Jeroen and his family live self-sufficiently in France: “We give the children the space to discover things for themselves”

Jeroen: Three years ago we were living with our three children in a 60 square meter apartment in the center of Rotterdam. Everything was accessible by cargo bike. We now live amidst French nature, eat self-sufficiently from our food forest and vegetable garden, and the nearest supermarket is only accessible by car.

The idea to change course arose during the coronavirus period. We lived more and more with the feeling of running from here to here. Stier: When Jeroen was working, I was with the kids and vice versa. Lockdowns have made us notice how nice it is to be at home with family. We thought: Should there be a way to spend more time together and make ends meet financially?

We ended up in the Auvergne region through our acquaintances. Pippa, our youngest at the time, was just six days old when we drove to France for the first viewing. Very exciting, but we trust the universe.

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Jeroen: 'We live on a 2-hectare property, in a house of 300 square metres. Our vegetable garden alone is three times the size of our previous house. Our animals drink from the pond and river. to heaven In a lost place. We brought our city bikes, but they are collecting dust. To reach our nearest neighbour, it would take half a day.

Stier: When I talk to my Dutch friends, I notice that there are 900 kilometers between us. Having a cup of coffee together is no longer an option, and sometimes I find that quite shameful. What makes us happy are the people who follow us on Instagram and sometimes they suddenly show up at our door as a surprise. These are often people who also enjoy nature.

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Steer: 'Dalor and Pippa were still very young, but for Salomon this was an even bigger change. When we left Rotterdam, Minecraft and Pokémon were favorites. Now he sometimes needs some motivation to get out. “But if he comes into his workshop huffing and puffing, we won't be able to get him out of there.”

Jeroen: The only thing Salomon really misses is the schoolyard with his playmates. Fortunately he builds new memories here. He has an entire playing forest to himself. Steer: “Faber and Midas were born in May. Now there are seven of us. We always have breakfast together and then discuss the day’s schedule together.

Jeroen: 'We involve children in everything we do and respond to their interests. This is a way of life. We give them the space to discover things for themselves, so they spontaneously ask questions and learn all kinds of things. How long does a bee live? How does a hen lay an egg? How do plants grow? Stier: “I find what I learned in France about nature, animals and the vegetable garden much more interesting than what I learned at school all those years.”