Dune House
Dune House is located in the middle of the dunes and only a 500 m walk from the famous 30km long beaches of Ameland.
What is the story behind Zeeland House, what was your inspiration to create it?
When I was a child, we always used to go on holiday to Zealand and my parents bought a little house there. I visited every year in July and August until I met my husband. After my parents sold their house, my husband and I kept on going in our caravan or tent. Eventually, we decided to look for a small holiday home that slept two or four people. After searching for three years, we couldn’t find the right one.
Then we got married at a beach house in Breskens (the village where Zeeland House is located) and the owner said they had a property we might be interested in. So the day after our wedding, we went to see it. It was much bigger than we intended and more expensive than we wanted. But we fell in love with the house and thought perhaps we could make it into a business project.
The day after our honeymoon, we put in an offer and it was accepted. This was seven years ago. Three or four years ago we started the renovations, taking everything out and creating new spaces. We welcomed our first guests in May 2021.
How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Zeeland House?
For me, the house has always had a good vibe. Even when the previous couple lived there and it was very full, there was a positive feeling. Everything is so light, open and clear — that's what made us fall in love with the house. Everyone who visits has the same feeling, that it is a good house.
My husband and I did all of the renovations and interior design. We have an interior painting business that my husband manages and I am a florist, although I studied interior design for two years. Now, I work mostly at events and weddings.
After renovating two houses previously, friends have said I should become an interior designer. But I can’t decorate to a plan. I need to live in a house and feel it. We lived at Zeeland House every summer for three years, so we had the time to figure it out, find the right pieces and let our ideas grow.
It’s not a cluttered house — there are just enough things to make the rooms feel cosy. It’s old stuff, new stuff, cheap stuff and expensive stuff. I think it’s a good combination.
To you personally, what is so special about Zeeland House?
It’s a good mix of the things we love. Sometimes it’s hard to just go to Zeeland House and enjoy it as a holiday as there is always something to do. But even when I’m visiting alone to do the cleaning, it’s never a punishment. It’s always nice to be there.
I particularly love the garden in summer and the fireplace in winter. When the weather is good, we sit in the garden and don’t think about the list of things we have to do. In winter, once we put on the fireplace, it means that our jobs for the day are done. So these are my two favourite experiences at Zeeland House.
Do you have any restrictions regarding children or pets?
Children of all ages are welcome and we do make some exceptions for dogs, as it is a very popular area for dog owners. During certain hours, they have to be on a leash but they are allowed to run free outside of those times. If people want to bring their dogs, it’s on a case-by-case basis and we do have some house rules.
