Gea and Raymond

An adventure, yet still at home: welcome to Kortenhoeff Estate Kortenhoeff
Relaxing on a beach, a dip in the swimming pond, the sun playing through the trees. At Landgoed Kortenhoeff , it feels like a holiday. As we walk along the forest path, the old farmhouse comes into view. The former function room has gone, the tea garden is no more. What’s there now? A charming farmhouse and a bed and breakfast that feels like coming home. And that’s exactly what Raymond (53) and Gea (37) wanted to create here: a place where peace, space and warmth come together.

“You feel it straight away when you walk around here,” says Gea as she leads us past the water and the lounge beds. “Everyone says the same thing: ‘We feel right at home here!’” And indeed, everything exudes a relaxed atmosphere. From the soft sand by the little lake to the cosy box bed in one of the guest rooms. This isn’t just any place to stay; it’s an experience. And it all began with one simple plan: simply to live here.

From dream home to guesthouse
When the couple first visited the property in 2022, everything fell into place. “Surrounded by nature, with three hectares of land. It felt right straight away. We’d made an offer, but then the house was suddenly taken off the markt . Fortunately, it came back on the market in 2023. We put in another bid straight away and this time we got it.”
At first, they just wanted to live there. But the idea soon grew: so much space, such a unique spot. They wanted to share this. “We talked it over with family and friends, who all said: ‘Have you gone mad? Three hectares of land, a farmhouse in need of renovation, a three-year-old child and a 40-hour-a-week job?’ But we had a dream and we went for it.”

DIY, planning and making progress
That dream turned out to be a massive job. Literally. “There was so much overdue maintenance. Leaking guttering, overgrown brambles five metres high. My husband would sometimes spend days clearing the undergrowth with a brush cutter, and he looked a right mess afterwards,” laughs Gea. “But we really did everything together: from the demolition work to painting the window frames.”
During the renovation, they were both still working full-time. Gea eventually quit her job in Utrecht to focus entirely on the B&B and their little son Luuk. “That was tough, but I also loved getting stuck in here. I’m the hostess; I do the cleaning, the maintenance, breakfast… and I love it when guests really unwind.”

First booking, first grin
In September, the website went live, featuring two rooms: the Voorhuis and the Bedstee. Within a month, 25 nights had been booked. “With every booking, we’d look at each other with such a huge, beaming grin. This surpassed everything.” And that’s why, in December, they rushed to refurbish the third accommodation, the Tuinkamer. “One day I received an enquiry for a week’s stay. A whole week! I couldn’t turn that down. Except… I’d painted the window frames that very day. Everything was masked off, the paint still wet. In record time, I applied a second coat, called my mother-in-law over to help clean up, and sprayed some room freshener to mask the paint smell. They said: ‘Wow, this feels brand new!’ And it really was.”
In June, 80 out of 90 nights were fully booked. “We really never dared to dream of that. We had the idea, but this has turned into a success story.”

The greatest compliment
What Gea and Raymond find particularly special is that their guests feel at home. “There was once a man who was staying here at the air base for work. His wife came along and spent a week working at the B&B. They added a few days in Antwerp to their stay. And now they’re back for the second time. They said: ‘We’re home again.’ That’s the greatest compliment.”
The accommodation has therefore been furnished with great care: each with its own entrance, its own garden, and a warm, homely atmosphere. “People sit by the little lake with a book and a glass of wine; you can just see them unwinding. That really touches us.”

The ‘ Brabantse Wal: a hidden gem
What makes the‘ Brabantse Wal so special to this couple? “The nature here is truly unique. You can walk straight onto the Kalmthoutse Heide, which many people still don’t know about. Yet it’s just as beautiful as the Veluwe, if not more so. And if you walk 5 km, you’re already in Belgium. That gives many people an extra sense of being on holiday.”
According to Gea, it’s precisely that combination of tranquillity and accessibility that makes the place so appealing. “You’re right in the heart of nature, but you’ve got everything close by. Hoogerheide is a lovely village, with shops open on Sundays. And then there’s also Bergen op Zoom, Antwerp, Zeeland… it’s all so varied.”
Their tip for visitors? “Pick a cycle route, set off on a walk straight from our driveway into the countryside, or visit het Markiezenhof. And above all: take your time. Because this is the sort of place where you can just pause for a moment.”

It’s home, but it’s also a holiday
Gea rounds off with an anecdote that sums it all up: “On Ascension Day, we invited friends over who normally always go to the Ardennes. They parked their caravan on our grounds, and the children camped in a little tent further down the garden. We were out on the water on our SUPs, relaxing on the beach with a drink and really looking at one another: it’s home, but it’s also a holiday. That’s all you need.”
And it’s precisely that feeling that makes the Kortenhoeff Estate on the Brabantse Wal so special.

Visit the website of B&B Landgoed Kortenhoeff

August 2025