>>>>>>breaking news >>>>>>>>> @10 JULY 2010 >>>>>>> ENTIRE HOUSE AVAILABLE TO RENT FROM MID-OCTOBER 2010 <<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>> UNTIL mid-OCT2010 ---->available >>>> SINGLE ROOM >>>>>> LOFT>>>>>>> DOUBLE ROOM>>>>>
Experience a unique stay in a Dutch monument house (built 1903) with classical musicians who live and work downstairs and host the Monument House Concert Series
Guests contribute to a long-term cause: musicians that require time to build their repertoire and audience base. Read on if you'd like to support us.
Fundraising now for US concert tour. Donate via paypal to fortepiano AT hotmail DOT com.
The last fundraising was for the garden house (see below). Contact us on FACEBOOK. Follow us on TWITTER. Read about us on Concertblog.
Video of garden house designed by Dutch guitarist Robert Bekkers below:
Spring is the best time to visit the Netherlands, for the biggest outdoor party on Queen's Birthday (30th April every year) everywhere in the country and to view the flowers in our garden.
Also listed on Self-Catering Breaks, Sabbatical Homes, and Digsville Home Exchange
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE OFFER
Until we have time to travel, we host what-we-call reverse travel where we see the world through our international guests. We (a married classical musician/writer couple) offer our turn-of-the century Dutch monument house to share with maximum three other responsible adults to alleviate the tight accommodation situation in this popular college-town. In 2007, we decided to design and construct a garden house in the back. Self-contained with floor heating, shower, and kitchenette, the insulated garden house is intended as a separate space for rehearsals, workshops, and small concerts. Thanks to our guests, the garden house was completed in 2009.
We believe in a clean, harmonious and serene living environment, free of smoke (no smoking), free of dirt from outside (no shoes), and free of the distracting noise of radio/TV. Our furnished rooms are ideal for those seeking VERY short-term accommodation, such as delegates to the numerable conferences, exhibitions, or festivals in Utrecht, Amsterdam, or surroundings. This house share is also ideal for those who need a flexible place to stay until they find their longer term dwellings. We have plenty of maps and advice to help you settle down.
All nationalities are welcome to enquire about staying in this unique and convenient location. All rooms are offered on a self-catering basis, so you can cook, do your own laundry, etc. The upstairs kitchenette is not catered for heavy-duty cooking due to limited ventillation. That is, we prefer if you don't deep fry or cook heavy meals (that cause a lot of smoke). We have our own kitchen, toilet, and living area on the ground floor.
Due to allergies to dust and other elements, there is strictly no smoking or shoes inside the house (also to keep it quiet on the wooden floors). No pets. No TV. No overnight guests without prior arrangement. Basically we maintain a dust-free, allergy-free, smoke-free, noise-free environment with the ideal housemate who needs a place to recuperate from the daily demands of life. This is a beautiful area with breathtaking views of the water.
The newly renovated rooms, all with slanted double-glazed roof windows, range from 10 to 12.5 square metres. The rooms have the most comfortable Auping beds and IKEA desks, wardrobes, and bookcases. Bed linen, pillows, duvets, and towels can be provided. Thermostat-controlled central heating per room. Housemates share use of bathroom (bathtub, separate shower), two toilets (one downstairs for owners only), 1600 spin-rate new washing machine, and well-equipped kitchenette on the same floor.
Ideal for postgraduate or postdoc, exchange student, working professional, commuter, conference delegates (nearby Jaarbeurs), or short-term vacationers (ideally) age 30 and above.
ABOUT UTRECHT
As the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, Utrecht is also home to the largest university and oldest conservatory, and hailed as the centre of the country with major train lines linking the north to the south, east to the west, to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. As creative capital, it is known for the many music festivals, including Cultural Sunday once a month and the Utrecht Early Music Festival each summer. The average age of Utrecht residents is between 15 and 45, with a young population of 60,000 students.
West of the famous Utrecht Dome, the highest tower in Holland, our turn-of-the-century monument house looks onto to a peaceful canal, just minutes from the A2 motorway (to Amsterdam and elsewhere), with 9 direct busses to Utrecht Centraal train/bus/tram station through multi-cultural Lombok (5 min), a very pleasant cycle ride along canals (5 min to central station), and 20 minute direct cycle ride to University of Utrecht (de Uithof).
Lombok is probably Utrecht's most ethnically diverse area --- famous nationally in the 1990's for being the first successful integrated multi-cultural neighbhourhood in the Netherlands. Just across the canal in the famous Oog in Al park is the local library. There are wonderful jogging and cycling paths along the canals to the nearby swimming pool. There's a sports club on the opposite side of the canal where you can get a short-term pass to attend aerobics, pilates, spinning, skateboarding classes and/or use exercise machines. The nearby Kanaalstraat (canal street) is famous for fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly baked bread of Turkish bakeries as well as exotic spices from the Middle East. The supermarkets Nettorama and Aldi are within 1 minute walk away. The cycle shop behind the house offers to buy back the bicycles you buy from them.
E-mail the owners with your situation, self-introduction, start and end dates, age, preferences, questions, budget, and description of your average weekly schedule. To honour our agreement, we expect full payment upon confirmation and agreement of the reservation. Euros, USD-equivalent, and STG-equivalent accepted by transfer to Dutch bank (euros), UK bank (sterling pounds), or US bank or US cheque (US dollars). Paypal also possible.
Please note: this is not suitable for long term stays because our plans change according to renovation and concert schedules.
******Absolutely no smoking allowed inside the house, in the gardens, or anywhere on the property. See the two page write-up (PDF).
Useful information / articles about Utrecht:
Useful articles about house-hunting in the Netherlands or moving there:
Websites to help you look for accommodation:
Just plain useful:
Read what our previous international guests have written about staying here: guestbook comments