Malaysia
Theo, Marja and our daughter Zoe. As a family, we have found our home in a small village in the middle of the Netherlands. Here we are surrounded by meadows and orchards, with views and an ever-changing river landscape. After five years spent abroad, we are enriched with experiences and adventures, returned. A familiar environment, a warm welcome by family, neighbors and friends, but above all a culture that is known to us. However, new challenges are emerging, new opportunities to explore, but closer to home. In the nature of the Weerribben-Wieden near Giethoorn a houseboat was for sale. An old boat in original condition with little refurbishment capabilities, but with a special berth and with an almost even nicer name; Intermezzo.
We as a family took this challenge, but in the end above all he will do the job.
Shaping, decorating, new creation and design; for us daily business at our company in the form of Stand Art, but also in our way of life. We have several villas and gardens designed abroad ourself, first to inhabit these villas and later adapted for rent out so that others can enjoy the paradise that North Bali has to offer.
And now with our new project on Dutch soil own design is center again. In the nature of the Weerribben-Wieden near Giethoorn we have been given the opportunity to realize a own design of a houseboat. A design that despite its sleek form is one with nature due to its amount of glass. Surrounded by nature, overlooking nature and the reflection of nature in many glassware.
The design has been paramount to this nature. Through a tight closed embankment, one enters a space surrounded by glass overlooking the nature reserve. A terrace on the water side with an unobstructed view of the Weerribben-Wieden is an ideal place to enjoy the peace, or at peak season the variety of boats that sail by.
Symmetry and tranquility, luxury western features as domotica, these were guidelines for the design of Water villa Intermezzo.
Villa Intermezzo is designed to provide the environment to its full potential. Pride on the water with a direct connection to all lakes and canals. An oasis of tranquility and a paradise for those who love nature.
We love traveling, discovering new environments, close to home, but also further afield. The ability to be able to live for several years in Indonesia has given us the opportunity to discover a part of Asia, Australia and China but has also given us the chance to see Netherlands with a refreshing look. After several years of rice, heat and mountainous landscapes, the Dutch culture is refreshing in many ways.
Giethoorn we see as a continuation of our journey. From life on the land, to live by the sea, to live on the water. Another dimension with different rules; what you lose is gone or at least very wet.
Giethoorn, the Natural Park Weerribben-Wieden, is definitely a place which is worth to explore. A landscape where water and land varies always, where depending on the season you can hear the whisper of the reed.
We are typically Dutch, like the river landscape and the sea. Drink lots of coffee and grew up with milk and cheese. Netherlands is our home, where we were born, know the culture, speak the language and understand the people directly. Netherlands, the country rarely a ‘miscommunication’ is where efficiency reigns supreme and where you follow your road by bike. The Netherlands is the country where our daughter after 5 years abroad mainly eats rice, but is still fond of pancakes and have to cycle to school through the polders.
Netherlands is for us also the land of family and friends, they always give us the ‘home’ feeling. Currently we live again in Holland and enjoy all the good things that Western culture has to offer. we enjoy the Dutch skies, the river landscape and our new project in Giethoorn Intermezzo; a watervilla in the Natural Park Weerribben-Wieden. An oasis of calm on the water. Here the kingfisher flies by and you can spot a deer from the sidelines, but here you also hope for cold winters, and skating on natural ice.