Looking to catch your breath?
Then you are very welcome at Klooster Westerhûs; a monumental farmhouse converted into a modern monastery. This ancient place is located right in the middle of the Frisian countryside and is characterized by peace, space, and wide views of meadows and clouds. Although Klooster Westerhûs is located just south of Leeuwarden and Hilaard is easily accessible by bus, in the distance you will only see the silhouettes of villages and the spires of church towers. Here, you can look far into the distance and at the same time look deep within yourself.
The Nijkleaster monastic community invites its guests to share in a steady rhythm of prayer and work, silence, reflection, and connection.
Wat gasten over ons zeggen:
Van 21 tot 23 augustus meegedaan met het ritme van het klooster. Een bijzonder, fijne ervaring. Het heeft mij momenten van nadenken en bewust zijn gebracht om de dagelijkse beslommeringen aan te pakken. Onderscheid maken: wat is belangrijk! Dank voor de gastvrijheid en de mooie ervaring! (augustus 2026)
Nijkleaster aims to provide a safe place at Klooster Westerhûs where you can truly connect with yourself. The steady rhythm and daily activities guarantee inner peace and space. From waking up in the morning to the evening service, the care for body and soul is central. The three services, vegetarian meals, and other activities flow together in a harmonious balance. And of course, there is also time for work and fun.
The monastery and its gardens
During your stay, you will have your own private room. Each room has two beds, so you can also choose to book a room together. The shared areas in the farmhouse include the dining room and small kitchen, the library, the parlor, the chapel, and the meditation loft. The buildings are surrounded by various gardens, such as an herb garden, a vegetable garden, a flower garden, an orchard, and a food forest (currently under development).
The Nijkleaster monastic community is part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. It is an open monastery with an ecumenical calling and aims to offer hospitality to people from various churches and traditions. All services take place in the indoor or outdoor chapel of Klooster Westerhûs. For the Sunday and Wednesday morning services, we go to the church in Jorwert, followed by the 'Nijkleasterkuier' (Nijkleaster walk).
Our principle is that costs should never be a barrier to staying with us. If needed, you can apply for assistance from our Compassion Fund.
Head-Neck-Monastery
The traditional head-neck-rump farmhouse houses the shared spaces for common use: the Popmakamer (living room), the large and small kitchen, the dining room, the library and upper room, the meditation attic, and the chapel. Newly built are the nine guest rooms (suitable for one or two persons) and the residences for the monastics.
The grounds offer plenty of space with various gardens: the orchard, the courtyard with cloisters, the herb garden, the vegetable and flower garden, and the food forest (under development). Here you can 'hear' the silence, here you can 'see' the darkness at night. Wikipedia features a page dedicated to the old monumental farmhouse 'It Westerhûs'.
Experience the rhythm of the monastery
Six residents live permanently in the monastery housing on-site. Together with the residents who live 'outside the gates' and other volunteers, they live in a steady rhythm of services, meals, work, and relaxation. As a guest, you are invited to experience the rhythm of this modern monastery.
Our mission is to create a place where you can retreat individually and/or in a group in complete peace, catch your breath, and reflect. At the same time, it is a place to meet one another through liturgy and conversation, silence and walks, fun and recreation.
Op iedere gastenkamers ligt een gastenbrochure. Die informatie kun je hier ook al lezen en/of downloaden: Gastenbrochure Klooster Westerhûs.
Daily rhythm: Daily rhythm Klooster Westerhûs.
Midweek stays for companies and teams
Organizations, groups, management teams, and companies are warmly welcome at Klooster Westerhûs; for more information read more here.
Sustainability and Nijkleaster
During the construction of Klooster Westerhûs, the monumental farmhouse and the archaeologically protected mound grounds were treated with great respect. We also tried to create a sustainable project, among other things by reusing building materials, installing 143 solar panels (there is no gas connection), and harvesting rainwater from the roof. We use that rainwater for the toilets on the monastery grounds, the washing machines, and the outdoor taps. Seven wells have been drilled in the monastery garden for our heat pump.
It is therefore only logical that we try to live as sustainably as possible. We use energy, water, and the earth with care.
At Klooster Westerhûs, we purify our own wastewater using our large septic system (IBA). Therefore, we exclusively use eco-friendly cleaning and hygiene products. We kindly ask our guests to strictly follow this policy. You can also purchase a bar of soap at Klooster Westerhûs (from Zeepfabriek Suver). Read more about our sustainability ambitions here.
Food and Nijkleaster
Residents, volunteers, and guests share all meals together in the dining room. During breakfast, we maintain silence, which runs from the evening service until the morning service (10:00 PM – 10:00 AM). All meals at Klooster Westerhûs are vegetarian. Please let us know about any special dietary requirements well in advance. We support an economy based on organic, locally produced, and/or fair trade products.
Costs for a retreat
During a retreat at Klooster Westerhûs, you will stay in one of the guest rooms and have access to all facilities in and around the farmhouse. The price includes the program, vegetarian meals, fruit, coffee, and tea. You can find the costs for a retreat on the booking page.
We would like to offer everyone the opportunity to be our guest at Klooster Westerhûs. If the costs are too burdensome, please feel free to appeal to our compassion fund: Compassion Fund – Nijkleaster
If you have any questions or would like to visit with a group, you can send an email to reservering@nijkleaster.frl or contact us by phone: T: +31 (0)58 7009 743