Want to spend two weeks at a historic 19th-century estate working in vegetable gardens, vineyards, and mushroom areas? Join Stichting Internationale Werkkampen at Buitenplaats Vaeshartelt in Maastricht, Netherlands โ and learn circular gardening alongside seven local farmers in the south of the country!
This is your chance to combine sustainability, community, and living heritage in one beautiful experience โ with hands-on training, workshops, and international friendships in the Dutch countryside.
Curious about ESC? Read the complete guide: ESC complete guide
๐ฏ About the Project
You'll spend two weeks at Buitenplaats Vaeshartelt โ a historic estate in the south of the Netherlands, known for its 19th-century architecture. The project focuses on sustainability, community, and living heritage.
By growing vegetables on site, Vaeshartelt reduces transport, lowers COโ emissions, and keeps the food chain short and transparent. You'll work in a shared vegetable garden where food is grown for the estate's own kitchen. The surrounding land belongs to the Vaeshartelt Foundation, which uses all profits from the hotel and restaurant to restore and protect the estate for future generations.
You'll work alongside seven local farmers, each with their own expertise โ mostly on a voluntary basis. You can learn from them through workshops on gardening, food growing, or creative activities like flower arranging.
๐ Your Activities
๐ฑ Work in a shared vegetable garden
โ๏ธ Pruning and clearing paths
๐ Work in fruit gardens
๐ Work in vineyards
๐ Work in mushroom areas
โป๏ธ Learn circular gardening methods
๐ Join workshops on gardening, food growing, and creative activities like flower arranging
๐ค Connect with seven local farmers and their expertise
๐ Accommodation, Food & Transport
๐ Scouting building in Maastricht (Ankerkade 161, 6222NL)
๐๏ธ Separate dorms (m/f) โ airbeds provided, bring your own sleeping bag
๐ณ Kitchen with all facilities โ cook and clean together
๐ฝ๏ธ Sometimes the farmers will cook for you
๐ฎ Big indoor and outdoor space for games, dinner, BBQ
๐ Training
๐ Access to online training modules by the European Solidarity Corps and SIW
๐ฟ Learn from seven local farmers through workshops
โป๏ธ Hands-on circular gardening training
๐ Participant Profile
โ Must enjoy nature
โ Interested in the geographical and historical details of the project
โ Enjoy working together in teams
โ Interested in making international contacts
๐ Activity Topics
๐ฟ Environment and natural protection
๐บ๏ธ Eligible Countries
๐ฆ๐น Austria ยท ๐ง๐ช Belgium ยท ๐ง๐ฆ Bosnia and Herzegovina ยท ๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria ยท ๐ญ๐ท Croatia ยท ๐จ๐ฟ Czechia ยท ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark ยท ๐ช๐ช Estonia ยท ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland ยท ๐ซ๐ท France ยท ๐ฌ๐ช Georgia ยท ๐ฉ๐ช Germany ยท ๐ฌ๐ท Greece ยท ๐ญ๐บ Hungary ยท ๐ฎ๐ธ Iceland ยท ๐ฎ๐น Italy ยท ๐ฑ๐ป Latvia ยท ๐ฑ๐น Lithuania ยท ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg ยท ๐ฒ๐น Malta ยท ๐ฒ๐ช Montenegro ยท ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands ยท ๐ฒ๐ฐ North Macedonia ยท ๐ต๐ฑ Poland ยท ๐ต๐น Portugal ยท ๐ท๐ด Romania ยท ๐ท๐ธ Serbia ยท ๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia ยท ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia ยท ๐ช๐ธ Spain ยท ๐ธ๐ช Sweden
๐ Activity Details
Location: Meerssenerweg 1, Maastricht, Netherlands
Dates: 18 July 2026 โ 2 August 2026 (2 weeks)
Activity type: Volunteering teams
Project code: 2026-1-NL02-ESC51-VTJ-000401129
๐ Deadline
15 June 2026
๐ Apply
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/52344_en
๏ปฟโ๏ธ How to write a motivation letter for ESC volunteering that actually gets read โ and remembered.A motivation letter is often the single most important part of your ESC application, yet most people write them too generically or too formally to make an impact. This guide walks you through what to include, what to leave out, how to structure your letter, and how to express genuine motivation without sounding like everyone else. Whether you're writing your first letter or rewriting one that didn't work, this is the guide you need. ๐ https://youthworkshub.org/6061/
๐ค What is a supporting organisation in ESC volunteering โ and why does it matter for you? Most people know about sending and hosting organisations in ESC projects, but the role of the supporting organisation is far less understood โ and far more important than it appears. This article clearly explains what a supporting organisation does, how it fits into the structure of an ESC project, and how its involvement directly affects the volunteer's experience and support throughout the programme. A must-read if you want to fully understand how ESC is structured. ๐ https://youthworkshub.org/6051/
๐ก What do organisations actually look for in an ESC volunteer? Getting selected for an ESC volunteering project isn't just about ticking boxes โ it's about showing the right combination of values, attitude, and genuine motivation. This article digs into the skills and personal qualities that make a real difference during the selection process, and explains why some candidates stand out while others don't. If you want to understand what a strong volunteer profile looks like before you apply, this is essential reading. ๐ https://youthworkshub.org/13941/
๐บ๏ธ Which countries can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC? โ The complete and up-to-date country list. A lot of people assume Erasmus+ and ESC are only available to European Union member states โ but the reality is much more inclusive. Programme countries, partner countries, and special eligibility rules mean that young people from far more places can participate than most realise. This article provides the full, up-to-date list of eligible countries for both Erasmus+ and ESC, with clear explanations of what each status means for applicants. ๐ https://youthworkshub.org/15124/
โ ๏ธ Important Notice
1๏ธโฃ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the source.
2๏ธโฃ No Affiliation
YouthWorks Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the projects listed. All applications must be submitted directly to the project coordinator or hosting organisation through the original link, email, etc.
3๏ธโฃ Content May Change
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy and details of the opportunity. Deadlines, eligible countries, activity dates, and other details may change, or the announcement may be withdrawn entirely, at any time after publication. Always check the original link before applying.
4๏ธโฃ Funding
All funding, travel reimbursements, and allowances are determined and provided by the project coordinator or National Agency. YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any payments or financial matters.
5๏ธโฃ External Links
Listings may contain links to third-party websites, forms, or documents (e.g. the ESC Portal, infopacks, application forms). YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or security of these external sources.
๐ก Final Note: All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.
