Dutch Couple Finds New Beginning in French Rectory After Years of Setbacks
After enduring a decade of demanding work and a series of challenging setbacks, Dutch couple Janine and Ronald have found a new venture renovating and operating an old rectory with four guest rooms in France. Their journey, marked by a desire for a less stressful life and a dream of self-employment, has been a testament to their resilience.The couple’s initial leap into entrepreneurship abroad came in 2019 when they left their demanding jobs in the Netherlands to open a Chambres d’Hotes in Bleurville, France. “We were completely done with our work. Stress every day, every day negative,” Janine explained. “We both really wanted to start for ourselves.” The decision was also driven by financial pragmatism; they sought an affordable venture abroad that would allow them to remain within a day’s drive of their children in the Netherlands.
Their French adventure began with optimism, but soon presented significant hurdles. Ronald lost his mother,and the property they purchased turned out to require more extensive renovations than anticipated. They completed the renovations and opened their doors on March 1, 2020, only to be forced to close two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As their business had only been open for a fortnight, they were ineligible for French government aid. With all their savings invested in the property and no income, they relied on food vouchers provided by a friend.
In 2023, a second appearance on the reality show “I’m Leaving” provided a much-needed boost. Buoyed by this success, they embarked on a new project: purchasing a farm to renovate and rent out, complete with pipowagens. However, this plan was thwarted by a denial of their permit application. “And then we got stress,” Ronald recalled. “This time we had money in the bill, because our building at the time in Bleurville had already been sold, but no house and income.”
This led them to their current project: an age-old rectory. “We immediately fell in love with this house,” Janine stated. “We looked for an hour and knew: we must have this.” Describing it as a “mini chateau” with stunning details,a commanding position,and a large garden,they are undertaking another significant renovation. This summer marks their first season operating the guest rooms. “This is really the most of the renovation,” the couple admitted with a laugh, Ronald adding, “My body is a bit up after three renovations.” The demanding nature of their previous work,which involved 10-week stretches of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. days, has instilled in them the importance of occasional closures to maintain their well-being and the longevity of their business.