Sometimes the desire to move doesn’t start with a major decision, but with a (small) sense of something missing. In this case: a garden. From their home in the Ebbingekwartier, the feeling gradually grew that the house was a bit small and the city was getting busier. The neighborhood was nice, the neighbors were great, but it felt less convivial than before.
Ineke and Henk therefore started looking for something else. They even placed a bid on a house. Until they were outbid by too much. “Maybe new construction is smarter after all,” was the conclusion. But where in the city can you find a new-build home with both space and a garden?
“We never actually expected that we would leave the city.”
And then Meerstad entered the picture
Not as a long-held dream. In fact, we had never really specifically thought about Meerstad. Ten years ago, it felt like a completely different world to Ineke and Henk. But thanks to their daughter and son-in-law, who also bought a new-build home in Meerstad, they decided to take a look after all.
First a bike ride. Another look around. And slowly, “we hadn’t thought of this before” turned into “hey, it’s nice here!”
“On a summer afternoon, we cycled from the city to Meerstad. We had a drink at the StrandHuis and it felt a bit like being on holiday. It was relaxed, spacious, and green. The seed had been sown,” says Ineke.
A house that suddenly became possible
Through a new construction project, a house subsequently came along that fit within their budget. At first, they were still cautious. But when a property unexpectedly became available, they seized their chance. An email, a phone call, and suddenly there was the message: congratulations, you have been selected in the draw. Thus, an idea became reality.
“We never actually expected that we would leave the city center.”
Choosing a new-build also turned out not to be entirely new for Ineke and Henk. They had bought a new-build home before and therefore knew that a construction process involves many choices: where will a light point be placed, how should the kitchen be designed, which materials do you choose, and what do you only discover once you actually live there?
This time, however, they were much more closely involved in the process. That sometimes meant looking critically, adjusting, and consulting again. But it was precisely because of this that they were able to make their house increasingly their own.
“It really is a village in the city”
What perhaps surprised them most was not the house, but the atmosphere in Meerstad.
In the city center, they were used to the hustle and bustle, traffic, and lots of activity. In Meerstad, they soon noticed how different daily life feels. At a pedestrian crossing, cars stop well before you have crossed. People have a chat. The streets feel spacious. And where they initially thought Meerstad was mainly a new neighborhood of Groningen, they discovered: it really is a complete village!
According to them, that village character is not only in the space, the water, and the greenery, but also in the way people interact with each other. New neighbors are all busy with their gardens, borrow things from each other, and help each other when necessary. No mandatory community life, but a natural willingness to do something for one another.
And that suits them well. They didn’t move for a life where everyone maintains the garden together every day, but they appreciate that there is a kind of natural involvement.
From bustle to peace and quiet
What is the biggest difference compared to living in the city center?
“Not everything is within immediate walking distance, but in return, Meerstad is very accessible and easy to reach. There is a P+R if you want to go by car, a good bus connection, and you can be at the Grote Markt in 20 minutes by bike,” says Ineke.
In addition, Meerstad naturally offers you tranquility, the beach, the Woldmeer, the forest, Park Meerstad, and much more. And for your daily groceries, you can visit the Jumbo, located in the heart of Meerstad.
At the same time, they see that Meerstad is in full development. There are more and more activities and initiatives. The StrandHuis organizes events, there are activities for children, and residents themselves take initiatives to make the neighborhood lively. Ineke: “A beautiful example: a neighbor who bakes pizzas for the neighborhood himself on Friday evenings. It is exactly those kinds of small initiatives that I believe contribute to the feeling that people are working together to make Meerstad so great.”
“I enjoy my garden”
When you ask about the moment they think that’s why we moved here, the answer is actually very simple.
The garden.
The space.
The house.
Coming downstairs every morning and thinking: wonderful!
The garden has now been designed so that there is plenty of room for pleasant dining, drinks, and playing games with family and friends. An image that fits perfectly with the reason they once started looking for another place: more room to live.
And their favorite spot in Meerstad? That ultimately turns out to be their own home. They are very happy with how it turned out and especially with the space they now have. But the StrandHuis, the water, and the forest behind the house have also become regular favorite spots.
A gamble? Or simply the right choice?
In hindsight, it’s easy to say that the move to Meerstad was logical. But for them, it wasn’t at all. Initially, they weren’t thinking about Meerstad at all. They even had the idea: let’s just do it, and if we don’t like it, we can always go back.
They won’t be needing that way back for the time being. Because what started with missing a garden ended in a house that makes them incredibly happy every morning, a neighborhood that feels convivial, and a place that feels more and more like home. And perhaps that is the most beautiful thing about their story. Sometimes you don’t have to know where you want to live for years. Sometimes you only discover it when you cycle there once, look around, and think:
“Hey… it’s nice here.”
Meerstad was never the plan.
But it became their place.
