Helder farm studios

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In the south of Portugal, in a valley called Montinho de Gois, Esmee and Laurens have built something rare: a place where creativity, nature, and human connection are woven together with intention. Helder Farm Studios began as a conversation between two people who barely knew each other. Nine months later, they were looking for land. Today, it's a thriving farm stay where strangers become friends and meaningful conversations happen around the table.

We spoke with them about taking the leap from Amsterdam to rural Portugal, about learning patience through building, and about what happens when you decide to actually live the life you've been dreaming about.

How did this all begin? Tell us about yourselves and how you came to create Helder Farm Studios.

My name is Esmee and together with my partner Laurens we founded Helder Farm Studios, a farm stay in Portugal. We used to live in Amsterdam and that's also where we met and where our dreams slowly came together. We both longed for a slower life closer to nature—more space, animals, and the possibility to create a place where we could host guests and creative events.

Coming from creative backgrounds ourselves—me in photography and Laurens in filmmaking and directing—it felt natural to build something experience-focused and visual. We didn't want to just own a property. We wanted to create a world.

 

But Amsterdam to rural Portugal is a big leap. What made you actually take that step instead of keeping it as a distant dream?

 

We only knew each other for a couple of months when we started dreaming and talking about this idea. Quite quickly after that we just thought, why not start looking for land and see if this could actually become real? I think we are both very hands-on people and instead of overthinking it for years, we just started doing it step by step.

People always ask us: weren't you scared? We only knew each other for around nine months when we started seriously looking for land and properties. Of course from the outside that can sound very soon, but for us it never really felt like a problem. We always said that even if you are together for six years, things can still fall apart. We trusted that if challenges came, we would also find solutions. Luckily, that was never the case, and we are still very happy building this life together.

Can you take us back to the first time you saw the property? What made you feel that this was the place?

 

The first time we arrived at the property to see it, it was pouring rain. But even through that, the old farmhouse immediately stood out to us with its Portuguese character and charm. From the beginning, we imagined renovating the existing buildings into something more modern while still keeping the original soul of the place alive.

The valley also really stood out to us. It's the flatter part of the land where we dreamed of having a greenhouse, vegetable garden and animals roaming around one day. When we visited the property for a second time, there were horses from a neighbour grazing there, and that moment really gave us a feeling of what the place could eventually become. It was like seeing the future in that single image.

 

How does the surrounding landscape influence the experience of staying at Helder Farm Studios?

 

Our farmhouse is located in a valley surrounded by rolling hills, cork trees and nature. The landscape really shapes the atmosphere of the farm and the rhythm of daily life. The light changes constantly throughout the day, the seasons feel very present and life naturally moves slower here. I think guests also really feel that when they arrive. There is a calmness that comes from being surrounded by nature and being slightly removed from busy everyday life.

From the terraces of the studios you can look down into the valley and often see the animals roaming around. There are also beautiful hikes directly around the farm, so people naturally spend a lot of time outside. You constantly hear birds around you and really notice the changes of the seasons throughout the year, which is something we both missed living in the city.

You moved away from Amsterdam searching for a slower life. Did reality match that expectation?

 

I think we moved here searching for a slower life in nature, but the reality is that life here is not always slower. Living in the countryside means there are always things to do, things to fix and responsibilities that come with the land and the farm.

But even though the days can feel very full, being surrounded by nature and moving with the seasons gives a different kind of peace. It feels more like an internal way of living. Life feels more grounded and connected to simple routines. There's a difference between being busy because you're rushing and being busy because you're building something real.

How has building this place changed you as individuals and as a couple?

 

Building this place has changed us a lot, both individually and as a couple. It forced us to become much more patient and resilient. You constantly have to solve problems together, make decisions together and learn how to balance work and private life when everything is so connected.

At the same time, it also brought us much closer because we are building something that reflects both of us and the kind of life we wanted to create. When your home is your work and your work is your dream, there's no separation. Everything is intertwined. That requires vulnerability and trust.

A big part of Helder seems to revolve around connection and bringing people together. What do you hope guests leave with after staying here?

 

For us, both the regular stays and the retreats are really about helping people slow down and step away from their day-to-day lives for a moment. I think people can reconnect with themselves here and leave feeling inspired again.

I personally love creating meaningful moments around the table, with beautiful table settings where people feel taken care of and can sit together for hours having deep conversations with strangers who sometimes leave as friends. I think as we get older it can actually become quite hard to make new connections and friendships. And it's beautiful to see that happen naturally here.

That's really what Helder is about—creating the conditions for genuine human connection. Everything else is just the setting.

What has Portugal taught you personally since moving there?

 

I can be quite an impatient person and living in Portugal and building this project definitely taught me patience. It showed me that things often come at the right time and unfold naturally, as long as you keep putting your ideas and goals out into the world and continue working towards them.

This land teaches you that you cannot force growth. Seeds grow in their own time. Projects unfold at their own pace. And somehow, that's actually liberating. You stop fighting against the timeline and start trusting it instead.

When you look at Helder today, what does it represent for you?

 

Today this place represents the life we once dreamed about together. It's not only a business or a farm stay, but really a reflection of the way we want to live. It combines creativity, nature, food, hosting and community all in one place.

Most people keep these things separate. Work over here, home over there, dreams somewhere else entirely. But we wanted to weave them all together. And that's what we've done.

And looking ahead, what do you still dream about for the future of Helder?

 

We are both very ambitious people and this is really just our first full season at Helder Farm Studios, so there are still many ideas for the future. Maybe one day a coffee bar, a restaurant or another slightly bigger project connected to hospitality and food.

At the same time, we also feel like we are only just getting started and want to focus on building Helder slowly and properly first. The rest will follow when the timing feels right. We've learned that lesson now—the best things cannot be rushed. They can only be tended, with patience and intention, until they're ready to bloom.