World-famous piano restorer Frits Janmaat leaves Enkhuizen for love

“I met her through internet dating, she is four years younger than me. After calling a few times, I visited her and stayed the same. It was great, we immediately clicked,” he says. The problem is that it is a two-hour drive from Enkhuizen to Doetinchem. And because his company is open six days a week, they rarely saw each other. The plans for relocation have now become concrete.

From Amsterdam to Enkhuizen

In 2018 he surprised by after 40 years in Amsterdam to leave for Enkhuizen. Janmaat is a household name worldwide when it comes to wings of the Erard brand. He calls it the Ferrari among pianos. Almost all major composers of the 19th century had one. Janmaat’s expertise was called in worldwide to restore Erard’s.

After a year of renovation he started in his studio in Enkhuizen and he lives above it. And now he’s leaving again. He doesn’t think it’s a shame. “I really feel like a ‘lucky bastard’ that I met her.”

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And there are also some irritations about the environment of his building. “Almost every day, dogs piss right in front of the front door, or even defecate there. And visitors accidentally walk in, so I can clean it up. Or people crash bicycles into the window when they put them down to walk into the shopping street And if you said something about it, you almost got into an argument.”

Property for sale for almost 1 million euros

His residential and retail building, a national monument from 1584, is now for sale for 975,000 euros. His move does not mean that he will stop his restoration work. “I am now 67, I have just received my first month of state pension. My children already called me an old fart,” he says, laughing. “But I can still do everything, just a little slower.”

The cause of this was a brain haemorrhage in 2017. “I thought I would be able to recover well afterwards. But I did not come out as well as I had hoped. I have difficulty walking and regularly have pain. I am now in the next phase: that this is the will remain that way for the rest of my life.

Search for a new studio

Nevertheless, he is already looking for a new place for a studio and concert space, not too far from Doetinchem. “Somewhere between Utrecht and Arnhem. Preferably a dilapidated farm. Then I can have it completely renovated to my own taste.”

Janmaat is flexible about when he will move. “I can store the pianos. So I can get out if I have to. But it would be nice if I had a year to move at my leisure.”

He is looking forward to his new life. “My brain haemorrhage makes me feel unlucky, but also a privileged person, and I am also extremely happy that I met Karin.”

Below, watch the report we made when Frits Janmaat received the keys to his building in Enkhuizen.