They are also enthusiastic about the area. “Dalsland is sometimes seen as an empty area. But it is a province with a lot of tourist highlights and many different types of nature. It is flat, mountainous, hilly, you have lakes and forests. It is also called Sweden in the miniature. You notice that in tourism, it is always very busy here.”
It appears to meet all their wishes, and in particular the distance is favorable. “If there is something, we want to be able to go to the Netherlands without doing an overnight stay,” says Yvonne. The family makes the decision and leaves for Sweden. “After all these years we still don’t feel a rut. That is also not possible if your work is your hobby.”
Their three children in those fourteen years are also completely ‘shattered’, they explain. “They all have Swedish partners and when we are all sitting at the table, then the official language is largely Swedish. Then we will no longer follow. When they speak quickly, completely in the dialect or street language, then we can no longer follow it.”
In the meantime Jan and Yvonne are sure that their future is in Sweden. “When we left, we had thought out everything, but the only thing we didn’t think about is what we are going to do when we retire. But we don’t do that all the way back to the Netherlands. Our children are completely rooted here, we have a grandchild. No matter how you turn it, we have emigrated.”
But still, they cannot let go of the Netherlands and Drenthe. “We still have a holiday home in Hooghalen where we are going twice a year. In principle, we still live in the same municipality. In addition to our families, we still see many of our colleagues and friends from before the move. That club remains intact is very pleasant. That remains familiar.”
And so Jan and Yvonne see the future in two places, partly in Sweden, partly in Drenthe. “Borders don’t say anything, we only live a little further away. And it is not that far.”