About Us
Building a community vibe
In Freedom Ville, we are dedicated to nurturing a vibrant community, where individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and talents not only exist but learn to flourish.
Our mission is simple: to craft a more beautiful world that embraces everyone. We firmly believe that through unified teamwork, we can sprinkle specks of beauty across our planet.
In our journey, we explore different avenues of connection, embracing the arts and the wonders of nature. While we may not physically reside together permanently, our commitment to fostering community transcends boundaries. By working together with various volunteer teams, hosting artist residencies, organizing rejuvenating retreats, and hosting group gatherings, we strengthen the bonds of community that define our village.
Moreover, through our art and nature foundation, we forge lasting bonds with those who share our vision, inviting them to invest in the regeneration of our land or support our artistic endeavors, including the development of our open-air museum. Together, we plant seeds of hope and growth, nurturing a legacy that will continue to bloom for generations to come.
Our Vision
The world is our home. The sky is the limit. Our vision is to revive the village of Malhadil. To create a piece of paradise called Freedom Ville. An environment where people can live free. Our family permanent, and our guests temporarily. For holidays, events or special retreats. A place where we live Independent of institutions and supported by the community. A place where we can explore ourselves and all interconnectivity. Break through programs and patterns that create imaginary boundaries. We want to create a space where nature thrives and people smile. Where life comes in first, and not in second place.
Values
- Respect mother nature
- Sharing is caring
- Save seeds save life
- Work hard play hard
- Share knowledge
- Make love not war
- Don't hurry, you might run out of time
- Seek freedom within
- Enjoy the process of creation
- Trust life and life will carry you
- Walk through the shadows and shine in the sun
Volunteers
Throughout the year, we host several periods dedicated to volunteer projects. During the summer season, we seek enthusiastic volunteers to assist with the hospitality aspect of our village and tend to the gardens. In the wintertime, our focus shifts towards maintaining accommodations, advancing village developments, and nurturing the land.
In exchange for four days of dedicated work, we offer nourishing food, refreshing drinks, comfortable accommodation, endless inspiration, and an abundance of love.
If you're eager to be a part of one of our volunteer projects, we invite you to apply by sending us an email with your relevant work experience, availability and motivation. Your participation promises not only meaningful contributions but also unforgettable experiences filled with camaraderie and purpose.
Artists in residency
Art is a vital cornerstone of our lives and the very essence of Freedom Ville's identity. We aspire to create a sanctuary where art intertwines with nature. Hence, we extend a heartfelt invitation to artists from all disciplines. Immerse yourselves in nature's embrace, draw inspiration from the surrounding environment, shift your perspectives, and infuse Malhadil with your unique creativity. It's a place where nobody departs without leaving a trail of love behind.
If you feel called to participate in our artist-in-residency program, we encourage you to contact us. Join us in co-creating a space where artistic expression flourishes and the beauty of nature is celebrated in every stroke and melody.
Foundation
In addition to our commercial endeavors, we are committed to investing in the regeneration of our land at Freedom Ville. Our efforts include clearing out the forest and reintroducing native trees to restore the land to its original habitat. We've established a small-scale farm to sustain our restaurant, planted vineyards, and are creating a natural backdrop for our open-air museum. Collaborating with artists from around the globe, we aim to provide a permanent home for art within our village.
Your support, whether big or small, is invaluable to us. By donating you become an integral part of our mission to restore, revive, and replant the seeds necessary for an eco-village to thrive.
Our history
Change the Game
We are an entrepreneurial family tribe from Amsterdam with four kids. For more than 12 years we have been working in the hospitality business in our beautiful city, creating unique meeting places on special locations and organizing uncountable events. The Covid crisis gave us the wake up call we needed, to organize and prioritize our life in a different way. We decided to sell our businesses and house in Amsterdam and pregnant of number four, start a new life in Portugal. A life that is further away from the system and closer to nature. A life in which we still have space to manifest our dreams independent of banks or financial investors. A life that is closer to our children, closer to nature and closer to our hearts.Business in amsterdam
Canvas, Volkshotel
Our first café, restaurant, exhibition room and club
We started our first café, restaurant, exhibition room and club on the top floor of the old newspaper building of the Volkskrant on the Wibautstraat in Amsterdam in 2007. This started of as a temporary project. Thijs won a pitch with his business plan Canvas to start a place that would feel as a living room for the artists that filled all the former offices of the building and connect them to the neighbors and visitors. This building and the other 2 buildings that were part of the old newspaper triangle were on the demolition list and planned to exist no longer than 7 years. When we started the street we were located, was still considered to be the ugliest street of the city. The surrounding neighbourhood was not very attractive, so urban planners were already preparing development plans to give this area a facelift in looks and reputation. We, among other hospitality projects that followed us, like club TROUW and restaurant BAUT, played an important role in this pre-development phase, attracting a lot of locals and international people to the neighborhood.
Canvas finally got future perspective and we became partner in the new project. Together we created the Volkshotel, with Canvas, Doka and Werkplaats as the F&B outlets in which we became partner until the end of 2015.
Amsterdam Roest
An edgy urban oasis with a city beach
In 2010 we were asked to start a new hospitality business on the old industrial island of Oostenburg in the center of the city. A beautiful blindspot that due to its former industrial function, had not been very accessible to the public for years. We negotiated favourable rental terms in exchange for the commitment to put a spotlight on this island in preparation of the urban development that was planned after 2018.
We were in the middle of the renovation for re-opening when we decided we had to let Roest go.
Vrijland Festival
Re-Bell shop
De Quarantine
FREEDOM VILLE
The sky is the limit
The world is our home
