers, architects and artists have joined forces to put the special peat meadow landscape, innovative craftsmanship and social and ecological recovery on the map. With the VEEN|HUIS|HOTEL, they aim to celebrate the richness of the landscape of Veenhuizen in a sustainable way.
The VEEN|HUIS|HOTEL consists of seven unique temporary accommodations at various locations in the rectilinear landscape of Veenhuizen. The structures are designed and built by young and already established makers. Mostly sustainable materials – grown, harvested or found locally – were used in the development of the accommodations. In that way, each location makes you experience the landscape in a unique way and asks questions about the connection we as humans make with it. With a revaluation of the relationship between man and landscape and an explosion of creativity, the VEEN|HUIS|HOTEL inspires an urgent conversation about the future of Veenhuizen as an experimental agricultural colony.
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Irene Fortuyn 'Tijd voor Max' about VEEN|HUIS|HOTEL.
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