Utrecht, Netherlands
Escape to the Dutch countryside for four unforgettable nights of books, historic castles, cosy dinners, country walks and slow living on the banks of the River Linge.
Escape to the Dutch countryside for a Reading Retreat where historic surroundings, good books and slow days come together on the banks of the River Linge.
Join us solo, or bring your best friend, sister or another wonderful woman in your life, for four nights designed around reading, exploring and connecting with a group of like-minded women.
Location
Kerk-Avezaath, Netherlands
Set in the heart of the Dutch countryside, our home for the retreat is Huis ten Ham, a beautifully restored historic country house surrounded by park-like gardens on the banks of the River Linge.
With beautiful bedrooms, a library, study, two living rooms and five fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, this is the kind of place that feels made for disappearing into a book. Find a quiet corner in the library, curl up beside the fire, relax in the sauna, wander through the grounds or settle in for an afternoon of reading with nowhere else you need to be.
Across the four nights, we'll balance those slower moments with a carefully curated itinerary that takes us beyond the house. We'll explore the surrounding countryside on foot, discover the canals, wharves and historic streets of Utrecht on a walking tour, and step back in time with a visit to Amerongen Castle and its gardens.
Back at the house, evenings are for coming together. Expect a book swap, Murder Mystery Dinner Party, Sip & Paint, long dinners and, of course, our signature Book Discussion before one final farewell dinner.
Whether you're looking to finally make a dent in your TBR, explore a new corner of Europe or simply spend a few days surrounded by women who understand why packing four books for a four-night trip is entirely reasonable, our Netherlands Reading Retreat is your invitation to slow down.
Itinerary
Book Discussion
An evening filled with delicious food whilst we chat about the book of the trip and what we’re currently reading
Country Walk
Stretch your legs with a scenic countryside walk, breathe in the fresh air, and take in the beauty of your surroundings.
Welcome Dinner
Come together over an incredible meal to chat and take part in our coveted book swap
Murder Mystery Dinner Party
Become both detective and dinner guest at our Murder Mystery Dinner Party
Goodie Bag
Leave with a brand new tote bag filled with a few goodies inside
Meet & Greet
It all begins with an introduction over cocktails. Meet the other ladies and get ready for a gorgeous few days.
Reading Time
Your evenings may be full, but your days are free with time to focus on you (and your TBR pile).
Amerongen Castle & Garden
A historic Dutch estate surrounded by beautiful grounds.
Private Walking Tour of Utrecht
A private walking tour of one of the Netherlands' most beautiful historic cities.
Sip & Paint
Get creative with Sip & Paint — no artistic ability required.
Rooms
Huis ten Ham has eight spacious bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom.
The rooms combine the character of this historic property with comfortable, thoughtfully restored interiors, making the house feel like a private country estate.
Some beds are available to configure as a twin room so please just let us know if you would prefer this option. In some cases shared occupancy will be in a double bed.
Payment Options
We offer two ways to secure your place on this Reading Retreat — choose the option that works best for you.
Pay in full (save 5%)
If you’re able to pay upfront, you’ll receive 5% off the room price as a little thank-you for paying in full at the time of booking.
Deposit + payment plan
Prefer to spread the cost? You can secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit, then pay the remaining balance via a payment plan. The full balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the retreat start date.
Full details on deposits, payment plans, cancellations and refunds can be found in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
Solo Occupancy
£2500
Shared Occupancy
£3000
Details
Accommodation, one group transfer on arrival and departure days, food and drinks at the property, full itinerary and all activities listed in the retreat itinerary.
Flights, travel insurance, food and drink outside of the accommodation unless specifically included in the itinerary, and additional activities not included in the itinerary.
Arrive from 1pm, settle in, exhale. We’ll say our goodbyes by 11am on departure day — slow mornings encouraged. The house is located 55 mins from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit, then pay the remaining balance via a payment plan. The full balance is due 60 days before the retreat start date. Prefer to pay upfront? You’ll save 5% when you pay in full at the time of booking.
Huis ten Ham Daver 1 4017 BA Kerk-Avezaath Netherlands
Huis ten Ham is a historic country property set within large park-like grounds beside the River Linge. The retreat itinerary includes a country walk, a private walking tour of Utrecht and a visit to Amerongen Castle and its gardens, so guests should be comfortable spending periods of time walking and standing. Utrecht's historic centre also includes cobbled and uneven surfaces, steps and canal-side areas. As Huis ten Ham is a historic building and registered monument, we recommend contacting us before booking if you have limited mobility or specific accessibility requirements so that we can confirm whether the property, your allocated bedroom and the planned activities will be suitable for you.
Once your place is secured, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Around 6 months before your retreat, you'll receive a Welcome Pack with everything you need to know — including your final payment information, full itinerary, travel guidance and local recommendations. Around 60 days before departure, we'll be back in touch with final details and everything you need to get ready for your Reading Retreat. Then all that's left to do is decide which books are making it into your suitcase.
Gallery
FAQ
Property-based retreats start at 1pm.Yacht-based retreats begin with welcome drinks near the marina from 1pm, with boarding usually around 3pm.
Hotel-based retreats typically have check-in from 3pm.
While you're welcome to arrive any time after the stated start time, we recommend not arriving too late so you don’t miss the welcome drinks and introductions.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property. Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-in details included in their Welcome Pack.
Property-based retreats (hotels and villas) usually end at 11am.For our yacht Reading Retreats, guests usually disembark at 10am.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property.
Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-out details included in their Welcome Pack.
Each is location-specific! Itineraries are outlined on the individual Reading Retreat pages. Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary, activities, or accommodation due to circumstances beyond our control. Guests will be informed of any significant changes as soon as possible.
Our Reading Retreats range from relaxing to adventurous. You can find this information on each retreat listing on our website. The itinerary is shared in advance via the WhatsApp group chat, and each day is designed to balance free time with planned activities. Everything on the itinerary is entirely optional, including evening meals, so guests are welcome to spend time on their own if they wish.
The cost of the retreat does not cover flights, so you are responsible for booking your own. We recommend booking your flights as soon as your spot on the Reading Retreat is confirmed, to secure the best options and fares. If you’d like any assistance or support in choosing the best flights, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re happy to help.
For selected Reading Retreats, we offer a complimentary group transfer at a scheduled time. Please refer to the "Getting There" section of your specific retreat listing for full details. Where provided, group transfer times are arranged to align with the retreat's check-in and check-out times.
Guests are notified of the Book of the Retreat 50 days before departure via the group WhatsApp chat. We always take great care in selecting a title we feel will be exciting and engaging for all guests.
Reading the book is completely optional; however, we do host a book discussion on the final night of the retreat for those who would like to take part.
For our property and yacht Reading Retreats, you’ll be joined by a dedicated host and chef (and a skipper for yachts). For hotel-based Reading Retreats, a host will be on-site throughout, supported by the hotel’s team to ensure a truly memorable experience.
Group sizes can vary depending on the venue, but we typically welcome 12–16 guests per Reading Retreat, plus our host(s), chef, and a skipper for yacht-based retreats.
You will be added to a WhatsApp group chat with the other guests 60 days before the retreat begins, giving you the chance to get to know each other beforehand.
Guest ages generally range from 20s to 60s, but we’ve welcomed people from 18 to 75, so our retreats are truly open to everyone!
On the first evening, we host a blind book swap. It’s a fun ice breaker that sparks conversation – and you get a new book! If you’re not comfortable in group discussions, we’ll do everything we can to ensure you feel at ease. You can also share any preferences or notes in advance on your preference sheet.
For the Book Swap, we ask that guests bring a book they’ve loved and think someone else might enjoy too. It doesn’t need to be new – it can be your well-loved copy, whatever works best. We also ask that you gift wrap the book, as it really adds to the fun of the experience.
The food reflects the local cuisine of the country. We aim to offer a mix of familiar favourites alongside exciting new dishes you may not have tried before.
We’re no longer able to offer part payments directly. That said, you’re very welcome to settle the balance at a time that suits you anytime up to 60 days before the retreat. Alternatively, Klarna is available in most regions via the payment link if you’d prefer to spread the cost.
Yes! All dietary restrictions are fully catered for. You’ll receive a preference sheet before your Reading Retreat, allowing you to share any requirements in advance.
There isn’t a daily housekeeper to make the beds during the retreat.
Although we love dogs, our Reading Retreats are for humans only.
A solo occupancy room accommodates one person, while a shared room accommodates two.
If your plans change and you’d like to switch between solo and shared occupancy, that’s no problem – just reach out to us, and the price will be adjusted accordingly.
Yes! We host private Reading Retreats for special occasions such as hen dos, birthdays, or other celebrations. Each retreat can be tailored to create a memorable and personalised experience for your group. Email help@ladieswholit.co.uk to find out more.
While we don’t operate a waitlist, the best way to be first in the know is by joining our Book Club. Members receive early access to newly announced Reading Retreats and get first dibs on any spaces that become available.
As of 2026, we have a new booking system in place. For both solo and shared occupancy, only one deposit is required to secure your room.
In the run-up to your Reading Retreat, you’ll receive a Welcome Pack with a payment link for the remaining balance. Guests have up to 60 days before the retreat starts to pay in full and can choose to settle it all at once or in installments via Klarna. Please note, if the balance is not paid in full at least 60 days in advance, the booking will be forfeited.
As a UK-based business, all of our payments are processed in British Pound Sterling (£). Stripe, our payment provider, will handle the currency conversion for you and you will be responsible for any currency conversion fees.
With our new booking system, the balance needs to be managed together by the guests. You can choose to pay it in full whenever it’s convenient, or spread the cost over time using Klarna.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to transfer your booking to another Reading Retreat. However, we can provide a refund for your trip, minus the non-refundable deposit, if requested up to 60 days before the retreat starts. If you’d like to join a different retreat, you’re welcome to book through the standard process, which ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all our guests.
Passports are required as part of our standard policy, as they’re needed for guest registration at our Reading Retreat locations. In some cases, they may also be necessary for local registration or activity sign-ups.
Explore more of our Reading Retreats
Bodrum, Türkiye
Byron Bay, Australia
Mallorca, Spain
What our guests are saying about their stay
Pure magic! From the moment we arrived at the most breathtaking villa nestled in the rolling Tuscan hills, Meagan made sure every detail felt like it had been curated straight out of an Italian dream.
I attended the February Caribbean reading retreat and wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars! This was the best vacation I could have imagined. Not only was the resort amazing, the conversation and the ladies could not have been better.
I had such a lovely time on my retreat to Sicily. Megan is an amazing host who really looked after all of the group and made the trip feel like a fab holiday with friends. I went alone and everyone was lovely - I will happily book again next year. Book! You won't regret it.
Find out first...Join the book club
Join the Ladies Who Lit book club and be the first to know when new retreats drop and last minute spaces become available.
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