We are an intentional community that already exists for more than 30 years.
Vlaams-Brabant
We are De Bereklauw, a long-standing anarchistic ecological community located in Herent, a small village near Leuven, Belgium. Our project is centered around communal living, ecological resilience, and creative reuse. The core philosophy is freedom with responsibility, social inclusion, and self-reliance.
The community was founded over 30 years ago by Gosse, an 80-year-old visionary and storyteller who still lives here and continues to inspire and build every day. Today, around 10 to 20 people live here at any given time – a mix of permanent residents, volunteers, artists, and travelers. Everyone brings their own energy, skills, and intentions, and that’s exactly how we like it.
Our project involves growing food, caring for animals, building infrastructure from recycled materials, hosting cultural events, and experimenting with alternative technologies like biogas, aquaponics, and natural construction.
We share the land with goats, chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, and peacocks – they are part of our family, and so are you when you come.
At De Bereklauw, agricultural life is diverse and deeply intertwined with our ecological and communal values. We maintain large vegetable and herb gardens, greenhouses, and fruit trees. We follow permaculture-inspired practices, and much of our food comes from the land, compost systems, and recovered surplus.
WWOOFers can learn:
• Organic gardening and composting techniques
• Animal care (goats, chickens, pigs, etc.)
• Food preservation and cooking for groups
• DIY construction with recycled materials
• Eco-innovation (biogas, aquaponics, rocket stoves)
A typical day starts when you feel rested — breakfast is informal. You’ll help with tasks like feeding animals, harvesting, planting, cleaning, cooking, or building. We encourage self-initiative, so everyone chooses tasks that match their skills or learning goals. In the evening, we often eat together, share stories, or make music by the fire.
WWOOFers sleep in a shared room, a caravan, a campervan, or a tent, depending on availability and preference. Clean bedding is provided, though bringing your own sleeping bag is always welcome. You’re also free to set up your own tent or van.
We provide vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals (depending on availability). Food is mostly communal — we cook together or take turns. We often eat what’s harvested, donated, or saved from being wasted. Meals are simple, nourishing, and always shared in good company. There is also access to a bread oven, an outdoor kitchen, and many places to relax.
Music is a big part of life here — there are regular jams, spontaneous performances, and open stages. Many residents play instruments, build them, or just love dancing. We also do welding, woodwork, painting, sculpture, storytelling, herbalism, and fire cooking.
The nearby area is perfect for nature walks and bike rides. We’re close to Leuven, a beautiful university city, and only 30 minutes from Brussels by train. You can also go exploring the woods and the city. We sometimes host workshops or attend local festivals together.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Raising of other farm animals
Wild foraging
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Beer, cider, wine, or juice making
Traditional crafts
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Aquaponics
Biological pest control
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
Former WWOOFer
1
Hectares
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2.5
Acres
Accommodation
Gosse
Member since 2025
Languages spoken:
Dutch, English, French
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Gosse is not accepting visit requests at this time.
Response rate: 0%
Vlaams-Brabant
Leuven train station is easy to walk
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