🇳🇱 ESC Volunteering in Netherlands 🐄 Off-Grid Living, Animal Care & Sustainable Outdoor Work 🌿

No grid. No shortcuts. Just nature, animals, physical work, and a community built around sustainable living. If that sounds like your idea of a meaningful experience — BioArt Village might be exactly where you need to be.

Stichting BioArt Laboratories runs BioArt Village — a unique off-grid location surrounded by forest inside the city of Eindhoven. This is not a conventional volunteering placement. It is a hands-on, physically demanding experience for people who are serious about sustainable living and not afraid to get their hands dirty.

What Is This Role About?

BioArt Village operates as a living experiment in sustainability. The animal family alone tells you something about the scale of daily work: 2 cows, 5 horses used for coaching sessions with homeless people, sheep, 2 pigs, chickens, geese, an aviary, 2 dogs, and a cat. As a volunteer, you become part of the team that keeps this place running — from morning animal care to renovation work and green maintenance. The tasks are physically demanding and the Dutch weather adds its own layer of challenge.

Activities

🐄 Daily sustainable animal care — cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, and more

🔨 Renovation work on the BioArt Village site

🌱 Permaculture gardening and green maintenance of the outdoor areas

🏡 Assisting with restoring and developing the BioArt Village location

♻️ Embracing and practising off-grid, non-wasteful living as part of daily life

Who Should Apply?

This placement is intentionally not for everyone — and BioArt Village is upfront about that.

🔹 Genuinely interested in nature and sustainable living

🔹 Loves physical outdoor work and is ready for demanding daily tasks

🔹 Embraces off-grid living — with limited resources and a non-wasteful mindset

🔹 Ready to tackle challenges and capable of working independently as well as in a team

🔹 Positive attitude and strong motivation — essential, not optional

🔹 In good mental and physical health — the tasks require both

🔹 Committed to staying for the entire duration of the programme

🔹 Individuals with fewer opportunities are especially encouraged to apply

Training & Support

🐾 Training in animal care, renovation, permaculture gardening, and green maintenance provided during the activity

📋 Training is embedded in the daily work — you learn by doing, supported by the BioArt team throughout

💬 Curious about what ESC volunteering actually involves and whether you are eligible to apply? This complete guide to ESC covers everything you need to know before taking the next step: https://youthworkshub.org/15101/

Accommodation & Practical Details

🏕️ Accommodation at BioArt Village — a beautiful forest location inside Eindhoven, fully off-grid

🚿 Shared common areas — bathroom, kitchen, and living room

🍳 Food money provided in addition to pocket money — basic cooking skills are necessary

🚲 The city centre and shops are approximately 20 minutes by bike

✈️ Airport is nearby for easy international access

Activity Details

📅 Activity Period: 01 May 2026 – 01 July 2026

📍 Location: Oirschotsedijk 14-10, Netherlands

👤 Activity Type: Individual Volunteering

🏷️ Project Code: 2024-2-NL02-ESC51-VTJ-000266351

Deadline

⏰ As soon as possible!

Eligible Countries

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇬🇪 Georgia 🇩🇪 Germany 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden

Official Project Page

🔗 https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/51272_en

✋Important Notice

Youth Works Hub does not represent or act on behalf of any organization listed on this platform. All project details are sourced directly from official ESC and Erasmus+ databases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official project page or contact the hosting organization directly. Youth Works Hub is not responsible for any changes made to project details after publication.