The Netherlands

This small house hadn’t been updated for decades and was a “big mess,” but Harry and Marja renovated the whole house — they even taught themselves to plaster the walls in the bedroom.

"What I am most proud of is that I always come up with beautiful compositions and color combinations for our furniture and accessories," Danielle writes of her home in Haarlem.

The house has original 1930s elements, like old panel doors and stunning stained glass. “When the sun comes in, the light of the stained glass is so beautiful,” writes homeowner Liza.

Cylia had only known white walls in previous rental apartments, so this unique unit's stunning exposed brick walls were one of the first things she noticed about this small-but-stylish space.

When Louise first entered this house, it felt like stepping back in time. "The house was in its original state, with all the 17th century walls and floors, and books were piled high in every room," she writes.

When Jim was ready to buy, he found this character-packed space in the Hague. “I love the high ceilings and also the natural light which floods the space in the mornings and afternoons.” And he fell in love with the stained glass windows immediately.

See inside an Amsterdam rental apartment with Scandinavian-inspired decor and incredible views of the Rijksmuseum.

Manon found this tiny boat on Dutch eBay. “I figured it's better than renting an expensive apartment, and it would be a great adventure!”

Fenna’s home is a very cool vintage-filled loft apartment that was once a woodworking shop in the 1930s.

When Rian moved into this all-white apartment she thought to herself, “What’s my favorite color?" And the answer is pink!

Marijn Kruikemeier and Liya Yang had a big task ahead of them when they bought this 517-square-foot flat in Amsterdam’s Jordaan area in 2020: The original floor plan of the space was lacking in rooms and walls! It was one big open space, long and narrow. They had the “complete freedom to come up with a new layout,” but that was the challenge, too. The idea was to add in specific rooms but not block any precious daylight.

After a substantial renovation, Marjolein Rombout’s home has “transformed from a musty dwelling untouched since the seventies into a delightful blend of freshness, modernity, and newness, all while paying homage to the original elements of a 1930s house.”

The living room has 15-foot-high ceilings, and there is a gorgeous new glass/steel door made by a local company.

This family's three-bedroom houseboat in Amsterdam is PACKED with vibrant, happy pastel colors.

Look inside this new-build house made cozy with pastel colors, playful floral patterns, wood paneling, and more.

Megan and Justin don't mind dipping into the trash every now and then to outfit their cool Amsterdam rental apartment.

As well as a hand-shaped chair, worm-shaped bookshelf, and kitchen cabinets covered in art.

Tour the home of fashion textile designers Beth & Tomi Oladipo, who own an apartment in the RAG building in Eindhoven.

Even though most of the home has been updated, the original architectural details are still on full display.

Tour creative couple Frederique Schenkels and Stijn Dijkstra bright and modern apartment they’ve owned for two years.

Tour a colorful and Scandinavian-style Netherlands home that was once a library.

Evelyne Klerx and her husband, Matthijs, have converted and renovated this old 969-square-foot barn into a home for themselves, their twin 20-year-old boys, two cats, and two pigs (that live outside in their own barn).

Carole home's style is very colorful and eclectic. She's inherited centuries-old beautiful antiques from her family and added her own twist with some modernist furniture and great collectibles collected from travels across the world.

Linda and Marc painted rich colors on a few accent walls, incorporated a collection of fantastic furniture finds, and even added walls to some rooms, all to create personality and functionality to this new build house in The Netherlands.

Ruth sells vintage goods on Instagram, and that love for thrift shopping carries over to her home in The Netherlands where she reuses items she finds in secondhand stores to bring a unique look to her home.

Hester Vogelzang's retro interior-themed Instagram tagline is “Born in the nineties, living in the seventies,” and that applies to the home shared with boyfriend, Jens, and newborn son, Wobbe.

Karst started with a neutral blank canvas when he began renting this tiny studio, which he's filled with plants, thrifted finds, and cool murals.

Saliha did NOT hold back on color when she decorated her new house in The Hague.

This family of five has created a lively home in a UNESCO Heritage Site built in the late 17th century, in an old warehouse that was used to store sugar, coffee, and spices during the Dutch Golden Age.

Name: Charlotte Rozenberg and Marvin Fockens Location: Center — Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: Less than 1 year, renting Originally from a small town in the north of the Netherlands, Charlotte and her boyfriend Marvin moved onto this small but cozy houseboat in Amsterdam last spring. Charlotte works at a local bar and is considering a career as a sex therapist, while Marvin is a musician.

High ceilings and large windows will make you fall for this floating home hook, line and sinker.

Name: Victoria, Nikolai and Maya Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 1,230 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year Nikolai and Victoria met during their last year in university and moved around Amsterdam quite a bit until they settled down in this lovely two-floor apartment. After renting five apartments over the last 10 years they felt ready to buy their own place.

Name: Morgan Schemel Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Size: 1000 square feet Years lived in: Rented 2 years My partner and I moved to the Netherlands in January 2015 with two suitcases and some family photos. We had to wait more than four months for the rest of our shipment to arrive and used that between time to explore the local thrift stores and markets for unique pieces to fill our home.

Name: Farida Location: IJburg — Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: 11 years; owned A twenty-minute ride by streetcar will take you from the bustling Amsterdam center to IJburg, a cluster of six artificial islands in the IJ lake. Surrounded by water, it feels like being on an island holiday. Even though it’s still a part of the Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam East) borough!

Name: Kenny and Robbert Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Size: 969 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, rented Robbert and Kenny are quite the complementary pair — Robbert’s practicality balances out Kenny’s flair for the dramatic — and their Utrecht attic apartment wonderfully reflects that balance. Located on one of the main canals of Utrecht, this building was once a warehouse and dates from the 15th century.

Name: Tim and Ren Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Size: 1076 square feet Years lived in: Renting 2 years When you enter Ren and Tim’s light-filled Amsterdam apartment, you can physically feel yourself relax as the hustle and bustle of city life is shed at the door. Part Nordic, part mid-century, their apartment boasts clean, simple lines and minimalist aesthetics.

Name: Franca, Thom, and their dogs Herman and Truusje Location: Nuenen, The Netherlands Size: 1,775 square feet (including the third/attic floor, not shown) Years lived in: 23 years, owned The town of Nuenen in the south of the Netherlands may have a familiar ring to art lovers. It’s where Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh lived for a couple of years in the period when he created his famous “The Potato Eaters.

Textures, clever DIYs and lovely macrame fill this modern home in the Netherlands.

Name: Margot and Luc Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Size: 538 square feet Years lived in: 2 years (I moved in with Luc a year ago, he has lived here for 2 years) Margot and Luc’s travel-inspired apartment will fill you with wanderlust the second you step through the door!

Name: Lisanne and Romy Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Size: 430 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting (Romy moved in half a year ago) Lisanne and Romy share a tiny apartment — only 430 square feet! — in the heart of historic Utrecht. With space maximization in mind, these roommates purchased appropriately sized furniture. Elements that match the women’s personalities fill the cozy Dutch canal apartment.

Name: Sarah and San Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands Size: 699 square feet Years lived in: Rented 1 year Sarah and San’s serene Utrecht apartment is a modern minimalist’s dream come true. Decorated mainly in black and whites, the space feels peaceful and uncomplicated. The apartment is located on the ground floor, so keeping the space as light as possible was very important to the couple.

Name: Alex Kitain Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 527 square feet Years lived in: 7 years, owned Alex’s light-filled Amsterdam apartment is an early riser’s dream come true. Filled with the scent of coffee brewing and sunlight streaming through the windows, mornings are something to be worshiped in this home! Decorated with eclectic but modern design, Alex’s apartment is both welcoming and stylish.

Name: Ilse van Elleswijk and Jasper and their puppy Jackie Location: Arnhem, the Netherlands Size: 1,640 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned There’s a lot to see in Ilse’s home — not a shock, considering her profession as a stylist — but what is surprising is how uncluttered the space feels. Ilse’s a big fan of accessories; she feels they add coziness to any room. But she hasn’t gone overboard in her home.

Name: Irene and Rob Burg Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Size: 1,614 square feet Years lived in: 19 years, owned As a girl, when Irene would visit her grandpa, she would always pass this quaint house built in 1934 and think to herself: “One could be so lucky to live in this home.” Years later she and her husband Rob moved into this very home — and it felt like a dream come true.

Name: Ria and Piet Veld Location: Appingedam, the Netherlands Size: 1,722 square feet Years lived in: 18 years; owned In the most northern province of the Netherlands lies the quaint city of Appingedam. It’s such a charming place, that when Ria and Piet Veld sold their previous house there eighteen years ago, they didn’t want to leave.

Name: Hetty Webbink, her son Noah and daughter Luna, Jip the cat Location: Deurne, the Netherlands Size: 1,431 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Although she was trained as a nurse, interiors and styling have always been in Hetty’s blood; she’s even had a subscription to vtwonen (the most popular interior magazine in the Netherlands) since she was 19. So it comes as no surprise that Hetty would eventually find her way to a career that involves home decor and styling.

Name: Tolga and Tomi Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Tolga and Tomi’s colorful apartment is a starter home dream-come-true. Located in a fun Amsterdam neighborhood that is filled with many restaurants and bars, it’s just what the couple had dreamed of; a space that they could return to and relax from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Name: Con and Miep Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Size: 1,614 square feet Years lived in: 13 years, owned When Con and Miep got married thirteen years ago, they both sold their apartments and moved together to one of the high-rises in Eindhoven’s city center. Con loves color, and Miep’s furniture before she was married mostly consisted of black and white. Thankfully, they both love modern design, and were pleasantly surprised by how great their furniture merged.

Name: Jaimy van Zwieten, husband Marcel, daughter Dalí, Klaas the cat, Hiphop the rabbit Location: Krimpen aan den IJssel, the Netherlands Size: 1,722 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Near Rotterdam (the Netherlands’ second-largest city), lies the small town of Krimpen aan den IJssel. It’s where Jaimy’s parents moved to when she was only four months old and it’s where she also grew up.

Name: Huberdine Verhoeven, Bertie, and their daughter Evy Location: Drunen, the Netherlands Size: 1,647 square feet Years lived in: 11 years, owned Huberdine was born and raised in Drunen, a small town in the southern Netherlands. Today, she still calls it home, along with her husband Bertie and their daughter Evy. Eleven years ago, they bought the house when it was newly-built and modernly design.

Name: Gaby Suhr Location: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Size: 1,163 square feet Years lived in: 6 years, owned Several years ago Gaby spent a couple of months traveling around the world. Living from just a suitcase, she became conscious of just how little one actually needs on a day-to-day basis. Some time later, a friend told Gaby that he felt she had a distinct ability to see the essence of a situation. To focus on the bare necessities.

Name: Shari Pelkmans, Mike and Olle Location: Heeze, the Netherlands Size: 1,087 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Three years ago Shari and Mike bought a newly-built house in Heeze, a tiny town in the south of the Netherlands (and Mike’s hometown). The location is great: a short walk from the town center, but also lots of pretty nature just around the corner.

Name: Susanne ter Heerdt and Henri van Veen Location: Arnhem, the Netherlands Size: 1,184 square feet Years lived in: 9 years, owned It’s fascinating how one thing can lead to another. In Susanne’s case she took an upholstery course, resulting in a striking dining chair set. But what’s more: the pretty rose fabric inspired her to create a huge cross-stitch wall hanging. This new passion was born one and a half years ago, and since then Susanne has grown in her craft and style.

Name: Stephan Kaspers, Judith Bolk, and their cats Dinkey and Wolly Location: Coevorden, the Netherlands Size: 1,292 square feet Years lived in: 4 years, owned A less adventurous person might have backed away from this house built in 1920 — charming as it was, it was practically uninhabitable and in dire need of updates. But as a little boy Stephan loved rearranging his bedroom, tweaking details to make the space look lovely.

Name: Driss and Bettina daughters Tala (6) and Ziri (4) Location: Amsterdam (Spiegelkwartier), Netherlands Size: 2,400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned Driss and Bettina, originally from Morocco and Germany, met (and fell in love) in Amsterdam at a small, creative advertising agency where they worked. They’ve both been passionate about interior design and beautiful, charming houses.

Name: Anne and Coen Location: Dordrecht, the Netherlands Size: 1,367 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned The old city of Dordrecht is filled with many quaint buildings, like a warehouse built in 1750 that was used to store bed sheets and towels for a nearby hospital (that has long since disappeared). Unlike the hospital, the warehouse is still around but is now home to Anne and Coen.

Name: Karlijn, Daniel and their cat Harrie Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Size: 1,076 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Karlijn is a teacher at a school for children with special needs. It’s a very rewarding job, though at times it can also be pretty challenging. When a day has been especially strenuous, she loves to unwind in the lovely home she shares with Daniel and their cat Harrie. In fact, decorating the house they bought three years ago has become quite a passion.

Name: Sharita Harcharan, her husband Shai, their children Jason, Ryan, Justin and Jasmijn Location: Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands Size: 1,076 square feet Years lived in: 16 years, renting Upon entering the Harcharan home, one instantly feels relaxed and completely at ease. It’s hard not to with all that light, the pale hues and the various tactile elements.

Name: Chantal Berkelmans, husband Pieter, their daughters Annabel and Lois Location: Eersel, the Netherlands Size: 6,458 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, owned (and self-built) For a long time Chantal believed she wasn’t creative or handy. She always felt envious of people who seemed to make the loveliest items (seemingly without much effort). When Chantal was pregnant with her first child, she remembers a period when she was terribly ill and could only lie in bed all day.

Name: Yvonne Kusters, husband Steven, daughter Faye and their dog Tess Location: The Hague, the Netherlands Size: 3,444 square feet Years lived in: 1.5 years, owned The Hague is the third-largest city in the Netherlands and holds the seat of the Dutch government. Originating in the 13th century, it’s rich in history and filled with numerous monumental buildings. Walking past these stately old homes, you would never expect one of them to house a little bit of tropical paradise.