A year ago, Eva Hulsebos still lived on a two-hectare estate in French Burgundy. The 72-year-old now lives in the first Knarrenhof in Drenthe in the Emmer district of Emmermeer. After the death of her husband, she wanted to return to the Netherlands and living in a Knarrenhof appealed to her.
In a Knarrenhof, residents help each other when necessary. For example, they jointly create the inner garden and the building has a shared inner space.
“For example, I am now designing our ‘hoftuin’. You do things together if you feel like it, but it’s not an obligation. What do you call that in Drenthe? Naober help right?” Hulsebos laughs. That it works, becomes apparent when a neighbor spontaneously drops by with ice creams. “That was not the case in France. That ice had melted before my then neighbor got to me.”
camp bed
The 24 owner-occupied courtyard is built on the site where three flats used to be. Initially there would also be rental homes, but that fell through after housing corporation Lefier dropped out.
It was not obvious that Eva Hulsebos ended up in Drenthe. Its roots lie in North Holland. However, the plans for a Knarrenhof did not get off the ground there. “When I heard that there was still room in Emmen, the choice was quickly made. I used to spend holidays in this area. Nice cycling in the woods of, what’s that village called again, oh yes, Exloo.”
The new life in Emmen also felt like a holiday to her during the first few weeks. “I had no furniture yet and slept on a camp bed. Only you didn’t have the paintbrushes on the table on holiday.”
The leaking roof
She is happy with the people around her. The big house in France had been very empty since she came to it alone three years ago. “We ended up there after my husband’s retirement in search of peace and space. Together we renovated a large, old hunting lodge. We started with the leaking roof. When my husband passed away, that same roof was just due for repair. That was too much for me. I also wanted to live closer to my family.”
Although she is losing space in terms of space, she has much more comfort and coziness in Emmen. “I used to have to cut wood every day for the stoves. Now I have a house of 100 square meters with underfloor heating, a heat pump and maintenance-free. Really a beautiful place, I already feel at home here.”
Friendly
Emmen has made a great impression on her so far. During a first exploration, she was amazed at the abundance of greenery. The center is also pleasing. “I lived in Amsterdam for 35 years and this is very different. But you also have a nice cinema and a nice theater here. And you can also eat well here, I have already discovered. What’s also nice is that the people are so friendly. Emmen really makes me happy.’
School Seven
Somehow her new place of residence seems predestined. Because Hulsebos overlooks the former gymnasium of school Zeven, the now gone primary school where a friend from France attended. “She could tell me everything about this part of Emmen. Very special.”
In the coming period she will be busy with painting and furnishing, but after that it is time to explore Emmen and the surrounding area. And the former Amsterdam native does that as so many people in Drenthe do: by bicycle.