Tea for the space between worlds
A place for curious souls, pure tea, and everyday wonder.
There are spaces where time seems to move differently.
Where you don't have to hurry, achieve anything, or be anyone other than yourself.
Where you can wander without a purpose, look at a plant, dig your hands into the earth, ask a strange question, write a few pages, draw in your journal or simply enjoy a bowl of pure tea.
Tussenwereld is such a space. As my friend, Ingeborg van Levenswandel, describes it:
'Tussenwereld literally means 'In Between-World'. I see it as a liminal space, where time seems to move more slowly, a doorway to the subtle fabric of nature, a safe haven for soulful creativity and authentic connection.'
Hidden away in Benten's wild garden, between Le Pays des Collines and Le Parc naturel des Plaines de l'Escaut.
A place for curious people, odd birds and zebras.
For those who like colouring outside the lines and appreciate beauty, nature, good conversations and small things.
And for anyone who sometimes simply wants to be somewhere else for a while.
Welcome to Tussenwereld.
Tussenwereld is not a café, workshop space, retreat centre or coaching practice.
It is a place where you can come for half a day and simply spend time in nature, with curiosity and plenty of space to wander, wonder or simply be.
Benten will be around, but there is no programme to follow and nothing you have to achieve.
And of course, there is tea!
Drinking tea here is not a break between activities.
It is part of the journey.
During your stay here, you can enjoy the teas Benten has to offer.
What's all this about tea?
I had been looking for a place where you could quietly drink and discover different good teas, surrounded by nature.
No blends or flavoured "tea", but the real thing.
I couldn't find such a place, so I created one myself. Here you can taste different teas made from the tea plant Camellia sinensis:
- Kukicha
- Genmaicha
- Sencha
- Oolong
- Guan Yin Imperial
- White tea
- Darjeeling
- Pu-erh
You can also make your own herbal infusion using plants from the garden. I'll show you how.
The door to Tussenwereld
Tea & nature connection
You can book your visit to Tussenwereld by emailing Benten. Once your visit is confirmed, you can make your contribution of €33 by bank transfer. All information will be in the email.
You arrive at 2 pm and take your time getting to know the place. You choose your teas, and Benten will prepare them for you during your stay.
A conversation may begin. You're welcome to speak Dutch, English or French.
Perhaps something in the garden catches your attention. Perhaps you get inspired and start drawing in your art journal or sketchbook.
Or you just wander, lay down under the trees or sit between the flowers. There is no set itinerary.
Around 5 pm, we quietly say goodbye to Tussenwereld and return to the ordinary world.
Perhaps a little piece of Tussenwereld will stay with you.
From time to time, there's a special afternoon with a different focus:
Guided plant connection
€39
Take off your shoes and meander through the garden. Slowly.
Perhaps you will meet a plant you have never really seen before.
Benten accompanies you and introduces you to practices for connecting with a plant or tree that draws your attention.
Who knows what will happen? Everything is possible.
From 2 - 5 pm.
Creative journaling
€55
Bring your journal or sketchbook.
Guided by Benten, there will be a theme, a question, an image, a piece of nature or a small creative invitation to get you started.
After that, it can go anywhere.
You don't have to be a writer or an artist.
Curiosity is enough.
You are welcome to use materials from my studio.
From 2 - 5 pm.
Philosophy between the trees
€44
Some questions are not meant to be answered quickly.
- What is the meaning of life?
- What does freedom mean?
- Can we ever truly understand nature?
- Why are we always so busy?
- What do we need to live a good life?
- How can we contribute to a better world, in our own way?
- Why does evil exist?
Together, we choose a question from the little library in the piano room (or from our own minds) and let the conversation wander.
Just people, the garden, tea and an interesting question.
What more do you need?
From 2 - 5 pm.
These special afternoons will be announced in my monthly newsletter. Email me if you would like to receive it: heeljenatuurbenten@gmail.com.
The garden
Tussenwereld is tucked away behind an old farmhouse dating back to around 1775, in a garden that is constantly evolving.
When my husband and I moved here in 2012, there was mostly grass, bare ground, a sheep pasture and one very old cherry tree.
I dreamed of a wild garden filled with trees, flowers, herbs, birds, insects and hidden corners. A place where life is welcome and not everything has to be neat and tidy.
A place where you can get lost, daydream and suddenly discover something unexpected.
Because when you take the time to look, there is an incredible amount to see:
- A seed pod that looks like a tiny work of art.
- A spider's web in the sunlight.
- A bird whose song you have never heard before.
- The smell of the earth after rain.
- An ant trying to move something far too large for it.
- A tiny mushroom beneath a rotting branch.
Magical moments are often hiding in the small things you only notice when you slow down and observe.
When the weather is bad, you can retreat to the Cedar Temple, the veranda, the library or my art studio.
Who is behind Tussenwereld?
My name is Benten. Artist, pharmacist, plant woman, guide and curious introvert.
Someone who tends to notice the small things, ask too many questions and wander off the beaten path.
I'm probably an odd bird myself.
I love nature, beautiful things with a soul, deep conversations, tea (obviously), a creative life, silence and humour.
I believe we don't simply need nature to feel well; we are part of it.
And perhaps caring for the Earth begins when we stop looking at her only as something that has to be useful to us.
From taking to belonging.
Tussenwereld is my small attempt at moving in that direction.
A place where humans and the more-than-human world can encounter one another a little more often and where a relationship can begin to grow.
A few things you should know
Tussenwereld is intentionally small.
There will be a maximum of five people per half day, because I want to preserve the peace and intimacy of the place. That is why booking in advance is essential.
Dogs and other pets stay at home. Not only because our attention has a tendency to wander towards them, but mainly because the cat of the house, Mouche, has some very strong opinions on the matter.
Strong scents are best left at home too. So please avoid perfume and other strongly scented products (fabric softener comes to mind).
There is no smoking or vaping, and no alcohol or other recreational substances.
Because it is nicer when everyone is really present.
How do you get in?
The doors of Tussenwereld will open sometime in 2027 (all good things take time).
From 1 March to 1 December, you will be able to visit on Fridays and on the first and last Saturday of the month from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Would you like to be among the first to know when Tussenwereld opens its doors?
Send an email to heeljenatuurbenten@gmail.com to receive my monthly newsletter.
And perhaps we'll meet soon, somewhere between worlds.
Tussenwereld
is a creation of Heel je Natuur.
+32 471 52 60 06
heeljenatuurbenten@gmail.com