Minke Boender (51) and Martijn Noordhoek (49) believe the drive and upkeep are worthwhile for a vacation home. “A place in nature with room for my children’s weddings.”
“Our children simply must say ‘tractor’ instead of ‘tractor.’ And with their hands and feet in the sand,” Minke and her husband said to each other shortly before their eldest was born. The desire for the outdoors brought the family from The Hague to Drenthe in 2008, where they bought a wooden vacation home on the edge of the heath.
Minke and her family live in The Hague, but they went to their vacation home every other weekend. “We believed it was vital to expose our ‘Randstad children’ to rural life as well.”
What appeals to the family about the cottage? “The nature. We live next to the heath, where you can hear the birds singing. Wolves, deer, and badgers literally walk through our backyard. The polar opposite of our hectic lives in The Hague, which you somewhat forget in Drenthe.”
However, the family has been visiting the Drenthe home less frequently recently, as the children participate in sports on weekends. “Sometimes we don’t go for three months as a family because we can’t stay away for long due to all of the sports activities. That is also not appreciated at the sports clubs, which I understand,” Minke says.
‘Cottage is worth its weight in gold to us’
Minke and her husband have decided to rent out the cottage when they are not there themselves on certain weekends and school holidays. “I actually enjoy that. Guests are enthusiastic and enjoy the house, just like we do. It’s also good for the maintenance that someone is present on a regular basis.”
When the family is not there, a gardener and cleaners maintain the house and grounds. “We still try to go at least once a month. Sometimes alone, sometimes with one of the children. Then we tackle the woodwork, for example.”
Minke is unconcerned about stricter tax regulations, such as an additional levy on rental income and better-kept records. “We dutifully pay our commuter and tourist taxes. We would not sell the vacation home quickly due to higher levies. Having a permanent location to rest is invaluable to us.”
‘Ran to the real estate agent’
For Martijn as well, the main advantage of a second home was the nature, but in another country. Three years ago, he and his family vacationed in Tarn-et-Garonne, a region in southern France. “I wanted to ride my bike through the vast, hilly area. After a few days, I asked my wife if there were any houses for sale. She ran to a real estate agent to register us before I could finish my sentence.”
There was plenty to choose from, but Martijn thought many of the houses were “junk.” He went alone to view the house that they eventually bought. “My wife approved based on a video I made.”
Then things moved quickly. “Our real estate agent spoke English and walked us through the entire process, from arranging all the paperwork to signing contracts. We also found a Dutch contractor nearby through her.”
Since the purchase late last year, there has been a lot of renovation. “We spend every vacation working on the house. We want to enjoy it primarily in the summer vacation, with family and friends.”
Is it worth the effort?
In the meantime, the neighbor – a professional gardener – maintains the 1-hectare garden and swimming pool. “We lived in Paris for a long time, so we speak pretty good French now. Communicating with the neighbors makes everything easier. Then you find out that everyone is incredibly friendly and eager to help.”
Martijn’s wife is already fantasizing about lavish family gatherings at their new home. “For example, she imagines our children getting married here,” he chuckles. Yet, he admits that it is not a decision for everyone.
“You should think carefully about how often you can go. It’s over 1,000 kilometers from Rotterdam, and you have to be lucky with the people you work with, such as a real estate agent and contractor. But, for us, the house is unquestionably worth the effort.”