Exclusive Homestory: Helder Farm Studios

At Home with Esmee Brandwijk & Laurens Smit

The dream of Portugal had been there for a long time – together, they turned it into a plan. Esmee Brandwijk and Laurens Smit traded Amsterdam for life in the Portuguese countryside and founded Helder Farm Studios in the Alentejo in 2022. At the studios, they welcome guests for creative retreats – a place to slow down, connect and immerse themselves in the experience. What may sound like an idyllic slow-living escape is, above all, about one thing: living close to nature – and working with its rhythms rather than against them.

A Different Kind of Home

Their own home – a yurt – sits on a hill near the farm. Its open, circular space and large windows make the landscape part of the interior. It’s hard to imagine getting closer to nature.

"We don't have any curtains, so we wake with the morning light. In the mornings, you can hear the birds, and when it rains, you can hear the drops falling on the canvas."

Think in Circles

Living in a round space also means furnishing it differently. In the beginning, it wasn't easy for Esmee and Laurens to bring structure to the unusual floor plan. Rather than a conventional layout, the interior remains open and pared back, with a few carefully selected pieces and natural, earthy tones.

“I think there's something really beautiful about finding someone you can share your dreams with – someone whose dreams align with your own.”

Life on a Farm

Here, the season determines what ends up on the table. Esmee and Laurens grow their own vegetables, harvest and cook them – a cycle that has become an integral part of everyday life. And seeing a tiny seed eventually become their dinner? For the two of them, it remains something special.

Fresh & delicious

The Studios

When Esmee and Laurens discovered the old Portuguese farmhouse, preserving its original character was a priority. Natural materials echo the landscape of Alentejo, while bold colours, Moroccan rugs and linen textiles add a modern, personal twist. The result is a collection of studios designed to feel like a home away from home for their guests.

“This place really calls for a slower, more peaceful way of being, and we hope to give people the chance to step away from their everyday lives, slow down and draw inspiration from their surroundings.”

Slow Living

Running a farm means growing, harvesting, renovating, organising – and constantly improvising. Quieter than Amsterdam? Probably. Less to do? Not necessarily. For Esmee and Laurens, however, the hard work and challenges are part of the fulfilment.