Hi everyone, today I am excited to show you around my home - a beautiful historical farm from the 19th century in the Netherlands.

If you’ve been following me for a while you might have noticed that my background has changed a couple of years ago. We moved to this house in 2021 but did not buy it straight away - we rented it for a year until coming to an agreement with the owner to buy it.

From the start, we were looking for our forever home, and we didn’t mind a fixer upper. One of the key criteria’s was a piece of land we wanted to have with the house for my partner to start a tree nursery.
The oldest part of the house was built in 1867. In fact, it’s a historical piece of regional Dutch architecture, so the Glass Farm, which represents an amalgam of traditional farms in glass, used some elements of our house.

We initially rented the property in 2021 with dreams of making it our own. After a year of negotiations, we finally sealed the deal and became proud owners. But the road to homeownership in the Netherlands, especially in 2022, was quite a journey. The housing market was competitive, with limited inventory and rising prices. We had to act fast and strategically to secure our dream farmhouse.

Navigating the complexities of buying a house in the Netherlands also meant diving into the bureaucratic maze of paperwork. To secure a mortgage, we needed documents such as proof of income, employment history, bank statements, and identification documents. Understanding these requirements and having them ready in advance streamlined the process and helped us move forward with confidence.

With the invaluable help of my in-laws, we rolled up our sleeves and transformed this historic gem. And of course, we welcomed a new member to our family - a furry friend named Fen. With plenty of space to roam outside, she became a companion to our farm life:    • Puppy  

We started inside the house but then turned our attention to the garage, converting it into a functional space for handy work. One of our proudest moments was the installation of solar panels, a significant step towards making our home more environmentally friendly.

But the journey didn't stop there. We embarked on a new adventure of sustainable living by starting a no-dig vegetable garden. No-dig gardening is a method of gardening that doesn't involve tilling or digging the soil, preserving its structure and biodiversity. I've been growing my own vegetables and preserving them for sustainable eating year-round.
We also planted fruit trees and shrubs, adding to the diversity of our farm. To share the abundance of our harvest, I started selling homemade jams in a small shop next to our house. Additionally, I've been cultivating flowers and creating beautiful bouquets for both personal enjoyment and sale in our little side street shop.

Our farm is also home to ducks and chickens, providing us with fresh eggs daily. We've even started selling surplus eggs to our neighbors, spreading the goodness of homegrown produce.

Thanks for joining us on this journey, and stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make our farmhouse a haven of sustainability and joy. See you in the next video!