By Geoffrey Stekelenburg

There are moments when you step into a place and immediately feel: this is different. Not in a flashy, dramatic way, but in a quiet, grounding, almost magical way. That was our experience visiting Bij Bram, a care farm tucked away in the Dutch countryside, where something truly special is happening.

The trip was part of our ongoing work at Traustur Kjarni to explore and learn from communities that are reimagining what mental health care can look like. And from the very start, right down to the goats, gardens, and mugs of coffee shared in the sun, it was clear that Bij Bram isn’t just a project. It’s a living, breathing community.

Some of us had already met our host Harry, and his wife Lisette, earlier in Reykjavík, and their energy had already sparked our curiosity. But nothing could really prepare us for what it felt like to be there, surrounded by green fields, handmade buildings, and people who genuinely care about each other.

“Walking into Bij Bram felt like stepping into another world... and yet, this is a place where people come with their struggles. That contrast really hit me.” — Geoffrey Stekelenburg

It’s true. There was something deeply peaceful and welcoming about the place, despite the fact that it holds space for a lot of pain, recovery, and complexity. There was laughter. Real, joyful laughter. Shared meals. Conversations that meandered between silly and serious. And people who were simply being, members, not clients; humans, not cases.

“The visit to the care farm Bij Bram was an exquisite learning experience… I witnessed a harmonious integration of some of the most important factors for mental health: community, nature, physical activity, animals, responsibility, peer support, personal projects, therapy on request…” — Dumitrița Simion

That list might sound like a lot, but it didn’t feel forced or overdesigned. It just worked. A kind of natural rhythm ran through everything. You could see it in the way people worked on small tasks, supported one another, or simply sat together with no pressure to be or do anything in particular.

“Put together a beautiful green space, some horses, bunnies and chickens, cozy hangout areas… give people freedom and the right amount of support… and you’re almost there. The final touch is an atmosphere of kindness and respect.” — Dumitrița Simion

Over the three days, we heard from staff, joined in with everyday activities, and sat with powerful stories from people who had been through it, addiction, loneliness, mental health struggles, and who had found a kind of new life at the farm. A real one. With friendships, meaning, and goats (did we mention the goats?).

We also made our way to Utrecht, where we visited a recovery college that really shifted our perspective. It was big, but still cozy, somewhere you’d actually want to hang out, not just a place to “get services.” There was also a stop at a psychiatric hospital and a safe consumption room, two very different settings, with one offering clear, compassionate care in their own ways, and the other, well, let’s just say “very interesting”...

Of course, not everything was perfect, there was one session that leaned a little too hard on business jargon (you know who you are), but even that made us reflect on how important it is to keep things grounded in the human side of this work.

“Bij Bram is a beautiful place… the idea of calling everyone members instead of staff and clients is very inspiring and probably goes a long way to foster the sense of community that was so apparent there.” — Hallgrímur Hrafnsson

What we all came away with, in one way or another, was a deep sense of possibility. This can work. Care can be different. And not just in the Netherlands.

“Being on that farm, I had a strong feeling that things were just as they should be. A patch of normality in a world marked by alienation, fragmentation and rush.” — Dumitrița Simion

We couldn’t have said it better. It felt like a small oasis of realness in a world that too often pushes people to the margins. And it reminded us that creating environments where people are safe, needed, and free to grow doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be honest.

As we carry this experience back to our work in Iceland, we’re holding onto that spark. We have new ideas, fresh energy, and maybe even a couple of dreams involving Icelandic chickens and community flower beds.

We’re deeply thankful for this experience, and more excited than ever for what comes next.

“Zorg kan anders.” Care can be different. And it should be.

Next stop: Ireland.

The medicine cupboard
The medicine is seeds
Growing plants
Fruit and vegetables
Walking in nature
Taking care of the kittens, lambs, chickens, horses and bunnies

Heim