There is such a place in Poland. Smoothed by the hand of God and plucked out by the element of water. Meadows as flat as a tabletop, crisscrossed by rivers and canals, the Vistula Delta heading towards the Baltic Sea, low wooden cottages filled with memories, rows of willows, Dutch windmills, arcaded houses with soul and traditions. It is a landscape for connoisseurs and a paradise for housophiles.
Most rush through Żuławy to the coast and do not even know what they are missing. Change the direction of your journey, have a look at the Nogat river and stop in Jazowa, which was once a Mennonite village. Beautiful buildings, unique flavours, few cemeteries and our Olêder homestead with an arcaded house built in 1851 are the remains of their presence in the area. Beautiful decorations on the facade, wooden doors and balustrades that have cork ornaments, an old white cupboard like grandma's, a manual coffee grinder, black and white photos depicting the history of the house and that smell. The wood, the wind, the meadow in bloom, the warmed earth steaming after the rain. We fell in love with this old soul and spent every spare moment renovating our arcade.
Now we can share with you three rooms, a shared kitchen, a beautiful hallway, a gym and stretches of garden. Our village looks inconspicuous, but its location on the Nogat river makes it easy for you to relax, fish and even swim, paddle in kayaks, listen to the storks croaking and watch the herons parading by. It is worth tasting crayfish soup at the Small Dutchman's (Mały Holender), renting a boat and setting off on a trip along the Żuławy Loop or taking a ride on the narrow-gauge railway along the Vistula Spit.
We invite you to a monument of history, where a rooster crowing is an alarm clock signalling a foggy morning, here in Żuławy the most beautiful moment of the day. We say goodbye to the day with the sunset that melts over the meadows. We are in no hurry, we have everything in place. Come along, dear friends.
In a Dutch arcaded house from 1851. Mennonites used to live here and had truly Dutch views. In sight, meadows flat as a table top, painted in various colors, a river meandering in the vicinity, wading herons, parading storks and this silence. Every day, roosters announce the morning. Nogat has its natural course. Here you can observe the life of wild birds, as well as fishing.
We invite you to a house that could share its rich history with several others. After revitalization, it is open for you and through the hall invites you to the rooms where the wooden structure will comfort and make the time spent in the family circle more pleasant. The preserved wooden floor is unforgettable. Sometimes it bends under pressure, sometimes it creaks.
If I had to describe how it is here in one sentence, I would say that it is like it used to be at grandma's in the countryside. In Siedlisko we have only 4 rooms for you, which ensures peace and intimacy. The old barn whistles in the wind, you can hear the laughter of other household members, because the wood sometimes moves.
On the ground floor there is a shared kitchen with a dining area, with a sideboard filled with tableware. Here you can meet interesting people, brew tea, make breakfast and eat dinner. We also have a triple room downstairs with 3 single beds and a sofa bed for extra guests. The bathroom belonging to this room is accessed from the main hall. It is a bathroom with a shower equipped with towels.
Following the wooden stairs to the first floor, you will reach two rooms with separate bathrooms. One double and the other four. All the beds that are in the rooms are single, but we can of course put them together. Upstairs, you can also sit in a comfortable armchair and read a book from our library.
For a smaller crew, we are equipped with a wooden cot, a baby bath and a high chair.
The garden is a dream place for your pets, they can really have fun.
You can lie on sunbeds or in a hammock all day. When the sun takes its toll, we suggest cooling the body in the river right next to the habitat.
The kitchen lets you let go of your culinary fantasies. Everything you need to create great dishes is here. Crockery is hidden in the granny sideboard, and the oven is waiting for the mashed cake with strawberries. You can go barefoot for fruit, because the orchard is at your disposal. The kitchen is equipped with an oven, microwave and refrigerator. Pots, dishes and cutlery are the basis, they cannot be missing.
There is a table in front of the house where you can eat meals and listen to the clatter of storks. In summer, the gazebo will be used to prepare a barbecue, and for fans of flames to heaven we have a place for a bonfire.
If you are interested in regional cuisine, which we highly recommend, motorists will have no problem visiting their befriended Little Dutchman inn. The traditions of Żuławy are cultivated here and they do not blow porridge, it is simply outstanding. Meatball soup with capers, crayfish soup with noodles, bonfire-baked potato soup, delicious ribs, delicious potato cake, Königsberg meatballs with capers and anchovies, white bean and roasted almond paste, Mennonite sausage, local Werderkäs cheese from Żuławy, and local beer with a rush flavor.
There locally, and at Willa Joker definitely worldwide. Here, shrimps, tacos and pizza, regional Solano cheese in Mediterranean brine, goose broth and Portuguese cod. The whole world in one place.
Our neighbors grow vegetables, fruit, have their own eggs and meat products and they will be happy to share it with you.
You can, but you don't have to. The garden around the house encourages you to be active, and when we don't feel like doing anything, just do nothing. Nobody is punishing anything, there are no specific wake-up times, no duties.
The Nogat River attracts fishermen and sailing enthusiasts. The Nogat is made for sailing. So you can rent a boat and test the beautiful meanders of the river. See the Castle in Malbork from the water position, swim through the Jagiellonian Channel to the Vistula Lagoon, moor in the marina in Biała Góra. Of course, I also recommend kayaking. The Nogat is 62 kilometers long, so you either test your abilities or choose a section for paddling. Canoe harbors are being built in the nearby village of Kępki and in Żelichów. There will be nowhere to stay and rest.
There are paths for fans of two wheels. Well marked and growing all the time. In the forest you can inhale iodine or go mushroom picking.
You can diversify and enrich your stay by visiting the capital of Żuławy - Nowy Dwór Gdański and learning about its history at the Żuławy Museum. In the building of the former dairy of the Swiss Leonhard Krieg from 1902, traces of the cultural heritage of Żuławy of the Vistula delta are collected. In addition to the history of the narrow-gauge railway, the story of Stobbes Machandel - a traditional regional drink, or the secrets of the Mennonite history, you can also take part in pottery or regional cuisine workshops - brewing, cheese and baking bread.
Following the narrow-gauge railway over the Vistula Spit, visit the Amber Room. The cable car is open in the spring and summer season and for several days in September. The railway connects Nowy Dwór Gdański with the coastal towns of the Vistula Spit. In addition to the beautiful views of the Żuławy landscape, forests and beaches of the Vistula Spit, you can see interesting monuments, e.g. the Gothic church in Cyganek, the railway bridge over the Szkarpawa River and the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo.
To learn more about the history of Żuławy and its inhabitants, go to the Former Wozownia in Miłoradz. Here you will listen to unique stories about our region, take part in workshops and see old everyday objects. A place created by passionate people who save the unique history of Żuławy from oblivion.
Manufaktura Hersztek in Nowa Kościelnica is a must-see on the sightseeing route around Żuławy. It is here that real wonders are made, hand-made tiles with windmills or patterns taken from the Netherlands. Watch out for the flagship store, here you can sink and fall in love for a kill.
Of course, you cannot miss the Baltic Sea to warm the ponds on a sunny beach and collect amber. In Krynica Morska, be sure to climb the Lighthouse and take a boat to Frombork to see the Nicolaus Copernicus planetarium. On the way back, passing through Elbląg, take a look at the Granary Island.
By boat on the grass? Can be! When visiting Buczyniec, one of the five slipways, which together with two locks are part of the Elbląg Canal water route. You have to try this.
What’s there for children?
Wind in your hair, naturalness, barefoot running, water, stones, storks, rustling grain and no limits. Kids love to come to us because the large space allows them to feel freedom. Play at the herb shop, play gum, jump on the trampoline. Children can slide down the slide, swing on a swing or a hammock. Play soccer, badminton and have a picnic. And when they get a little tired, just lie down on the grass and watch the clouds in the sky. We have a full village life. From morning to evening in the yard. You can go to the Nogat, you can go to the Izbowa Łacha canal. You can go on canoes, watch ugly ducklings and fish caught by anglers. These are the adventures big and small.
