The Olstergaard is an ecological neighbourhood in the town of Olst, the Netherlands. Situated on the IJssel river, this region has been a fertile and luscious area for centuries. The project started to take shape in 2018, and since 2021 people have gradually built their houses and moved into the neighbourhood, creating an estate of 72 houses in a mix of social housing, senior apartments, and privately owned homes.

Mission and Identity
The Olstergaard strives to be a nature-inclusive community, with regards to all that lives and moves in our tiny corner of the earth. Not only do we try to live in harmony with nature, we also want to cultivate a sense of belonging among the residents. Through various social networks and activities we promote connection, while leaving room for one’s privacy and personal life. We acknowledge the value of knowing your community and feeling part of a social group.

Neighbourhood design
In our neighbourhood design we have chosen to use hedges instead of fences, creating natural passage ways for mammals and other small animals. Birds use these hedges for nesting, foraging and hiding. All plots had a clear limit on construction and paving area, leaving room for a lot of greenery. Several wadis in the neighbourhood provide drainage for rainwater disposal into the soil.

Nature-inclusive construction
All residents have implemented nature-inclusive features in their homes, like bat boxes, bird nesting boxes, green roofs, insect hotels, etc. Gardens are mostly landscaped with endemic and organic plants, trees and shrubs, to facilitate endemic animal species to thrive. Cars are mostly kept on the outskirts of the neighbourhood, to provide a safe playing environment for our children. Other technological innovations concern the use of construction materials like wood, straw, adobe, and natural insulation material like hemp and flax. Most homes also store rainwater for use in the garden or even in the home (flushing toilets and doing laundry).

Social Impact
We want to be ambassadors for a way of sustainable living in a world negatively impacted by human activity. We realize that our way of living is not a way of life that is suitable or feasible for everyone, and we try to help people consider their next step in living a greener life. We organise guided tours every month, and also welcome groups for private tours. We work closely with the municipality of Olst-Wijhe to see how we can support local initiatives to help our planet.

Contact
If you have questions about our neighbourhood, or if you would like to speak to a resident, please contact us through vereniging@olstergaard.nl.