Throwback Thursday (Part 5): Acute list panic
So there we were, at camper site De Negende Zaeligheyt in…
In our previous blog, we shared how we made the decision: we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of The Hague and start a new adventure with alpacas in Drenthe. But then again… that’s just the beginning. Where do you find such a dream spot? The answer is simple: we became full-time addicts to Funda.
Before I tell you about our search, you actually need to know a little more about us. The fact that we wanted to change course came as a shock to many people, but secretly, entrepreneurship was already in our DNA.
Emy's father had his own construction company in The Hague, and my (Patrick's) father was a real merchant in all sorts of things. For years, we ourselves had a beautiful stall at the Hague Market. We sold clearance items, everything for €2,50. Actually, we were the forerunners of Action!
But owning your own business also means working 80 hours a week and having hardly any vacation. When our daughters were young and demanding attention, we decided to choose ourselves. We went to work for an employer (at Kruidvat and HTM) and haven't regretted it for a single second. It gave us the time and peace to enjoy our family.
But now that the girls were older, that entrepreneurial spirit started bubbling again. We were ready for a new business of our own, but on our own terms. In nature.
Our Funda search started broadly, in Friesland and Drenthe. We had a very clear wish list in mind: we were looking for a farmhouse with a substantial plot of land, a spacious barn, and preferably, of course, existing stables for the future alpacas.
Our very first viewing was in Friesland. But as soon as we stood there, we knew: this isn't it. It was beautiful, but far too much polder, too flat, and we missed the woods. Moreover, far too much renovation was needed on the house. Cross it off. Back to Drenthe.
Then our eyes fell on a farm in Dieverbrug. We contacted Jan Weide, a
A purchasing agent from Meppel. I think Jan had a great story to tell at home that evening. Two genuine Hague natives called him, looking for a farm in Drenthe with land and stables, to do “something with alpacas.” He was undoubtedly left speechless for a moment. Alpacas?! Still, he was keen to help us make our dream come true.
In high spirits, we drove to Dieverbrug for the viewing. The location was prime. But as soon as we viewed the farmhouse itself, we immediately got a stomach ache. The property was in terrible condition. Real estate agent Jan proved to be worth his weight in gold. He wasn't thinking about making a quick buck, but gave us honest advice. "Don't do it," he said resolutely. "It will easily add another 60.000 to 70.000 euros to the renovation costs."
En eerlijk is eerlijk“Then you still have nothing special.” So we passed on this house too. Just for a moment.
That really sucks.
But since we were standing there anyway, I remembered something. I said to Jan: “There is another farmhouse for sale, a little further down the road. In Wittelte.” We decided to just drive past. We didn’t even get out; we just looked from the street. We looked at it and both felt: this could very well be it. Even Jan got excited by what he saw. We drove back to The Hague that day.
Not empty-handed or one illusion poorer, but full of adrenaline. The plan for the drive home was clear: fire up Funda again immediately upon arrival and call the selling agent!
Next week in part 3: The real viewing in Wittelte. Was our feeling from the street correct, or were there hidden catches in the Drenthe grass?
