Tea Ceremony Bach in the Tea Hut 29 May 2026

Haruka Matsuo is the only tea master in Europe who performs tea ceremonies according to the Oubaku Baisa Ryu tradition, using loose tea leaves instead of the more commonly used matcha powder. “Bach in the Tea Hut” is part of the “Naardermeer Tea Hut – Tea Tree, Tea Treaty” project, in collaboration with cellist Gé Bartman.

The Japanese teahouse “Tea Tree, Tea Treaty” is more than just a building. It is a place for encounter, reflection, and connection — with each other, with nature, and with the site itself.

The teahouse is located in the garden of Stichting Meentwerf, within walking distance of the grasslands and shallow waters that connect the Naardermeer with the Ankeveense Plassen. This proximity is no coincidence: in the Japanese tradition, the path to the teahouse serves as a mental preparation for the ceremony.

The teahouse was built entirely using reused materials, including original parts of the Meentwerf building — formerly a fire station. The clay for the earthen interior wall and the ceramic tea utensils were sourced by Haruka herself from the Naardermeer.