Brigitte Bongarts - Leenman

"It's never completely empty in my head. When something is almost finished, I'm already working on the next project. At home, in the cheese shop, or in the B&B. A fun new promotion, a cozy event, new products, or a different interior: if I can't innovate anymore, I get bored. My husband is exactly the same, and we reinforce each other in that. His big dream was to start his own B&B. My big dream was to convert an old barn into our own home. In the heart of Arcen, we found a beautiful property where we could realize our shared dream."

"I was born in Amsterdam and as a child, I loved Barbies, hairstyles, and makeup. I trained as a hairdresser and makeup artist and found a job at an exclusive salon in Utrecht. After working in the beauty industry for 10 years, I wanted to enter the corporate world. It seemed wonderful to me to arrange and organize things in an office. I found a job as a consultant at an employment agency and grew within the company. I set up training sessions and organized events and fairs. Eventually, I became an executive secretary and management assistant. First at an employment organization and then at the real estate division of a bank."

When I worked at the temporary employment agency, I met my knight in shining armor: a man from Venlo. Our son was born in 2010, and we married in 2011. We lived for a few years both in Amsterdam and in Venlo. When our son turned 4 years old, we had to choose: to primary school in the fast-paced Randstad or in the quieter, more Burgundian Limburg? We chose the South and moved to the center of Venlo. I have felt welcome from the very first moment!

I am a real outdoor person and I love the water. I can stare at the Maas for hours and enjoy the boats passing by. I feel completely at home in Arcen. Things here are informal and relaxed. Sometimes even too easy-going! I express quite directly what I think and want. Especially in my work, I can be very decisive. Native Limburgers are sometimes surprised by that.

I love organizing things down to the last detail for other people, but for myself, I prefer to plan as little as possible. This leaves room for spontaneous things. An afternoon tinkering around the house, a nap in the hammock in the garden, or an unplanned visit. Every week, someone spontaneously drops by, and before we know it, we're deep in conversation enjoying a nice drink and cheese. Wonderful, isn't it?!