House

Frank and Doro’s house can already be found on a map dated around 1850. Built for the farmhand of the nearby Kapellenhof it accommodates men and cattle under the same roof.

Legend has it that this house in the past was used to help smugglers to transfer their goods from Holland to Germany. When the night was falling the customs officers on duty were begged in to have a drink and some small talk. Meanwhile, a kerosene lamp was placed in the windowsill on the first floor telling the smugglers to pass the border safe and well.

During the eighties of the last century, french windows were added and the indoor stable was transformed into an entrance hall.

“Meanwhile a kerosene lamp was placed on order to tell the smugglers to pass the border safe and well.”

The house is solid like a rock and withstood the severe flooding of 1926, 1993 and 1995. At the end of World War II, a firestorm of bullets and bombshells passed this house to attack the barn of our neighbours. Our house came through the war undamaged. The epic centre of the earthquake of September 8th, 2011 was not able to make even the smallest crack in one of our walls.

During the 20th century, the house was situated in a dull, flat and empty landscape along a polluted river. Yet by creating and restoring traditional landscape features such as hedgerows and wooded banks and by improving the water quality of the Niers, the natural conditions gradually changed and nowadays this lovely small white farmhouse stands in a beautiful pastoral landscape.

“It is a privilege to work and design with pastoral views all around. There is always a bird to say hello”…

A place to enjoy on a cold winter evening. Reading a book or staring at the wood fire. Book recommendations are to be found here…

An ideal place to have a drink and to chat with friends…

Even in wintertime, the fridge contains some vegetables from the kitchen garden…