Practical Hope

European NVC-Summerweek 21-27 August in the Netherlands

Nonviolent Communication, and more

I, you, we

The last full week of August, in the middle of the Netherlands, at a beautiful location in nature, there is an inspiring workshop week from Saturday afternoon 21 till Friday after lunchtime 27. It is based on Nonviolent Communication. The location is Centrum Oostraven, Epe, the Netherlands.

How can we create a world that works for all? From the core of ourselves towards the outer world, we want you to inspire to create practical hope together. Our aim is that you contribute to your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others and the surrounding. Personal, social & ecological change, and also: playfulness!

We use different methods to answer this question. Nonviolent Communication, The work that reconnects (Joanna Macey), Living Compassion (Robert Gonzales), Sociocracy, Conflict mediation and conflict resolution.

It is for people with and without experience in Nonviolent Communication. It is recommended you did a basic course in NVC, because then you have more options to choose your workshops. You can do basic courses everywhere. If you need advise please contact us (see below).

For certification candidates in NVC there is room for practice, and getting guidance and feedback from certified trainers.

The week is a wonderful immersion in a beautiful surrounding!

We aim at 40 participants out of Europe. We will make a spreadsheet where you can ask for a lift, or offer a lift, or can travel together. We encourage everyone to travel in a way that is eco–friendly: by foot, bike, train and bus, or by car with more than 1 person. You can also make it a summer trip and take some time to travel around in the Netherlands!

The trainers are:
Hester Macrander, from the Netherlands. CNVC certified trainer, specialities: creative background in theatre and writing, conflict mediation.
Eva Maria Schneijderberg, from the Netherlands. CNVC certified trainer, specialities: the work that reconnects, living compassion.
Marijke Christiansson, from Sweden. CNVC certified trainer, specialities: the work that reconnects, sociocracy. (Has Dutch roots and speaks Dutch also)
Baltazar Faunbäck, from Germany, Berlin. CNVC candidate, specialities: empathy, democracy, dialogue.

Hester and Eva Maria organize and facilitate summerweeks for many years, this will be their seventh year. They are experienced, also in working with groups of 40 people. This is their first European week. They organized an International Intensive Training together in 2025 with almost 80 people.

Language
It will be in English, at a middle level. If you need translation, we will take care of that (whisper-translation). If there are only Dutch people in a workshop, it will be in Dutch.

Doubt? If you are unsure whether this is right for you, please feel free to discuss it: get in touch

Food and drinks
We provide drinks, fruit and snacks during the program time. You take care of your own breakfast and lunch. Dinner is organized in groups, so that we divide the tasks. Groceries can be done 4 kilometer away in the supermarket. We can combine this with the cars that are available. We share the costs. We chose this so we can keep the total costs low.

Workshops
Each day has a theme, and there will be choice from workshops in the morning and in the afternoon. We will also create some time to integrate what you’ve learned.
On Saturday 21st you can arrive from 15:00 o’ clock, and we will have a first meeting in the evening.
On Friday 27th we will have our last meeting in the morning and you can leave after lunch.
There are also evening activities that you may or may not participate in.

We believe it is important that you are truly present during this midweek and do not have other commitments. Of course, unforeseen circumstances can always arise. If it is needed that you come later of leave earlier contact us.

Quote
‘I arrived without expectations, assuming that I would take something away from it, and that is exactly what happened. I enjoyed getting to know so many other people and not having to do or be expected to do anything at all, or being responsible for anything. This week, I experienced how much space that offers to truly listen and observe. Thanks to that open attitude, I was able to see people so much better, without having to make any effort at all. I had a fantastic week!’ (Participant in the summerweek 2026)

Travel
You can plan your trip by public transport in The Netherlands at NS Reisplanner.
The nearest train station is ’t Harde, a small station which you can reach from the bigger stations Zwolle (north-eats side) or Amersfoort (south-west side). We can pick you up for the last 8 kilometers to the venue.
The nearest busstation is in Epe, busstop Tongerenseweg. This is 3,8 kilometers, 50 min. walk. We can pick you up.
You can rent a bicycle for the week here in the nearest town, Epe. It costs € 47,50 per week.
We will make an online page where you can combine travelling together. Coming…

Schedule

The week starts on Saturday the 21st.
You can come to the venue from 3:00 PM.
The program starts after diner, at 19:00 o’clock.
On Friday the 27th we will have a community meeting in the morning as a closure and you can leave at lunchtine / after lunch.

General schedule:
Community meeting and announcements: 9:30 – 10:15
Break: 10:15 – 10:30
Morning workshops: 10:30 – 12:30
Lunch and rest 12:30– 14:00
Afternoon workshops: 14:00 – 16:00 uur
Break 16:00 – 16:15
Home groups 15:15 – 16:30
Community meeting to close the day and announcements 16:35 – 17:00

Before 9:30 AM and in the evening, there is room for other activities and offerings by you, the participants. Think of yoga, voice work, a walk, a short training, theatre, meditation, dancing, a lecture, creative writing, singing…

We have a generous afternoon break every day to run errands or rest for a bit.

We offer different workshops every day, in the morning and in the afternoon, so you can follow your choice. You can also take some time off if you need it, or wish.

Costs

This is not yet fully decided, but for now it gives an indication. The prices include the workspaces inside and outside, tourist tax and VAT. It is six nights. Prices are in euros.

Most rooms are for two people, beds are apart with quite some space between them. There are a few single rooms which cost more, and a few rooms for three people, which are cheaper. Toilet and showers are shared facilities in the hallways for everyone.

For the workshops and the costs of the total organization it is 725 per person for the whole week. (We trainers pay ourselves a minimum wage.)

For the venue per night:
A three person bedroom: 75,–, per night 450,– for the whole week
A two person bedroom: 90 per night: 540,– for the whole week
A one person bedroom: 125,– per night 750,– for the whole week

In total: stay + workshops:
€ 1175,– in a three person bedroom.
€ 1265,– in a two-person bedroom:
€ 1475,– in a one person bedroom

If you don’t have enough money please let us know what you can pay.
If you have enough money please consider to pay a bit more.