Veenweide Atelier

a nature laboratory for eco-social design

The Peat Meadow area in Fryslân has always been in motion. For centuries shaped by both human hands and natural forces. Drainage for agriculture has caused the soil to settle and the land to sink. Now it’s time for a new balance. How do we preserve this landscape? Not only for today, but for the generations to come? In the Peat Meadow Atelier, we explore sustainable materials, innovative farming practices, and ways to reshape the land in harmony with nature.

What if grass, cattail and bacteria are the building blocks of a new economy? How can we build and live in tune with the peat soil beneath our feet? During the 100 Days of Arcadia, we bring these questions to life through a series of projects. Visit the exhibition at the Fries Museum and discover innovative designs and inspiring artworks that imagine the future of the Fryske landscape.

artists and designers in the peat meadow atelier

In recent years, designers and artists at the Peat Meadow Atelier have been experimenting with new materials, farming methods, and design solutions for a changing landscape. In 2025, ‘t Kathûs will take center stage, a historic farmhouse nestled in the heart of Fryske nature. Here, a new perspective on heritage is unfolding. Together with the provincial nature conservation association ‘It Fryske Gea’, we are giving this place and its surrounding landscape a sustainable future. It will become a space where nature, culture, and experimentation come together.

Feangreide Beraad

On January 24, 2024, the Veenweide Atelier hosted the first Feangreide Beraad — an in-depth program featuring the designers and experts in water, soil, grass, and regional development processes. This gathering marked the conclusion of one year of design-driven research in the Frisian peat meadow region. You can read the full report of the deliberation below.

from studio to museum

The insights and designs from the Peat Meadow Atelier will soon be discoverable not only in the landscape but also at the Fries Museum. From May 24 to October 26, 2025, the exhibition will showcase how art and design contribute to the future of the Fryske landscape. Visitors will experience innovative material research, interactive installations, and inspiring artworks, taking them into a new narrative full of perspective and imagination.

what if water and soil show us the way?

Marvel at all that this area has to offer and discover the Peat Meadow Atelier. Take a fresh look at the landscape and be inspired by projects that connect nature and design. Experience how art and innovation contribute to a resilient future. What will you discover when you look at the peat meadow area from a different perspective?

The exhibition Veenweide Atelier was created in collaboration with the Fries Museum