A place to
slow down
and come hometo yourself
A tiny house built from clay, straw, stone and wood.
A music therapist as your host.
The silence of the Semois valley all around you.
“A house that breathes. Built with hands, intention, and the earth itself.”
Three ways to experience
La Boutique Naturelle
STAY
Rent the house · Short stays
Sleep in a house made of living materials — clay walls that breathe, straw insulation, reclaimed wood and stone. Wake up to birdsong and the silence of the Semois valley. A rare and restorative experience in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes.
LEARN
Natural building · Workshops
Hands in the clay, straw between your fingers. Learn the ancient craft of building with natural, reused and ecological materials — taught by someone who has lived it. Workshops for individuals, couples or small groups. No experience needed.
HEAL
Music therapy · Sessions
Gentle, embodied music sessions with a therapist of 30 years’ experience. Movement, sound, silence. A way of reorganising the nervous system, finding your rhythm again, and returning to a simpler, more harmonious way of being.
“Clay, lime, stone, wood and straw are the basis.
The house breathes and is unique in every respect
Every material in this house was chosen for its ecological integrity.
Nothing is here by accident..”
The person behind it all
Patrick Hoelen — builder, therapist, host
Thirty years ago, I began searching for a different way to help people.
That search led me to music therapy — and eventually, to this house in the Ardennes.
I renovated La Boutique Naturelle with my own hands, using clay, straw, lime, reclaimed wood and stone. Every material was chosen with intention. Every room tells a story.
I am a trained music therapist, a former trainer for the French Community of Belgium, and a lecturer.
But above all, I am someone who believes that healing happens when we slow down, use our hands, and listen — to music, to nature, to ourselves.
This house is my life project. I am glad you found it.
Vresse-sur-Semois — one of the last truly silent places
The Semois valley in the Belgian Ardennes is a place of extraordinary beauty and quiet. Walking, kayaking, forest bathing, complete disconnection. The house sits close to the French border, surrounded by nature — and almost no noise.
“Vresse-sur-Semois is a pearl for walking, kayaking and contemplation.
Enjoy nature and the extremely rare silence.”
Come and breathe
for a while
Whether you want to rest, learn to build with natural materials, or explore music as a path to healing — we’d love to hear from you.