Deventer, Netherlands

Welcome to our spacious family home in Deventer, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and a beautiful historic city from the Hanseatic League on the river IJssel.

Our home is a comfortable, lived-in Dutch family house of about 160 m², built in the 1930s and renovated several times. It has five bedrooms, a garden with a small swimming pool and plenty of space for a family. More importantly, it is a wonderful base from which to experience both everyday Dutch life and explore many parts of the Netherlands.

WHY DEVENTER?
Deventer is a great place to experience the Netherlands beyond the busy tourist hotspots. The historic city centre, with its old streets, squares, churches, cafés and restaurants, is only a short distance from our home. You can walk along the IJssel, explore the old Hanseatic centre, visit museums or simply enjoy a terrace on the Brink.

The city is also surrounded by beautiful countryside. There are plenty of opportunities for cycling, walking and mountain biking in the surrounding Salland region, while the wooded landscapes of the Veluwe are also within easy reach.

Deventer is particularly well suited to families. Within about 100 metres of our house there is a small recreational area with a double swing, slide, basketball court and football pitch. In summer, our backyard also has a 2 × 3 metre above-ground swimming pool, which is perfect for the children to cool down after a day of exploring.

A GREAT BASE FOR EXPLORING THE NETHERLANDS
One of the biggest advantages of Deventer is its central location. By car or train, many of the Netherlands' highlights are within easy reach. You can combine a relaxed stay in a historic Dutch city with day trips to other parts of the country.

For example, you can easily visit:
* Amsterdam – around 1 to 1,25 hours
* Utrecht – around 1 hour
* Arnhem and the Hoge Veluwe region – around 30–45 minutes
* Apeldoorn – around 30 minutes
* Zwolle – around 35 minutes
* Zutphen – around 20 minutes
* Giethoorn – around 1 hour
* Enschede – around 45 minutes

There are also many smaller towns, castles, museums, nature reserves and cycling routes nearby. So whether you are interested in Dutch history, cities, nature, cycling, museums or simply enjoying a relaxed family holiday, Deventer makes a very convenient base.

And of course, you don't have to go anywhere every day: Deventer itself is worth exploring.

OUR HOME
Our house is a genuine family home rather than a holiday rental. It is spacious, comfortable and well equipped for families.

We have:
* approximately 160 m² of living space
* 5 bedrooms
* 6 adult-size beds
* 1 bathroom with toilet
* a separate toilet
* a garden with an above-ground swimming pool (2 × 3 m)
* washing machine and tumble dryer
* oven and microwave
* broadband internet and Wi-Fi
* Chromecast and other entertainment
* toys and games for children
* several bicycles, including children's seats

The sleeping arrangements can easily be changed to suit the visiting family. We also have a children's cot available.

The house is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood just outside the historic city centre. The city centre, railway station, IJssel river and countryside are all easily accessible by bicycle or car. The motorway is also nearby, making road trips around the Netherlands convenient.

OUR FAMILY
We are Matthijs and Marjon, living with our three children, Hanna, Jorien and Wouter. Our children are currently 14, 12 and 10 years old.

We enjoy spending time outdoors, cycling, visiting cities and museums, and discovering new places. We also enjoy the freedom of a home exchange: having a real home to come back to after a day of exploring makes travelling with children much more relaxed.

EXPERIENCED HOME EXCHANGERS
Home exchange has been part of our family for a long time. Matthijs first experienced home exchange as a teenager, travelling with his parents. We continued the tradition as a family and have been exchanging homes since 2011.

Through Intervac and another home-exchange organisation we have exchanged homes with families in Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark.

We really like the personal aspect of home exchange and the opportunity to experience a country from a local perspective. We will treat your home with the same care and respect that we expect from guests staying in ours.

A PRACTICAL NOTE
One practical point: Matthijs is allergic to cats, so unfortunately we cannot exchange with families who have cats living inside their home. Outdoor cats that are not allowed inside the house are no problem.

We are open to different types of exchanges and would be happy to hear from families who would like to discover the Netherlands from historic, family-friendly and centrally located Deventer.