For meditation & dharma groups
A Silent Retreat Setting for Buddhist & Meditation Groups
Held by fields and big skies — not by traffic. A private 1.3-hectare farm in rural Overijssel with a precedent of practice.
In short
Twelve-thousand square metres of held quiet.
A practice hall that warms slowly, lights low, and a kitchen that respects your schedule of meals.
A precedent of practice
Geshe Pema Dorjee has taught Tibetan Buddhism here in two annual retreats since the venue opened. The 7 AM to 8 PM rhythm of his programme has shaped how the kitchen, the heating, and the hot water are scheduled. Other lineages have built on top of that — Vipassana, Zen, breath-based meditation.
You bring your teacher and your tradition. We bring a venue that already knows what a meditation day asks of it.
Held by silence — not by walls
The farm sits on its own 1.3 hectares of land. There are no shared buildings, no neighbouring guests, no parking lot facing the practice room. The closest road is a quiet country lane, and beyond it: fields, the Sallandse Heuvelrug, the IJssel river.
Walking meditation has somewhere to go. Silent meals have somewhere to be eaten. Rooms can stay closed for a noble silence that does not have to be defended.
Accommodating silence, schedules, and shrine rooms
The Hay House practice barn doubles as a shrine room. We have stored thangkas and altars between retreats and helped set them up before. Vegetarian and Ayurvedic-leaning catering is part of the network we work with.
Sleeping is across single, twin, and shared rooms in Horizon, plus the Cosmos cabin for a teacher. The full venue takes up to fourteen overnight, with day-program capacity of twenty in the practice space.
Why The Makers Barn
13.000+ m²
Of private land — full buyout, no shared buildings or neighbouring guests
7–20
Practice-day window — heating, water, and kitchen built around it
14
Beds across Horizon and Cosmos for sangha and teachers
A retreat-day rhythm we already know
Adapted from the schedule Geshe Pema Dorjee has used here since 2022. The kitchen and heating are pre-configured for it.
- 07:00Guided meditation
- 08:00Vegetarian breakfast
- 09:30Morning teaching
- 12:30Lunch (silent)
- 15:00Afternoon teaching
- 17:30Walking meditation outside
- 19:00Light dinner
- 20:00Closing sit
Questions worth asking
Can we hold a fully silent retreat?
Yes — full buyout means no other guests will speak in the spaces. We brief our team to stay quiet and only intervene if needed. Many groups do extended silent stretches without issue.
Do you accommodate shrine rooms and altars?
Yes. The Hay House can be set up as a shrine room and we have storage between retreats for thangkas, statues and ritual objects.
Is the catering vegetarian-friendly?
Yes — most retreat groups eat fully vegetarian here, with vegan and Ayurvedic options available through our local kitchen partners.
How does silence work at meal times?
Meals are served in Horizon’s kitchen and dining area. We can plate before guests arrive so the meal stays fully silent, or set up a serve-yourself station — whichever you prefer.
Hold your retreat in a place where silence is already at home
Tell us your tradition, your teacher, your dates. We have hosted lineages from Tibetan Buddhism to secular mindfulness — we will tell you honestly if your retreat fits the venue.