Opening soon at Bleyduin, Heemstede · Nederlands
A cosy community sauna by the water in Heemstede, near Haarlem. Heat, a cold pond, and nowhere else to be.
coorie
Pronounced like ‘cookie’ but with an ‘r’-coorie [ku:ri] is a beautiful old Scottish word that means to nestle in, get cozy, and find comfort in togetherness.
To nestle. To lean in close. To feel held.
That's the whole idea. A small hot room for ten or twelve, a cold reset a few steps from the door, a bench to sit on afterwards, and people who came for the same reason you did.
The ritual
A session is about one hour and goes round in a circle.
Most people go round three times. cooling temperature follows the seasons
1. Arrive
10 min
Phone in the cabin. Change, take a towel, sit down. Nothing starts until you've stopped.
2. Heat
12 to 15 min
The stove has been going since morning, 80 to 90 °C on the top bench. Water on the stones when you want it. Step out before you think you should.
3. Cold
up to 2 min
The pond is a few steps from the door. In slowly or all at once. Breathe out. That's the part you'll remember.
4. Rest
15 min
Wrap up, tea, sit by the fire or the water. Talk or don't. Then round again.
Notes from the build
Weekly, in my own words. Newest first.
Progress on site: For a while now it's felt like I've been stuck behind a computer setting up. A few really positive steps have been made on site. I cleared some of the area (farewell oud kippenhok) where our beautiful sauna will live and built a garden storage box all by myself (very proud). The changing facilities have also been ordered.
A sauna in Heemstede, on the Haarlem side
Bleyduin 46
Leidsevaartweg, Heemstede
By the water, between Haarlem and the dunes. Come by bike if you can, there's room to lock it up by the gate. Exact directions and parking notes go here once the entrance is finished.
What to bring
Swimwear
Two towels, one for the bench and one for after
Something warm to put on afterwards
A water bottle
Tea is on us.
Be there when the stove gets cosy…
One email when we open, and an occasional note from the build before that.
Questions before then: hello@thesocialimpactconsultancy.com or Instagram.