One of the reasons we love our work so much is that we get to meet a wide variety of people who have a passion for their profession. Many of them have wonderful ideas and interesting, inspiring, even entertaining projects. We’d like to introduce you to some of them.
(Our goal is to enrich this section regularly to be able to introduce you to more and more "copains”).
Joseph and I met at the St. Clement de Rivière Tennis Club, North of Montpellier, in the early years 2000. Even if we do have a complete different and opposite game style, we share a lot of pleasures such as our admiration for great mountains and our fun for skiing.
We regularly meet and discuss about real estate investments. Indeed, Joseph is passionate about my job since he is in contact with a large number of investors and European innovative entrepreneurs in search of European and regional subsidies. He accompanied hundreds of international entrepreneurs wishing to settle in the South of France or wishing to develop collaborations with French partners. Among his clients there have been a large number of my countrymen!
If you also have an innovative project in France, do not hesitate to contact him via www.lorang-innovation.com. Joseph will be happy to answer your questions in the languages of Molière, Shakespeare, Goethe or Wilhelm Tell.
Around the year 2000, I met Rob when he was looking for a country estate. After a period of very amusing Field Works, Rob managed to purchase an absolute unique property which belonged to an American owning a world famous shoe and clothes brand.........The fact that Rob was able to buy it was a real success because the former owner had some sever emotional difficulties of leaving his lands and buildings.
Later, when Rob sold his hotel on one the Amsterdam canals, he felt like "taking it easy" by running a small holiday structure in "La Douce France" with his Nathalya. The situation of his country estate was not very appropriate for his new plans which resulted in the fact that I sold it to find something else. Rob was just dreaming of finding a cozy and "magical" place in Provence ( without the dozens of hectares, the private lake and the outbuildings he owned before ) where he could fully enjoy the Southern French way of live and share this with Nathalya, Molly and a few guests.
Our searches led to the purchasing of "Le Grand Jardin " situated in the picturesque village of Lafare, close to Beaumes de Venise, les Dentelles de Montmirail and the Mont Ventoux Mountain. Thanks to Rob's skills as an experienced "hôtelier", works were carried out quickly in order to adapt the building to nowadays standards. The Opening took place soon after. Unfortunately Rob has not been able to enjoy this privileged environment for a long time because he passed away in 2014. Since then Nathalya is managing. She does this in a very driven and professional way which provided "Le Grand Jardin" great remarks on the international holiday reservation websites. I admire her courage and optimism because far away from her native country, Ukraine, she manages to receive her guest in Dutch, English or "Provencal". The meetings and adventures with Rob cross my mind regularly and I keep extremely good memories of this "bon vivant pur sang" !
www.legrandjardin-provence.com
Ted and I met in connection with a magnificent estate of more than 100 hectares in the hinterland of the Languedoc in St. Pons de Thomières. Together with his former partner, he made it a beautiful campground and small holiday destination with activities. Later, when Ted's plans where achieved with the "Borio the Roques', I looked for a buyer, sold it and was then closely involved in the search process for a new challenge. This led to the purchase of a wine estate (St. Paul le Marseillais) in Mèze where Ted became a "vigneron".
However, Ted's greatest passion can be found at the beautiful nearby inland sea named "L'Etang de Thau", between Sète and Agde, with its oyster beds and special habitat (including seahorses!). Here in the harbor of the picturesque town of Marseillan is anchored the "Tabarka" his nearly 11-meter sloop, and former traditional fishing boat which Ted has transformed into its current state. During the years in France, Ted acquired a large Mediterranean experience which he love to shares while navigating his "Tabarka".
On demand, with a service fee, he will be happy to organize a tour for adventurers who want to discover the Languedoc from the water. Don't hesitate to call or email Ted to discuss with him the possibility of a memorable and personal navigation in the Southern French waters : 00 33 771077526 / tedelsen61@gmail.com
Once we were brought in contact by the former director of Rabobank France, named Pim de Roos, with whom both of us had a regular and fine bond during meetings on the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris. As a born networker and passionate "France - observer", Pim thought that it would be an interesting idea to introduce a Dutch Real Estate Agent in France with a Dutch notary in France.
Pim's idea happened to be a good one because since then I always find it interesting and enjoying to meet Michiel. Throughout the years our ways cross in Paris, Golfe Juan, Avignon or elsewhere. And just before or after official meetings, we always try to find some time to chat about the latest news, also about Pim, who's retired now, and from whom we both learned a lot.
Despite the fact that Michiel seems to be always extremely busy, he witnesses involvedness and great flexibility at the deciding moments. I guess this is isn't easy and evident because Michiel sure has his office in Grenoble but operates in entire France and beyond. On a regular basis he even flies to Asia where he teaches and shares his notary skills with Chinese notary candidates. It seems that Pim not just brought me in contact with a French notary with Dutch roots but also with a "notaire d'origine Néerlandaise, travaillant en France mais ..........d'envergure mondiale"........
See more : http://vanseggelen-bonnemains-grenoble.notaires.fr
Brigitte and I met when we were law students in Amsterdam. Back then, she was determined to become a legal counselor for international private and corporate clients. Her dream became reality, and she now manages her own international team of lawyers from her offices in The Hague and Paris. She is also very active in Franco-Dutch relations and is busy "fine-tuning" European trademark laws.
Because her work and mine sometimes cross similar paths, we're in touch regularly. It’s nice to witness how passionate she has remained since our student years, and how she has transformed this passion into professional knowledge and experience.
Oh, and by the way… Brigitte is also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in the Hague and makes beautiful art, which is shown in exhibitions – where else? – around the world.
See also www.spiegeler.com and www.bspiegeler.nl
Years ago, Fred and Ina de Vries came to me because they wanted to exchange their busy hairdressers’ life in the Netherlands for a quieter life at the foot of Mont Ventoux.
When we found their dream place, a very small stone cabanon on a magical spot, I was unaware of their real ambition. During the purchase process, they confessed to me that they wanted to live in the cottage, but do "some hair cutting" there as well. At first, I was perplexed by the idea: the "Cabanon" seemed far too small to be used simultaneously as a home and a hairdressing salon. But I was too quick to judge: wheels were mounted on barber chairs and accessories, and could easily be rolled in and out; hair appointments are now particularly appreciated by the salon’s patrons in sunny weather.
Fred and Ina’s clients enjoy the fine southern French climate and the gorgeous environment while getting a haircut. Their original hairdressing salon is a local success and a fun experience for many. Several customers even come from as far as Aix en Provence or Marseille to first enjoy a delicious meal at the nearby "Relais et Chateau" and then take a seat in one of the barber chairs for a "coupe” or “couleur." The Cabanon has recently been expanded and now features 2 guesthouses, so clients can enjoy this special place even longer.
For more information, visit their website.
I met Conny and Fred in 1998 while they were looking for the property of their dreams in Provence. Conny just decided to slow down a little bit from her work in the world of fashion. Fred was busy selling his company of office Furniture.
The incredibly stunning views on the Mont Ventoux Mountain and the unique ambiance made them decide to purchase a property in a village named Blauvac where they stayed, on a permanent basis, about 15 years.
During their stay in Provence, they fully enjoyed and acquired a large knowledge of " La Vie Provençale" . They also created a large network of people sharing the same Mediterranean passion. The presence of Fred and Conny is always appreciated on exhibitions, lunch appointments or other meetings. Conny's singing talents are appreciated by many.
Besides our close Friendship, Fred appeared to become an enthusiastic, loyal , wise and highly appreciated sharing partner for me on a personal but also on business level. He is actually also willing to share these skills with other people willing to purchase or sell a property in the South of France.
Personal considerations made that Conny and Fred decided in 2014 to go back to their native country....but of course with a "pied à terre" in Mediterranean France, close to Pezenas this time in order to discover the richness of Languedoc.
I am proud to announce that Conny and Fred are my ambassadors in the Netherlands. They would be very pleased to share their large French experiences with you so please don't hesitate to call them for information or to make an appointment with them : 0031 (0)6 83244118!
When I met Didier in 2002, he wanted to leave his life as a plumber in northern France, and he and his wife Sylvie yearned for a life in a sunnier place.
He asked me and my former associate if there would be an opportunity to work for our international customers. He was thinking about starting a handyman service company. We introduced him to a few of our friends who could use a "helping hand" in their (secondary) homes.
Over the years, his initial one-man outfit has grown into a mature and robust company. Didier and his staff help many homeowners with construction and maintenance jobs. In my regular travels through the beautiful Languedoc landscape, I often see Didier’s "Home Multi Services" vans, presumably on the way to homeowners’ pools, which, thanks to their professional care, are always in good condition. Didier and his crew offer northern French professionalism in a southern French setting – a mix many of my relations appreciate.
