Relaxing at the Markermeer: ​​tips for a nice holiday in your own country

“When I walked into the holiday park with Tobias a few years ago to view a house, he immediately said: ‘This isn’t going to be it.’ I knew what he meant: there were many hovels. The house we went to look at was a mess. Dirty, brown, discolored wooden walls and a carpet full of stains. I already knew, I had already looked before. It wasn’t necessarily about the house for me either; I was all about the view. Because if you look outside you only see meadows. No roads, no cars, just cows, sometimes a tulip field. We are used to the city; I thought that in the Netherlands you would always see something that obstructed the view. But not here on the Zuiderdijk. And that’s why I knew: I must have this place.

I managed to convince Tobias: with all the space in the house and outside for the children, with the idea that we might be able to rent it out if we don’t use it ourselves, and with that fantastic view. We’re both interior designers, so we were able to see through the clutter. With gloves on, we pulled out all the dirty stuff and made it our own place, with our own stuff, a record player, toys for the boys.

Nice and quiet

When we see the beautiful wide cloud fields hanging over the Markermeer and the meadows from our place in the morning, it really feels like this is the only house in the world. And then open the garden doors, children go outside and drink coffee on the grass. And besides… we don’t do much there. Yes, sleep. I sleep there a lot, even during the day. Outside on the grass, or inside on the couch in the sun, wonderful. Then coffee again, a book. The kids always have fun. They go looking for bugs or build something with stones they find there. In the evening we light a fire. The children in bed, we have a glass of wine, we often put the popcorn pan on the fire. And then just stare at the stars and listen to the crackle of the fire.

Sometimes I walk or cycle over the dike: on the one side I see the meadows, on the other side only water, and I then in between. That’s really fantastic. In April I can see the brightly colored tulip fields – but few people seem to know that there are plenty of fields there, you hardly see any tourists. The same applies to the beach near our park. In the summer I often see pictures of crowded beaches. Then I look at us and then I see three men doing laps. We are exactly in a corner where you just don’t have to be.
So there is nothing here; there is not even an ice cream stall at the lake. Tobias initially thought that was a reason not to buy here, but now we know that it is an advantage.

Own project

The cottage has brought me so much. That started with refurbishing and doing odd jobs, that gave me a lot of energy. And I needed it then. Just before that, my parents had died in quick succession and our youngest son was born. I was not happy at work. A mega-annoying, intense burn-out followed. At that time, I often drove to the cottage in the morning. Sleep in the sun, silence, birds and coffee, and go home at the end of the afternoon.

In the last months of the burnout, when my energy and inspiration came back, I got the idea to get started with more houses – I knew how happy that job made me. With a loan and the inheritance from my parents I bought two lots in the same park, after which I fully focused on the design and construction of two new houses. It became my medicine to get out of the burnout and then it shot completely the other way. I now have four houses and I have just bought land on Goeree Overflakkee for even more houses. Really: it gives me a lot of satisfaction, it’s the best project ever.

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To enjoy

I have seen a lot of the world and still I can really enjoy a different culture, different people, different food. But because of our houses I have discovered that this can also be such a pleasant place. Once we were sitting behind our house, I thought: for an Australian this view is exactly what a view in Australia was for me as a Dutchman.

Recently I was working on my own in one of our houses and I took a nap in between. Moments later I woke up with the sun on my face. I opened my eyes, saw the dike in the distance, some people cycled past. I lost track of where I was: am I on vacation? Everything was quiet, peaceful and it felt so chill. Wait a minute, I thought then. This is my own house. And this is just the Netherlands.”

To do

Of the country
At ‘t Keetje I get local fruit and vegetables. There is a fruit garden with a petting zoo and a playground.
hetkeetje.nl

On steam
In the lovely Hoorn, a steam tram departs for Enkhuizen and Medemblik. Children receive a briefcase with assignments. You drive along meadows and see beautiful old stations, very special. You can take the tram back, but there is also a boat that sails to the departure point.
steamtram.nl

Safe swimming
Our holiday park is a few minutes’ walk from a beach. The water is only half a meter deep and it is often very calm. For more entertainment, there are also beaches where you can eat, such as Strandpaviljoen de Zoete Zee.
dezoetezee.nl

To sleep

In person
Our houses are very different, but they are all equally personal. I like to put old stuff from Grandpa and Grandma in it, and the cupboard is full of our books. There are plenty of toys for children, but it doesn’t look like a daycare: everything is neatly arranged in drawers, so you don’t have to look at it if you come to stay without children. Guests often ask for tips for outings in advance, but we usually hear afterwards that they stayed in and around the cottage all weekend.
airbnb.nl/users/show/5680826

Food

Top service
I often had lunch at restaurant Van Dis in Hoogkarspel when I was still doing odd jobs. From the outside it looks like an office, but inside it is very cozy, with a vintage atmosphere and good service. Recommended: the flammkuchen.
vandishoogkarspel.nl

hip tent
Rijksmagazijn Enkhuizen is a trendy tent with a nice terrace and a magnificent view over the harbours. I often get coffee there, sit down and enjoy, and then wander through the town.
Rijksmagazijn.nl

And just look
At Oost in Medemblik is a restaurant in a great monumental building. You can watch boats pass by from the quay.
bijoost.nl

This travel story is in Kek Mama 07-2021.

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