vanNienke began as a goldsmith studio in Gouda in 2009. And with success! The company now has several locations, including an upscale B&B. Now it is time for the next step: vanNienke apartments -and vacation accommodation in Epidaurus, Greece with design studio! Here everything of what we aspire to comes together. To realize this long-held dream, you can co-invest in the plans!
A new challenge. Will you join us?
It is January 2009 when I (Nienke de Boer) am faced with the decision to take over a goldsmith studio in Gouda. My first studio and it is an exciting moment. With an open mind and full of motivation and ideas, I got to work and literally started forging my plans. More than 13 years later, this small studio has grown into a business with multiple branches, including a luxury Bed & Breakfast where we receive guests and then can forge jewelry for them. The combination of designing, making my customers happy with the jewelry, their visit and stay. It is still very satisfying.
Long gone from standard ๐
Together with Michel van Doorn, since almost 10 years my husband and partner within the company, it is possible to think beyond standard. After all, standard we have never been before, and Michel’s hospitality experience as a chef and restaurant owner contribute greatly to that. We love hospitality and making people happy by providing attention, detail and quality. Full of dedication and always with a smile on our faces.
The great ambition: Everything from our own workshop & kitchen
We create and sell our own collections of jewelry, engagement rings, wedding rings, but we specialize most in personalized designs. We often combine this with a multi-day visit by our client to our B&B including a luxury dinner from our living room restaurant. However, our entrepreneurial spirit continues to evolve and now we have come across an opportunity that brings together all facets of what we aspire to, what we are good at and what we love:
VANNIENKE APARTMENTS -AND VACATION HOME IN EPIDAURUS GREECE WITH DESIGN STUDIO.
What is the plan?
In a completely new environment, I am going to be inspired by space, tranquility and culture to then make people happy again. And you can help with that! We move to ancient Epidaurus on the Peloponnese in Greece and create a vacation residence with sea and mountain views with several apartments, swimming pool, restaurant, bar and workshop for designing and forging the jewelry. On the plot of about 9000 m2 just outside the village, in addition to orange – and lemon trees, there are 130 olive trees from which we will make olive oil and sell it. By combining and combining our strengths, we are going to achieve our ultimate goal here. Our strongest attributes manifest themselves in creativity, craft, design and culinary hospitality. Together we call this: FREEDOM!
The house with several apartments, terraces and swimming pool on enclosed grounds just outside the village of Old Epidaurus.
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Why Greece?
There are 1001 reasons why Greece and the Peloponnese is the most appropriate place for this plan. But we will be brief:
– A varied and inspiring landscape: Sea, beaches, mountains, gorges, rivers, forests and hills.
– At least 250 days of sunshine per year.
– One of the most popular vacation destinations among the Dutch.
– It’s only a three-hour flight.
– Lots of fresh and healthy food.
– The most beautiful and extraordinary cultural antiquities in your backyard.
Throughout the year, we are open to receive guests whom we can go about their stay in various ways. In addition to running the B&B for the “regular” vacationer for sun, sea and culture, I continue to do what I love most; blacksmithing jewelry. Here we specially target both existing and also new customers who want to combine their stay with designing and having a new piece of jewelry forged. In a totally different environment, we come up with new insights, special items and turn your old jewelry into something completely new. Of course, I also just keep working on my collection of items that we continue to offer online and in various stores.
We start with 3 apartments and eventually build out to 5. One of the apartments will be completely wheelchair friendly, as will the pool and terrace. Michel is in charge of the kitchen and bar. He serves breakfast and dinner fresh from our own Greek cuisine and we surprise you with delicacies from the region that Michel also grows on his own land! Taste our own olives and olive oil and enjoy a drink at the bar or in the pool. Greek cuisine is divine.
One of the apartments which we are going to give a facelift with new bathroom, new colors and furnishings.
Where are we now?
For a B&B in Greece, three things are important: location, location and location. This summer we returned to our favorite Greece with our family and found the ideal place for us. A detached villa with 2 apartments and possibility of expansion, which allows us to offer each guest his/her privacy during the stay. In addition, the plot has 9000 m2 area with 130 olive trees, Oranges and lemons which offers many opportunities for additional sales of produce and use in the kitchen.
Our offer has now been accepted and the preliminary sales contract signed. What a step! Depending on the crowdfunding proceeds, we have listed the main work to be done to open and get started. The transfer is scheduled for March 2023.
When do we want to open?
During 2023, we will prepare the first two apartments for rent, and depending on the crowdfunding proceeds, we will build on the next 3 immediately or later. We will start phasing out the staffing of stores in the Netherlands and eventually move all our operations completely to Greece next summer. For service and repair work, moreover, a familiar address remains available to our customers in the Netherlands.
Why crowdfunding?
In addition to FREEDOM, self-sufficiency is also a key word in our plans. For example, we get our water from a 120-meter deep underground lake, shower and pool are heated by the sun, and we purchase solar panels to provide electricity.
Being self-sufficient manifests itself not only in the yield from the land (olives, vegetables, etc) but also in getting the funding. So, without banking institutions and other commercial institutions. This is because with crowdfunding, we create engagement and keep bonding with you as a guest and customer. We previously did this in miniature when we invested in laser machines for our studio and expanded to include a goldsmithing establishment. That previous campaign can be found at https://youtu.be/pbd7m5GqIMM
What will we use the funding for?
Since most of the cost of buying the property is already covered by the sale of our house in the Netherlands, the crowdfunding is successful at a minimum proceeds of 50,000 euros, Part is needed for the purchase of the house and part we will use for the furnishing and adaptation of the first two apartments, the furnishing of restaurant and bar and the move. With proceeds of 100,000 euros, we can immediately begin work on the 3 other apartments, upgrading the pool and installing solar panels.
Apartment entrance with private terrace
Epidaurus
Ancient Epidaurus(Paliรก Epรญdavros) is a former port city on the Saronic Gulf and ideally suited for us as a location:
– Our accommodation is located on a mountain at the edge of the village of Epidaurus and 5 car minutes away from several beaches.
– Dive and snorkel to the sunken city, swim, or linger on one of the many terraces.
– Important cultural antiquities and sights like Mycenae, Napflion, Olympia, Canal of Corinth in close proximity.
– In Ancient Epidavros at 14km is the best preserved theater of ancient Greece withthousands of visitors every year and where there are still performances.
– Athens an hour and a half away
All in all, the perfect place for your ultimate feeling of FREEDOM.https://player.vimeo.com/video/303284166/
The current owners are Dutch and after 20 years of living in Greece, they know exactly what we all have to take into account when it comes to rules, laws, customs, etc. They help us get started in the maze of paperwork and important contacts such as the mayor of the village, for example. So we can start well prepared. Now it’s up to you!
YOU CAN HELP IN TWO WAYS: PRESALE & LOAN
FOR SALE
Vacation rental
Book now for a week’s vacation stay in one of our apartments on a Bed and Breakfast basis and get an evening upgrade to half board. We provide a complete and comprehensive dinner in our restaurant. Two pers. 7 nights for 750 euros and 3 pers 7 nights for 1000 euros.
Gift card package
When you buy a gift card package of 1,000 euros, we automatically increase the value by 50%. You can use the vouchers for jewelry purchases, design and redesign jobs and repairs. The packages cost 1,000 euros each for which in exchange you obtain 1,500 euros in vouchers in denominations of 50 euros and spendable from 6 months after purchase. The vouchers are not personalized by name, so they are also easy to give as gifts such as birthday presents.
LEND
Investing can be as little as 500 euros. It works like this: you lend us a certain amount, then you get it back over 5 years with an annual return of 3%. We won’t pay you back for the first two years, to give ourselves room to grow. Of course, the interest is already building that year. Repayments are made in 1-year increments. To thank you, we have come up with different rewards for this as well, depending on the amount you put in.
Example: for an investment of 1,000 euros, you will get back 1120 euros. You get this investment back in 5 steps:
27-12-2023: 30 euros (interest only)
27-12-2024: 30 euros (interest only)
27-12-2025: 30 euros interest + 333.33 repayment
27-12-2026: 20 euros interest + 333.33 repayment
27-12-2027: 10 euros interest + 333.33 repayment
Which reward will you go for?
At 500 euros or more: Friend ofNienke
In addition to the interest, you will receive a bottle of delicious extra virgin olive oil produced from our own olive trees.
At 1,000 euros or more: Supporter ofNienke
As a supporter ofNienke, in addition to the interest and olive oil, you will receive an additional 5% of your investment as shop credit through a voucher for our webshop.
At 2,500 euros or more: Big Fan ofNienke
Big Fans we reward in addition to interest and olive oil with even 10% of your investment extra as shop credit for our webshop.
At 5,000 euros or more: VIP vanNienke
Will you become a true VIP? Then, in addition to interest and olive oil, you get a week’s stay in one of our apartments for 2 people on a Bed and Breakfast basis. We are going to pamper you all week!
At 10,000 euros or more: SUPER-VIP byNienke
Our SUPERVIPS go all the way and receive an extra bonus in addition to interest, olive oil and a week’s stay in one of our apartments for 2 people on a Bed and Breakfast basis. Your name (or company) will be on the wall of fame in our residence. and you will receive a voucher of 500 euros to use in the webshop.
Do you have further questions about our plan? If so, please be sure to contact us:
Phone/Whatsapp/personal appointment: 06 48 79 75 00
Email: info@vannienke.nl
We think it would be great to work with you to get these plans done. You are always welcome to join us to discuss your personal designs or already claim your vacation week at vanNienke in Greece!