You‘ve entered international waters – Vlierhof is an intentional international community founded in 2002 by four members of the NL chapter of the GEN located in Keeken Germany.
Our vision is a world of truly peaceful and aware human beings living in harmony with nature. We do this through the practice of mindfulness, NVC, meditations, love,
compassion, mirroring, community, pluralism, and communal conflict resolution.
We strive to make a contribution to dealing with social and environmental problems like stress, loneliness, over-consumption, addictions, meaninglessness, and ignorance faced by socie-
ty today through social innovation (sociocracy), community building and personal development.
As far as possible, we try to achieve self-sustainable living in recognition of the interdependence of all life.
We highly value love, respect and consciousness and attach importance to
personal and spiritual development in everyday life. Vlierhof is basically a platform and a laboratory that allows playful experimentation, creative self-expression and permission to fail to succeed. It members are always balancing between ones individual needs and the needs of the community. We build according to (not only) the blueprint of Ecovillages and thereby strive to provide an alternative microcosmic model which the macro-cosmos of society can learn from.
We run a seminar and a 0.5 ha garden and thereby create not only a means to provide for one’s livelihood, but also a means of creative self-expression.
We don‘t work for the result only but the work becomes a means to realize oneself. To become aware of that which is unaware. This is a way to develop one’s capacities and capabilities,
while simultaneously able to serve the local community.
At Vlierhof we work together with nature, recognizing that we are part of the
larger web of life. We want to take care of our planet. We want to be an
example for sustainable both inwardly and outwardly places to live and work and we hope the people who passes through Vlierhof become the agents of change needed.
Membership & Visitors
- Current members: 11
- Open to new members
- Open to visitors
Send us an email with your some information about yourself and why you want to join the Vlierhof community. Suggest dates to visit or a skype call. All community aspirants, as a rule of thumb, first volunteer for three weeks as short term volunteers. This serves as a trial period. After the 3 weeks an evaluation takes place with the volunteer coordination circle after which it is decided whether to continue for 3 months of long-term volunteering. After these three months the long-term volunteer applies to become a community member. This is done in the community meeting where all community members are present.
WE ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING VISION, MISSION AND STANDARDS OF BEING:
VISION:
A world where every being lives in peace and awareness.
MISSION:
As a Center for Personal Growth and Societal Transformation:
• We offer space and develop practices that lead to holistic growth and enable us to fulfill the whole range of our potential
• We live as a conscious global community bound together by service towards the greater good, and where love and compassion is a daily action
• We persistently experiment with and pioneer sustainable ways of working & living together that contribute to the evolution of ourselves, our neighbours and humanity
VLIERHOF STANDARDS OF BEING
* EVERYDAY FOR SOME TIME I OFFER MYSELF IN SELFLESS SERVICE.
– I do this for the sake of the greater good; for the community, or for humanity, or for the planet. I recognize selfless service as an important practice of integrating the ego and becoming part of a greater sea, developing humility, and helping others shine.
* I PRACTICE SELF-LEADERSHIP.
– I, and only I, am the master of my own life. My pain, my emotions, my growth process, my energy level and my destiny are in my own hands, and not in the hands of others. When I want space, I firmly but lovingly claim it with a smile. My truth or ideology is mine to own, and I seek permission before I confront others with it.
* I SEE AND TREAT ALL AS DIVINE.
– I do not indulge in judgments of others, I am inclusive, and I look at others with compassion. I do not think or say bad of others because I understand that such thoughts only make me miserable. My physical space is my temple, I treat it with the same care I give to my most valuable personal possessions. I extend kindness to our land and its plants & animals.
* EVERYDAY I TAKE TIME FOR PERSONAL GROWTH.
– In Vlierhof, we are bound together by our commitment for personal growth. Some of us take time for self-reflection, others for meditation, yet others for yoga, healing sessions, reading or watching tutorials on personal growth, or use other resources coming our way. Every week, I join at least 2 Councils to invigorate my growth, learn from others, and step into my true being.
* IN EVERY OCCASION I SEEK THE 3rd WAY.
– I look for answers others don’t see. Where others see gloom, I see a world full of infinite possibilities. Where others focus on the end, I look for new beginnings. I have an overwhelming optimism about the future, and in the face of adversities I always sport an abundant mindset. I understand that my ideas can always be improved by others.