• Wat een warme plek hebben jullie, als warme mensen gecreëerd. Alsof hier al eeuwen de drieslag van stilte, bezinning en verbinding wordt beoefend. Heel veel dank dat ook ik hier mocht zijn wie ik ben (november 2025).
• Wat een fijne plek op een prachtige locatie! Inrichting zorgvuldig, eenvoudig. Voor mij waren vrijdag en zaterdag vermoeiend door de prikkels. Zondag was dit veel beter. Een eventueel volgende keer maar langer blijven. Dank voor dit weekend. Ik heb me welkom gevoeld (november 2025).
• Het was opnieuw ontzettend fijn en bij jullie te gast te zijn! Genoten van alles: van de overheerlijke maaltijden, de smaakvolle (doch sober) ingerichte kamers, de ruimtes in het klooster en de ruimte buiten… Alles getuigt van een enorme zorgvuldigheid en aandacht voor alles om ons heen. Prachtig! En dan heb ik nog niet eens over de vieringen, het kloosterritme en de boeiende gesprekken. Ik ben dankbaar dat jullie er zijn. En hoop nog heel vaak terug te komen (november 2025).
• Ubi caritas et amor. Ubi caritas, Deus ibi est. Deze mooie tekst die in mijn ouderlijk huis in een tegelplateau achter de kachel was opgenomen en die wij hier elke middag mee mochten zingen…. deze tekst weerspiegelt voor mij precies dat wat ik afgelopen dagen bij mij en bij jullie mocht ervaren en beleven, de liefde, de vrede en God. Heel veel dank daarvoor (november 2025).
• Stilte, bezinning en verbinding. Het was er allemaal op een bijzondere manier. In de weken na de retraite ging het nog met me mee. Wat maakt dit tot zo’n bijzondere plek en hoe kun je de sfeer beschrijven aan een ander? Dat valt niet mee. Ik denk dat het ritme van het kloosterleven daar een grote rol in heeft en de manier waarop alles georganiseerd is. Wat heel natuurlijk voelde was de binnenkomst met koffie en thee, laagdrempelig en warm onthaal. Aansluitend de uitleg, je kamer bekijken en daardoor meteen al opgenomen worden in het ritme van het kloosterleven. De viering einde middag raakte vanwege de kwetsbaarheid die mensen lieten zien bij het noemen van die dingen in het leven die aandacht nodig hadden. Er werden veel kaarsen aangestoken. Die viering zette voor mijn gevoel de toon van een sfeer van vertrouwen en veiligheid bij mensen. De verbinding onderling voelde heel sterk. Dat was bij andere vieringen ook het geval maar juist in die eerste viering schiep dat de juiste bedding voor de dagen en activiteiten die volgden. Het ritme van het klooster, de stilte, bezinning was er ruim voldoende en raakte. Het lichamelijk ontwaken, mediteren, samen in stilte de dag beginnen. Ik heb het allemaal als heel bijzonder ervaren. En van meerdere mensen hoorde ik dat het zo bijzonder is dat bijna alles door vrijwilligers wordt gedragen. In een kerkelijke gemeenschap ben je daaraan gewend, maar door alle reacties besef je ook weer dat het niet vanzelfsprekend is. De plek, de mensen, de sfeer, de stilte, bezinning en verbinding wordt helemaal waargemaakt. En alles wat rond organisatie plaatsvindt, merk je niet als je gast bent. Dat vond ik ook bijzonder. De kloosterlingen die met open ogen en oren in gesprek gaan met gasten, deel uit maken van het geheel. Ik kan alleen maar zeggen dat je iedereen een paar dagen deze rust en ruimte gunt. Bedankt voor de mooie dagen (spiritualiteit en verbeelding, programma, oktober 2025).
• Dank voor de mooie (niet stille), maar wel een midweek met prachtige mensen. Pelgrim zijn op weg …. herberg. Nooit eerder heb ik gevoeld hoe goed dit woord wel is bedoeld. Herberg, herbergen geborgen zijn, geborgenheid verlenen aan wie niet verder kan, aan doodvermoeide benen, aan voeten vol met blaren aan hoofden vol met maren, aan ik kan alles aan en later toch weer niet word stil, rust uit, laat ons een vuur ontsteken bij elkaar wie telt er nog gebreken…. en onverwachts maakt liefde een diep verlangen waar (midweek rondom de pelgrimstok, oktober 2025)

• Ik heb veel positieve ervaringen opgedaan. Soms vond ik wel dat het programma wat overvol was. En miste ik wat stilte momenten. We hebben wel vee leuke en mooie momenten beleefd. Ga zo door (oktober 2025)
• Jullie liefdevol zorg blijkt uit alles: de wijze waarop de boerderij is verbouwd, het mooie linnengoed, de fijne bedden, het heerlijke eten. De ‘pelgrimstok’ was een prachtig en goed uitgebalanceerd programma. Fijn om zo’n midweek met dit thema bezig te zijn. Goede afwisseling tussen inkeer, bezinning enerzijds en delen, ontmoeten anderzijds. Fijne meditaties en vieringen meegemaakt. Het deed me goed en het me lang na sudderen. (oktober 2025)
• Heerlijk weekend gehad, dit is een cadeau voor jezelf, even op adem komen en verbinding zoeken. Goed ontvangst, heerlijk eten prachtige natuur (oktober 2025)

Dankbaar

Dankbaar dat ik hier mocht zijn

Dankbaar voor de plek die jullie bieden, jullie gastvrijheid

Dankbaar voor de vrijheid

Dankbaar voor het mooie programma

Dankbaar voor de ‘stilte’

Dankbaar voor het (h)eerlijke eten

Dankbaar voor het omtinken

Dankbaar voor deze bijzondere ervaring

Dankbaar voor safolle meer

Dankbaar!!!

• Ik zie door mijn raam van mijn kamer de vogels vliegen boven het land. De wolken die veranderen in regenbuien en een zon die een gel streep trekt op de horizon. De wind die loeit en bladeren laat bewegen. Alles veranderd daarbuiten als een levend schilderij. Daar waar ik liep over het pad door weilanden naar de kerktoren van Jorwert. Ik heb opnieuw genoten, zo, zo genoten om hier te zijn. Nu in de herfst de “warmte” van Klooster Westerhûs. Dank jullie voor de gastvrijheid, te mogen zijn die ik ben, me verbonden te voelen met “de Eeuwige”. Hier is dit zoveel makkelijker te beleven. Dank Jullie wel (oktober 2025)
• Ik ben diep geraakt door de bewustheid waarmee de kloosterlingen leven, spreken en handelen. Vanaf het moment dat ik aan de bescheiden pelgrimstocht naar Nijkleaster begon, voelde ik dat mijn binnenste zich opende, wakker werd, …. en inmiddels voelt dat binnenste zo vol licht en liefde van en voor alles wat ik afgelopen dagen heb mogen waarnemen en waarmaken. Het herinnert me eraan hoe ik in het leven wil staan. Wat een oogst! (oktober 2025)
• Johan, wat ben je toch een gelukzak! Zomaar vijf dagen in Nijkleaster. Een plek wat je anderen bent om de stilte te zoeken. Een plek als een stilleven. (stilteretraite, oktober 2025, lees hieronder het hele verhaal:)

• Prachtige plek een aangenaam onderkomen. Dank dat ik hier kan/mag zijn (oktober 2025)
• Ik wil jullie van harte bedanken voor alles! Wat een geweldige plek om op retraite te zijn! Ik voel me verwend met alle heerlijke maaltijden, de mooie, zorgvuldige vieringen. Ik heb jullie als veilige troostrijke gemeenschap ervaren. En de kamers zijn top, super stil en comfortabel (oktober 2025)
• Lieve mensen van Nijkleaster, wat een fijne plek is dit! Genoten van de vieringen, het lichamelijk ontwaken (linkt toch een stuk beter dan ochtendgymnastiek!), de stilte meditaties en in het bijzonder een woord van dank voor de zorg en aandacht die er is besteed aan mijn Keto-maaltijden. Erg fijn dat er zo wordt meegedacht en rekening mee wordt gehouden. Ik heb een bijzondere fijne stilteweek gehad, die ongewijfewld nog lang zal doorsudderen. Jullie gastvrijheid heeft daar zeker aan bijgedragen (stilteweek, oktober 2025)
• Dank voor het verblijf op Nijkleaster. Ik heb het als een ontdekkingstocht in een nieuw land ervaren. Vele onderdelen van de stilteretraite hebben mij anders naar de stilte leren kijken. De stiltemeditaties hebben mij kennis laten maken met een plek waar ik bijzonder zonder woorden God kan vinden. De gastvrijheid en zorgzaamheid van de kleasterlingen en vrijwilligers was duidelijk aanwezig. En de mooie plek op het Friese platteland, met de prachtige wolkenluchten en vergezichten. Dat helpt om te verstillen. Dank voor deze mooie plek vol stilte, bezinning en verbinding. Nijkleaster maakt zijn naam waar (oktober 2025)
• Het was voor mij een hele bijzondere ervaring, die me veel heeft gebracht en – zo vermoed ik – ook brengen zal in de toekomst. Ik voelde veel ruimte om te ontdekken wat zich in de stilte voordoet en ook veel vertrouwen om dat proces aan te gaan. Het is een hele fijne plek die op heel veel manieren ruimte en uitzicht biedt. En ik voelde me verbonden, ook al speelt het geloof in mijn leven niet echt een rol. Maar woorden zeker, en er zijn veel woorden die me veel hebben gedaan en die hun uitwerking hebben gehad en hopelijk zullen blijven hebben. De gesprekken met Saskia vond ik zeer waardevol en heel prettig (hoewel het soms confronterend was) ze gaven me inzicht, ruimte, vertrouwen. Stof to nadenken en doorvoelen. Heel veel dank! (stilteretraite, oktober 2025)
• Beste Tytsje, Saskia en alle andere kleasterlingen. Heel erg bedankt voor jullie aandacht en zorg die ik heb mogen ervaren deze dagen. Voor mij is het misschien wel het begin van mijn verdere reis door mijn leven, een liminale ruimte; het ondertussen, niet meer dit en bij bijna dat. Dank! (oktober 2025)
• Wat een fijn weekend was het weer! Erg genoten van de stilte & gastvrijheid. (oktober 2025)
• We voelde ons gezien en gehoord (oktober 2025)
• Wat warmhartige ontvangst en verblijf. Mooi en fijn om zo even opgenomen te mogen worden in deze mienskip (oktober 2025)
• Alles was goed (oktober 2025)
• Losgelaten – uit mijn hoofd – ruimte scheppend om te ontvangen. Dank voor jullie gastvrijheid, nodigt uit tot terugkeer (oktober 2025)
• Het was een mooie fijne ervaring. Ik voelde me zeer welkom. De verzorging is heel goed. Het heeft me gebracht waar ik naar op zoek was: rust en berusting. Ik hoop dat het me lukt om hier thuis verder aan te werken, ga hier in geval mijn best voor doen. Heel veel dank aan iedereen die heeft meegewerkt aan deze bijzondere dagen (september 2025)
• Lieve mensen, Wat hebben jullie het goed voor elkaar in Nijkleaster! Mij ontbreekt niet als ik bij jullie ben (september 2025)
• Wat een fantastische plek om te logeren. De perfecte architectuur van het gebouw. Echt mooi strak en nieuw. En oud en oorspronkelijk. En ecologisch! En de stilte/wind van het Friese landschap. Een plek om te genieten en tot jezelf te komen. Zaterdag werd mij geadviseerd vlak bij het kippenhok te gaan zitten, bedankt voor het advies. Zodat ik het geluid van de Stihl draadmaaier niet meer hoorde. En deelname aan het klooster is fantastisch. Ik heb hier kunnen bezinnen bedankt (september 2025)
• Stilte en warmte, luisteren en voelen, het geraas van je dagelijks leven even onderbreken, dat was hier te vinden. Het wandelen en de in Jorwert de ontmoetingen wat heel fijn. De stilte van 25 minuten vond ik lastig. Zingen vind ik fijn, dat zou voor mij meer mogen tijdens de vieringen. Ik genoot als Friezin van de Friese taal! Zeer gastvrije plek met warme lieve kloosterbewoners en vrijwilligers! Dank je wel voor deze week (september 2025)

glimp

Soms twirret in gedachte

yn dyn holle fallend bledsje

bringt in glimp aan ‘t ljocht

fan wat mooglik is

soe de mist oplûke

soe de stoarm lizzen gean

fuort mei de wolken de wyn

soesto yn dy hommelse stilte

de oankundiging hearre kinne

in knisterjend nij geritsel

fan wat komme sil komt, mar

soms moat it earst as in bern

dwers troch bergen

fan blêden hinne

nog efkes stampe fan binnen

Kate Schlingemann (leeuwardencityofliterature.nl)

• Een plek om op adem te komen; fysiek, mentaal, met hart en ziel. Dank voor de gastvrijheid; in dit prachtige gebouw met warme mensen. Een plek om terug te keren (labyrint weekend september 2025)
• Diep geraakt door deze mooie gemeenschap! (september 2025)
• Warme mensen. Prachtige rituelen. Veel ruimte voor mijn ziel. Prachtig programma. Ik ga sponsor worden. Kom zeker terug! (september 2025)
• Zelden heb ik zo’n bijzondere plek plus mensen ervaren. Dat Nijkleaster zo goed klopt, daar kun je de hand van God in zien en de liefde van de initiatiefnemers. Pas goed op Nijkleaster en graag tot ziens. Een warme omhelzing (september 2025)
• Touched. By so many aspects. By the uniqueness of Nijkleaster in the architecture, the people, the celebrations, the program, the library, the landscape, the art. The brainpower and dedication is enormous. Isn't it wonderful, being a guest in Friesland and getting inspiration. To experience care and attention. Charming Nijkleaster, resonance space of the inner self. With a window opened to the outside! (August 2025)
• Het was weer fantastisch om hier te zijn. En super fijne midweek gehad tot de volgende keer (september 2025)
• Alles is er. Een mens met een vroom gemoed slaapt op ‘n steen zelfs goed…. de bedden zijn prima. Je zult hier niet gauw een schuiver maken….. veilige anti-slip douchevloer. Wat ik mis? (dit is niet bedoeld als kritiek, ik merk het op) Eh… soberheid …. w.b. het uitgebnreide aanbod zoet broodbeleg hagelslag 2x, jam 2x, honing, chocopast, pindakaas, appelstroop. Stilte, bezinning, verbinding: het is er* Ook voor mijn geloof in natuurkrachten. (september 2025)
• We enjoyed this place again! (August 2025)
• I am moved by the beauty and thoughtful simplicity of this place, the songs, the rhythm of movement, silence, meeting and also the connection with the people and generations who have gone before us in the search for contemplation that I feel in the little church of Jorwert. Someday I also hope to find, or make a place of deep rootedness and openness. I take with me a spark of your inspiration. Thank you for your hospitality (August 2025)
• Very fine wike hawn. Beautiful buildings and omjouwing. Prima fersoarching. Nice iten. Leave minsken. Tige tank (August 2025)

• This is unfortunately the last evening of my stay in Nijkleaster. I am very happy and grateful that I was allowed to be here. I enjoyed everything intensely. The welcome was warm, I felt at home. The meals were excellent. The meditations, the 3 times meeting for prayer did me good. The songs in Frisian and Dutch, the prayers, it could not have been better. The way of getting acquainted I found a find. "It wie bjusterbaarlyk" Thank you very much. Wholeheartedly God's sayings and all good wishes (August 2025)
• Thank you so much for allowing us to be guests. There was much to experience, experience and meet. It did us good, from celebrations to monastic work. We lacked nothing this time. We wish you light and love for the future (August 2025).
• Thank you so much for your hospitality! We enjoyed the peace and space, both inside and outside. It tastes like more (August 2025) *delicious beds!
• We had another fine time, thanks for the good care! (August 2025)
• I had a good time here and would love to come back one day. God's blessing on your place and work (August 2025)
• Beautiful place, promises of it come true! Views, insights, being alone, coming together. Wonderful combo (August 2025)
• Many thanks for the nice stay and the pleasant and clean room (August 2025)
• When I came here I already felt "good. After this weekend, I am 'softer and happier' inside. Thanks. The welcome and guidance from all the volunteers and staff was more than good. Everything is in harmony here (August 2025)
• August 11 tm 15 midweek with De Wandelmaat. For the 5th time in the Westerhûs and for the 1st time with De Wandelmaat. Every time it is like coming home, a place where I can really be myself. With the people of De Wandelmaat it was nice to experience how quickly we felt as one group, harmonious and with shared interests. I learned a lot and received a lot.
• August 15 tm 17 Mystical weekend with Marianne Vonkeman. Rather unfamiliar with mysticism, I began the weekend. Already the 1st evening I felt the unity of the group. Special. A weekend full of unexpected insights and lots of info to think about. Very nice that Marianne herself was there the whole weekend. Thanks for everything, dear people of Nijkleaster Westerhûs.
• Only good experiences, almost too many to mention: the sustaining security of the monastic rhythm, committed people who see the suffering of the world, suffer from it, and yet know that they are happy - radiate and live out the art of living. All excellently taken care of, I fell short of nothing but went home with a wealth of experiences. Was moved when walking to the herb garden by the guileless flowers, in the early rays of the morning sun shining in thousands of dewdrops (August 2025)
• I experienced the past days (midweek), with the emphasis on Zen meditation and Tai Chi Tao, as very nice and inspiring. Reinier, Trees and Barbara gave the Zen meditation in a very nice way. It was wonderful to experience this week in this way. And apart from the program, the care (food etc.) was excellent! Thank you for this wonderful midweek. A gem to take home! (August 2025)
• It was fantastic (August 2025)
• What a warm welcome. What I so desperately need right now is there. Peace, quiet, connection (tailored). I came to rest and would love to come again soon (August 2025)
• What touched me (were) most was the joy you radiate. That must be the spirit of our triune Lord warming you inside and radiating back to us as guests. The fine conversation helped me to forgive myself for causing people grief. And banish my anger (August 2025)
• It was great again. Fine people, beautiful room, with great views over the meadow and a big blue sky. Celebrations and prayers that touched me. Thanks, thanks for that. It is special when the house cat Beppe comes walking into the service (August 2025)
• Thank you for the loving and welcoming reception! Thank you for allowing us to come here to experience and work with you. I have enjoyed the beautiful place you have created and it is becoming more and more beautiful and more complete being fulfilled and re-inspired I go home again! Tige thanks and a sweet greeting (August 2025)
• How nice the care and attention with which everything is done. The decoration of the rooms, clean and neat, welcoming. Nice that there is now a bundle in the room with the texts of the celebrations! Also outside everything is tidy (or at least a lot :-), it exudes care and respect. Wishing Hinne goodnight after the evening celebration, the delicious breakfast ready in the morning et cetera, et cetera. It is a Welcome, with a capital letter, an openness to. Dor the presence of volunteers in the group ewr was quickly a familiar atmosphere (August 2025)
• We have taken biblical journeys. We have been allowed to experience garden journeys. But this golden combination was amazing! The care, the dedication - it is hard to find words for it. Two images of you: the six of you singing the Winsels song during the evening celebration. Second image: the aprons tied after dinner and we were not allowed (or required) to do anything. Thank you! (August 2025)
• Good luck with this unique project, a way of life(August 2025)
• What a special place. All around you a wide view of a silent landscape. The real silence in my room did me good. As well as the silence that was there in being together. The connection that was made with tradition and the world around us during the celebrations I also found very valuable. It is always a blessing to be able to participate in the rhythm of a monastery, but to experience that in Nijkleaster as part of the community is something I have not experienced elsewhere. (August 2025)
• What wonderful gardens we visited. I will definitely return to Nijkleaster one more time (August 2025)
• As a gift from above, there was a celebration in the outdoor chapel, in which the values of Nijkleaster fell into place: silence - reflection - connection. In which a gentle breeze and floating flowers in a bowl completed this gift (August 2025)
• I return home an enriched man (August 2025)
• Thank you for this experience. I am happy with the decision to book this weekend. I found a deeper layer with myself and want to continue this and will book a midweek next time. Felt extremely welcomed by the rainbow towels on the toilet 😊 (August 2025)
• Enjoyed from beginning to end (August 2025)
• I knew and felt welcome, wanted and in place from the moment I entered. My body allowed less yard work than I have desired, and so there was more quiet - it is good, like this. Silent together is different from silent alone, not better or worse. 'Open' was my key word this week. It seemed like everyone knew that. Thanks, thanks, thanks and goodbye (August 2025)
• From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for the midweek, time for the soul, nature, inner man, but above all loving attention and practical help (with steps). What you radiate is hospitality and sharing, there is genuine interest in the other, while you also stay with yourself. Many thanks also for being allowed to use the disabled room..... with the most beautiful view of all the rooms, I think! So light and close to the space, which this beautiful country has. All that makes me happy and "lighter" than when I arrived on Monday. Definitely see you again (Garden Week August 2025)
• Many thanks and see you soon (August 2025)
• The last meeting in the outdoor chapel somehow moved me. So together in nature. It is certainly worth repeating and also to continue telling about this fine place so in the middle of the countryside (August 2025)
• A day to take with you in your life, so precious (Living Day, July 2025)
• Here I hoped to find peace and tranquility in close communion with the Eternal and with the monastics and guests. And I found it more than that. Despite my age, I hope to return here again. Many thanks (July 2025)
• My experience after a 3rd midweek is again a healing experience. The positive energy, the atmosphere, the rhythm of the day create peace and give space to let move what wants to move.... in this week I experienced that I have cleaned up a lot last year, this week I experienced peace in me. Besides all the moments of therapy, staying in Nijkleaster made a great contribution! Many thanks for that. Hope to see you soon (July 2025)
• Thank you for another wanderful stay! This place of beauty, wonder, consciousness and loving warms means hope for the world for me. I'am not a Christian but i love to come to this monastery. And everytime i com here i feel nothing but welcome (July 2025)
• How much I enjoyed your hospitality and beautiful program. I felt a lot of peace, time for reflection and beautiful conversations. Enjoyed the group feeling, the delicious meals and also the singing with Robert which gave a very nice dynamic in this group of people! A warm greeting (July 2025)
• Thank you so much for this precious day full of inspiration, silence, connection! It is a very special place here, you feel God's presence. And your attention and love-filled presence made me feel at home (Experience Day, July 2025)
• Many thanks for this cozy and atmospheric week. With lots of room for the inner man (July 2025)

• Thank you guys!!! Everything was right! Stillness, reflection, connection and depth. Delightful a contemporary community experience. Festive awakening. Worth repeating to see you again. Very best wishes on the we you go (July 2025)
• Harmony, love and commitment is what I experience in this hopeful place, Thank you for that (July 2025)
• The Summer Week was a fine experience. This way of monastic life and its propagation really appeals to me. Pleasant accommodation, fine people. All the best to you! (June 2025)
• This week (midsummer) was indeed different from the previous times I have been here. The extras in the form of outings and the two evenings (mandalas and cocktails (+story). It was great to experience like that. And in between always the peace of the fixed rhythm. I am never homesick when I am here. Tige tank foar all the good things (June 2025)

• It was very good to be here (June 2025)
• The hospitality is wonderful and the peace of the rhythm. Unfortunately, I have not yet found the inner peace I am looking for. Who knows until another time! Continue in about this way and take care of yourselves too! (June 2025)
• Had wonderful days! Thank you for your hospitality, for your kindness, care and commitment. A first acquaintance with this special and beautiful place. Hope to see you soon. Very important to me is a good bed. Well there is a fantastic bed! (June 2025)
• Heartwarming. Inspiring. Relaxing on a deep level (June 2025).
• Unbelievable so many winks from above (June 2025)
• Thank you for the stillness I was able to experience again here, back to Source to rekindle the fire. It has done me good! (June 2025)
• "Greetings to you who come for love and light." The opening song of the afternoon celebration. And that is how I have felt: very welcome. Love and light I have experienced in the piece by piece beautiful people I have met here, in the alternation of meeting and silence, the peace of this place, vast surroundings, the beautiful celebrations, the physical awakening in the morning. the lovely room, the delicious food..... and so on. I would love to come back again! (June 2025)
• Thank you so much for your true attention (June 2025)
• Regularity & Rhythm. Connected & Free. Praying & Celebrating. Mienskip & Meditation. Physical & Spiritual Nourishment. Deepening & Companionship. Safe haven to be with yourself and with God. Thank you for all your care, attention and love! (June 2025)
• Thank you very much for the wonderful weekend. It has done me particularly well partly because of your efforts in all kinds of areas. My visit to Nijkleaster "touched" me through the following points:
  • The welcome was heartwarming
  • Nature
  • Its location in the landscape
  • The silence
  • The space outside, but also within myself
  • The meetings and conversations with each other
  • The attention to each other
• I found the visit to Nijkleaster very special and heartwarming (May 2025)
• It was a particularly fine midweek for me (April 7-11, '25) to join in your rhythm of Klooster Westerhûs and this together with our daughter. We both felt at home and hope to do this more often. I wish you God's blessing (April 2025)
• On our return home after a midweek at your monastery, we visited Jan Mankes' exhibition at Belvedere in Oranjewoud. This painting by him reminds us of the view around the monastery. DanK you again for all your good work. Peace and all the best (May 2025).
• Quotes from participants Youth Weekend:

• "I think the power of such a weekend is that unwinding and slowing down together in an environment and with a program designed for that purpose is much easier than on your own in your own environment, where daily life rushes by."
• "I gained insights that I can work with in my daily life. I am truly inspired."
• "During the weekend, I was able to experience that it's okay to be still, take a rest and choose for yourself. Slowing down brought me out of survival mode more and allowed me to get closer to myself and my feelings again, which was exactly what I needed at that moment. "
• "I took away from the weekend that I also tried as best I could to continue to seek rest at home. I kind of see the youth weekend as if it was kind of a kickstart for a longer period of rest for me 😊 "

• Dear all, dear people with whom I have hung out this week. Thank you for your hospitality and listening and words of encouragement. Slept and ate wonderfully and rested well, above all regained peace in my heart. A warm embrace (May 2025)
• A treat for body and mind! Justice is done to so many. Wealth. Sunshine and rain. Wind (lee) rainbow of hope (May 2025)
• Dear Monastics. Thank you for your hospitality, this did me good. Thankful that I could experience this weekend with you. Not everything is my thing but I really appreciate your commitment to create this place for people who are looking for peace. An experience richer. God's blessing (May 2025)
• A fine place to be able to participate in the rhythm of attention to body spirit through the celebrations, work and community. Thank you for your hospitality and attention to detail dealing with each other and Mother Earth (May 2025)
• Silence I wanted. Silence I received. Garden work I wanted. Garden work I did. "Full" Days, with peace and reflection. I will gladly return (May 2025)
• A wonderful midweek in which I got closer to those moving meadow birds. Glad we were kept so engaging and varied. Many thanks again for the loving care and attention. I have a favorite bird: Pied-billed avocet (May 2025)
• Lovely: silence from 10pm to 10am as a hearing impaired person. Room: nice color, nice lights, nice chair, clean. Monastery new style. Great to be able to experience that. Thanks for all the efforts of the monastics as well as the many volunteers. (May 2025)
• Bird Week. So beautiful and educational. Also the conversation on the morning that should be a book! Proud of Nijkleaster - Klooster Westerhûs (May 2025)
• Dear you. Very nice to be here again, and very nice to go home again. Grateful and with a heart overflowing with love I go home. Familiar with so many beautiful people in a very special place! And yes the birds. grandiose! (May 2025)
• It hat my good served, dizze dagen yn Nijkleaster / Westerhûs. I haw hirre wer wat rest fertrouwen, frede en hopeful fûn. And all that (and noch oare "things") yn it midden minsken (kleasterlingen / guests) en yn it fermidden fan de natoer en benammen "Gods Fûgel(s)" (mei 2025)
• Relaxed and caught new breath by the rhythm of Nijkleaster. A great week with exceptionally beautiful weather in a special environment in nature (May 2025)
• Great. I would like to come back again. The service in Jorwert was the icing on the cake. Singing together with people who carry the light with them. That matched the sermon for me. The language, my own history and of my ancestry (May 2025)
• Great what you have created here. I feel very wolkom and loved. The surroundings and monastery itself are also great (May 2025)
• A beautiful and special experience that I would not have wanted to miss. Glad I was able to be part of the group that consisted of beautiful and warm people. Many, many thanks.
• My experiences have been good. A warm welcome, hushed celebrations. Fine awakening in nature, delicious food, warm attention (April 2025)
• This was a very nice inspiring weekend. My thanks for the hospitality and good care (April 2025)
• Very nice to spend a weekend in this special place and join the rhythm of the monastery, meditating together, celebrating, walking, eating. I enjoyed the peace silence and fine people. I discovered that I am allowed to grow again after a period of caring others. I am inspired and can continue on my path again. I certainly hope to return to this place again. (April 2025)
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'24 hours of Rest and Space' a proven concept of Nijkleaster
Staff members of companies, educational institutions and other organizations live in small groups for 24 hours in the rhythm of Nijkleaster - Klooster Westerhûs. Last week we received two groups from MBO educational institution Firda. One of the participants described it aptly, exactly how the '24 hours' is meant to be, we are silent about it:

"What a special experience it has been to be allowed to turn 24 hours into the rhythm of your life at Nijkleaster. From the very first moment I felt genuinely welcome. You, the regular monastics, give a warm feeling of coming home. There is room to be completely yourself and that invites you to open up and really be who you are. Although I did not grow up with a religious background myself, the way you design the rituals has touched me deeply. The love, devotion and peace with which you live them opened my heart to something I might have been less receptive to before.

The daily rhythm in the monastery gave me a feeling of deep peace, connection and stillness. Just escaping the hectic pace of daily life and my work at Firda, gave me new energy and a valuable moment of reflection. What also touched me was the way you are in life: the joy, the lightness, the kindness with which you are present it came in, in a way that I experienced as special and healing. Your conscious choices about nature, the respectful treatment of people and animals, and the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle made a deep impression on me and speaks to me enormously.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the warmth, the hospitality and the way you take visitors into the rhythm and richness of monastic life. I cherish this experience as something very special.'

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• A wonderful meaningful experience. Closer to myself and the line to God! Atmosphere, reception from you was grandiose, full of warmth. Thank you for this! (April 2025)
• It was a very nice, inspiring, relaxing weekend! Definitely worth repeating!!! (April 2025)
• Thank you for the silence, time for reflection, time for connection with us as an Emmaus group. Time too short to find real peace. Will definitely come back again thanks for all good care and hospitality (April 2025)
• "Die ye old forms and thoughts" That phrase from The International can also be used for telling the story of Jesus. The diamond of this story can also be told in many ways, including by Nijkleaster! In the morning, open the curtain and the ducks greet you. The landscape gives a wider view. (April 2025)
• For me it was a very beneficial week in which I discovered space in myself for inner silence as a source for filling my water basin! A blessing! (April 2025).
• Inspiring, intense, beautifully remodeled farmhouse with everything about it that was right. Fine people beautiful celebrations delicious meals. Tips: - louder bell and adjust Odulphus path designation (April 2025)
• It took a while to land in the silence, but how much I came to rest and reflection. A nice place with open and friendly people (April 2025)
• Sincere, warm, careful, authentic, atmospheric. Warm people (April 2025)
• Dear people, what a beautiful thing you have created. A quiet place with beautiful celebrations and beautiful conversations. Many thanks for your hospitality. All the best and who knows, see you soon! (April 2025)
• Thank you. Very nicely invited by Annemarie and now grateful for this special weekend. (April 2025)
• I experienced the weekend as very special. The fact that everyone is welcome really appeals to me. There is a warm, approachable, welcoming atmosphere. I will definitely come back! (April 2025)
• My experience with this monastery has been a godsend. It is a beautiful place. And the people are wonderful and friendly. I will definitely come back to have more wonderful experience. You guys are great (April 2025).
• Always suffer from homesickness but here not for a moment. Feel completely at home come back gladly. (March 2025)
• Thank you for these beautiful days in your beautiful place with so much love and attention to people, nature, the building and each other. Here the sky kisses the night for darkness and the sun awakens the day with beautiful skies. Bird sounds, silence e contemplation. A place where people flock together for good, longing to be one with life whatever it gives or takes. It is beautiful (March 2025).

• Bêste minsken, der moet in boek skreaun wurde: It wûnder fan Jorwert. Because that is what I like about you. Hearlik ánd wichtich that you let this place be there. Fol hertlikeus and dignity, fol slijntine and religious authenticity. Against the polarization yn ferbinning and mienskip. And that then diele mei wa't wol. Tige tank foar jim aanwezigens. Frede and all the best (March 2025)
• The silence. The working in the garden. The togetherness: food for the soul and for the heart. I can move forward again for a while (March 2025)
• Everything was new for me, many impressions / intense experience. But also enough space for seeking my own silence and peace. The weather was unbelievably beautiful, which is partly why I was happy with the afternoon celebration in the special outdoor chapel at this time of year!!! To be repeated. Wellichjt see you soon (March 2025)
• Thanks for the silence (March 2025)
• I liked the daily schedule, beautiful celebrations(March 2025)
• Many thanks for your openness and hospitality, I was allowed to have a very nice time here. I hope that this place may remain for a long time and may inspire many people, as I have been inspired. Also a good place to work on your Frisian. "Tach för att du har hyälpt mig att växa! (in Swedish) Thanks for the insights and good conversations, and I hope that the vegetable garden and the food garden may develop nicely! (March 2025)
• Taking a breath, literally, it did me good. The celebrations, being together, the beautiful conversations, cozy and good meals. It was very good! Thank you (March 2025)
• I intensely enjoyed this weekend. Delicious meals. Meaningful conversations (March 2025)
• Your warm welcome, openness and caring hospitality was soothing. Fortunate with the weather, the beautiful Frisian meadow landscape. Your motto of silence reflection and connection did me good! The food was delicious! (March 2025)
• Dear people, Enjoyed. Delicious food. Experienced tranquility. Delightful! What unity among the 6 monastics. What humor and respect. Much love, strength and wisdom, compassion in your work. See you soon (February 2025)
• Peace, cleanliness, regularity, community, simplicity. Delightful! I found " silence, reflection and connection", exactly as you write it yourself. I will return anyway! Blessing, peace and all the best. (February 2025)
• Thank you for the inspiring days at the Westerhûs. We have loved it: at the table, during the walks, when talking with Hinne. Also good to be there with the church members! Worth repeating! (February 2025)
• Very well cared for, clear explanation and guidance, quite full program, lovely place. Oant Sjen! (February 2025)
• It was an inspiring weekend. Especially the silence did me good. In doing so, Ps 65 came to mind "The silence sings to You, O Lord." And so it was! (February 2025)
• This weekend I experienced an open, loving inspirational and most importantly hearing heart (Feb. 2025).
• Thank you for the "insight" into your lives. What a beautiful place with beautiful atmosphere you create together. I felt I was allowed to be who I am and that alone is a quest for me. I also feel grateful for the attention and care given to the food by Margaretha and Sietske. But the whole atmosphere and care radiates love. Thank you. (February 2025)
• Nice:
  • the people
  • the building
  • the outdoor chapel!
  • the view
• Delicious: the food!
• Fine:
  • the structure
  • the peace
  • the room
• A week of coming to myself in an oasis! Please continue to do so.
• It was one big gift this weekend. Thank you for the / all the inspiration. (February 2025)
• What a beautiful place! You already feel the peace when you park your car. Very hospitable and involved residents and kleasterlingen. Thank you! (January 2025)
• Wonderful unforgettable experience. I am grateful for your hospitality and the introduction to your hospitality and the introduction to your form of thinking and living. Very nice that this is allowed to be there. Thank you! (January 2025)
• Friendly and welcoming interaction. Inviting to join but not obligatory: is fine! (December 2024)
• Dear all, thank you for the loving and warm welcome. I have had a very inspiring and deepening week. Everything about this place I love (December 2024)
• What a was it a gift to be here. Thank you dear people. (December 2024)
• I found the peace, reflection and connection I was hoping for. Thank you for the warm welcome and "hanging out together" these past few days! I like to leave a swallow as a thank you for the wonderful stay in the Swallow Room. (November 2024)
• I had a fantastic week at Nijkleaster. Nice inspiring people, beautiful celebrations and meditations within the centuries old walls of a farmhouse in beautiful surroundings. There was no question of austerity: volunteers cooked delicious vegetarian food for us. In addition, it is a beautiful environment to go out on your own; for example, I walked two sections of the Odulphus trail. Wonderful! I will surely come back to Nijkleaster again. (October 2024)
• I had a fine, carefree stay at monastery Westerhûs. Under the guidance of the monastics, I participated in the program of Physical Awakening, short celebrations, meditations, meditative walks and work in the garden. I enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, the delicious meals, conversations with each other and the silence. I went home rested and full of good courage to create space in my daily life for (even more) reflection, silence and mienskip. So far I am succeeding well, thanks to the inspiring people of Nijkleaster. (July 2024)
• A very pleasant stay in the middle of the beautiful open Frisian country, Fine atmosphere, friendly people, nice gatherings, clean and quiet. An inspiring and spiritual environment to recharge, with many beautiful books. Highly recommended! (October 2024)
• Everything was so well taken care of. Great appreciation for the beauty of this Nijkleaster, and the much work that preceded this. Beautiful space, the monastery but certainly also the wide surroundings, the space outside, the view, the clouds, has a beneficial palpable effect. Tasty meals, detail: nice "napkin folders" and meal with view. Saturday an afternoon walk with monastic of the day, along the way: nice personal conversation with this monk outside the walls. (October 2024)
• We enjoyed and learned from the reflection, silence and connection.
• More impressions can be read here

• 'It was wonderful to be with you under the inspiring leadership of Saskia Leene. We enjoyed and learned from the reflection, silence and connection. Of the Frisian landscape, being allowed to ring the bell and the beautiful music of Hindrik van der Meer. Thank you so much!"(response from a group with a "customized program," 2022)

• In moaie fiering mei passende laten.

• 'In hertlik ûntfangst, in waarm kessen, in tekken, koartsein: Oeral wie oan tocht.'

• 'In moaie fiering mei passende lieten; de gastfrijheid bij de kofje/thee en lekkere kleasterkoeke; it mei ynmoed waarme fertellen troch Rev. Hinne Wagenaar oer jim krewearjen foar it Westerhûs; in bysûndere kuier yn in bysûnder moai lânskip; en oant eind de moaie ynspirearjende petearen myelkoar!'(reaction of a Frisian church council, 2021)

• In addition, I completely calmed down and got a little closer to myself.

• 'I thought it was a very nice day and I learned a lot from it. I also think that the group leaders were the perfect people to organize this. Furthermore, I really liked the walk and the reflective writing. I think this assignment is worth repeating and is also very useful for students!" (reaction of a student from Leeuwarden, 2020)

• We were moved!

• 'Thank you so much for the inspiring celebration. We were moved!"
  (a churchgoer on Sunday, 2019)

• Never in my 60 years of life have I experienced Easter so close to myself.

• 'I enjoyed it, never in my 60 years of life have I experienced the event of Easter so close to myself. Those wrappings symbolize everything that keeps us "for dead," so to speak. How beautiful it is when you get the Easter story from the Bible laid on your lap in such a way! Thanks! (response from someone who had witnessed the 2018 Nijkleaster Easter celebration on TV)

• This was a place for silence and reflection, a place to refocus and a place to simply be loved.

• 'I have traveled to Vietnam, Brazil, and Guatemala and I saw glimpses of spiritual encounters in these places but it was not until I sat in a 1,000 year old unheated church in the Frisian countryside under a blanket amidst a windy-rainy day, listening to songs, prayers and scripture in Frisian, Dutch, Latin and English that I witnessed God's real presence in my awareness. But why was that? Why did it take for me to go to the countryside of a far northern-European country in order to feel God? In some strange way, I feel that my encounter in that Frisian village-church at Nijkleaster was this place. This was a place for silence and reflection, a place to refocus and a place to simply be loved. In this old place there was a transformation of my life. (US student after visiting Nijkleaster during a study tour, 2017)

• Looking far inside at Nijkleaster.

• 'In this landscape I can look far away, and at the same time at Nijkleaster I can look far inside' (a participant of a 'Customized Program' in 2016)

• The beautiful, open landscape that surrounds Jorwert contributes its own to the pure, meditative experience that such a Kleasterkuier can be.

• 'A pleasant walk can easily turn into a meditative, yes, even spiritual experience. You walk at your own, usually not too fast pace, which takes you through, hopefully, a beautiful landscape. You are at the mercy of your own thoughts, and at the same time open yourself up to the people walking in front, beside and behind you, people with whom you share this experience. All this certainly applies to the Kleasterkuier, organized every Wednesday by the Nijkleaster Foundation. It starts at the church in Jorwert and the local pastor is also closely involved. In other words, how spiritual do you want it to be? The beautiful, open landscape that surrounds Jorwert contributes its own to the pure, meditative experience that such a Kleasterkuier can be."
  (Leeuwarder Courant, October 2014)

• Iepenje my foar jo goedens and reitsje my oan. It is language that belongs here.

• 'The beginning is there: the weekly monastery walk around Jorwert must become the prelude to the establishment of a real Protestant monastery on the open Frisian land. Would God return after all? The twelve of us sing a song in Frisian: "Iepenje my foar jo goedens en reitsje my oan. It is language that belongs here, in this twelfth-century church on the open, barren Frisian land. Open me to your goodness and touch me. We sing it four times in a row. Warm vapor rises from our mouths. An indescribable experience. (A journalist-participant in a Wednesday kleaster morning, 2013)
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Below are some longer impressions, also from other media, written by participants in response to participating in a program at Nijkleaster.