"Wy hâlde fan de rêst, romte and in belutsen mienskip."

Living in a small village, in a somewhat more modern, comfortable and especially energy-efficient house, detached and with a view. With that assignment Andries and Reina sent their real estate agent out last year. They themselves had already looked around, also outside Opsterland. ,,Dat it De Himrik waard, wie tafal.'' 

Did you have to search for a long time? How did the process go?

,,It went quite smoothly, but I found it quite exciting,'' says Reina. ,,Ik ha 39 jier wenne op 'e Tynje. Dogge we der wol goed oan, I sometimes thought.'' Andries: ,,Wy binne echt minsken fan de mienskip en hawwe in soad bining mei it ferieningslibben op 'e Tynje . Ek no noch binne wy dêrby belutsen." 

Still, Andries and Reina decided to leave. Their house, built in 1911, stood just outside the village, on a fairly busy road. With a plot area of over 1,800 square meters, they found maintenance increasingly laborious. They quietly oriented themselves to other houses, but when the house in Hemrik appeared on the market, things went smoothly. ,,Us bid waard fuortendaliks akseptearre. Wy koene it sûnder betingsten finansiere. That was our luck.''

Within two weeks, Andries and Reina bought and sold a house. The house in Tijnje was sold to a couple from the village. Sy woene graach fan de buorkerij ôf, sadat ien fan harren soannen de maatskip dêr trochsette koe. And syn younger brother telâne in syn hûs. Sa kaam der in moaie trochstreaming ta stân. Boppedat fine wy it moai that it bewenners út it doarp sels binne dy't no y in ús âlde hûs wenje.

Are you happy in your new home?

,,It befalt poerbêst.'' The house was built in 1994 and has the conveniences of a modern home. The move from the countryside to a new housing estate went smoothly. It is quiet, there is almost only destination traffic. Reina: ,,Wy hâlde fan de rêst, romte en in belusten, lytse mienskip. Yn in grut doarp or stêd wurde wy net lokkich.'' There is a lot organized by residents in Hemrik. ''That appeals to us.'' Andries has already been approached for a board position of one of the many associations in the village.

What will living look like in the future?

Andries and Reina see themselves living in Hemrik for many years to come. On the first floor, the previous residents had furnished a bedroom, but it is now mainly used as a dining room and hobby room. In the future, if necessary, they can turn it into a bedroom again.

For young people, the housing market is a difficult situation, Reina observes. Prices have been going over the top for several years. ''That is foar harren net te bringen,'' believes the laboratory worker at Nij Smellinghe hospital. She thinks that in the coming years mainly smaller homes should be built for single-person households (young people and the elderly). 

As a former housing policy advisor for the municipality, Andries obviously has his thoughts on the current housing crisis. ,,Mar dêr wol I net tefolle oer sizze.'' However, a quick solution is not there for the taking, he knows. After all, municipality, province and national government, they all have something to say about it. Moreover, the municipality has to deal with applicable laws and regulations. ,,It wichtichste is that elkenien noflik wenje kin yn Opsterlân. It gefoel is dêrby wolris dûbeld. Wy wolle graach mear en foar eltsenien bouwe, mar wolle ek de romte en ferskaat fan it karakterestike lânskip yn Opsterlân behâlde. Dat lêste leveret nammentlik in grutte bydrage oan it noflik wenjen yn Opsterlân.''