Once home, it turned out my wife found it a good idea too. My father had always wanted to emigrate to France, but he died young. We’re in our early forties, with children just 3 years and 18 months old. I have to do it now, while I still can. The renovation of our farmhouse in Giessenburg was only just completed, so we first took the time to orient ourselves. But a visit to the Second Home Expo plus a buyer for the farmhouse speeded up the whole process.
We decided on Dénia, because it has the best climate in Europe; there’s no industry and clean air, it’s not too hot but there’s sun 300 days a year, and on one side it has the sea and on the other, the authentic hinterland.
Dénia is like a small Barcelona, with cosy restaurants, beach bars and nice shops. And the people are welcoming and helpful. Living here is wonderful and although it’s not France, it does feel nice that I’m making my father’s dream come true.
We first rented a house, to give us time to get to know the surroundings and the people. We then bought a plot of land on which to build our house and business premises. A sample house made of Ytong blocks from France.
They’re building blocks with extremely high insulating properties with which you can also build faster. I am so enthusiastic about the quality of those blocks that I now import them. During the first period in Spain, we built mainly for people who had bought themselves a piece of land and wanted to build a house on it.
Often, it turned out the permits were not in order or there were unforeseen costs. Before you know it, you first have to solve a series of problems before you can start construction. In the meantime, we’ve learned our way around in Spain and reversed the process. We buy suitable plots and build a shell villa, for which all the papers are in order. From there, you can go on to build the buyer’s dream home under the Spanish sun.
Andries van Houwelingen founded EBS. (Economic Building Systems) in 2003, as a developer and construction company, to help buyers in close collaboration to realise their dream house on the Costa Blanca, in Dénia, Jávea, Moraira, Pedreguer, Benissa, Beniarbeig or Calpe, for example.’
EBS Team
The EBS Team is close-knit and has around fourteen permanent staff. Every single one of them a professional who has worked for EBS for a long time. You get to know them better during the process. They are open, cheerful and helpful. You can ask them anything and they’re always ready to help.
EBS also works with a steady team of partners including architects, contractors and subcontractors, and suppliers who share the same feel for quality, are good at their jobs and have excellent contact with the municipality. They know each other, work together and are very responsible. That way, with EBS, you can count on a practised team of professionals that you can rely on and trust.
With their knowledge, expertise, years of experience and practical tips and advice, they only make the experience of your new dream home in Spain even better.
EBS Sports
There goes the EBS peloton, with Andries in front. A group of clients, partners and staff members often go off on their racing bikes on a Sunday, “advertising” in the mountains and along the coast in their EBS cycling gear. It’s become a bit of a tradition. As well as hard work, there’s room for fun and relaxation. Taking part in sports together forms a connection. Anyone who enjoys it and has time, joins in. Not compulsory, just for fun. On the way, you enjoy the beautiful surroundings and at a pavement café, with a cortado, you talk to each other about everything and nothing and eat together. That’s how you get to know new people. And new routes.
Plus, you’re in good company. All professional cycling teams train on the Costa Blanca in the winter. Because of the excellent climate. The good roads. The gradients – not too steep, not too hard going, so that you can chalk up a lot of kilometres. And – not unimportant – it’s safe. Motorists are used to cyclists and keep an appropriate distance!
Game of padel
For those who like to be on the ball, EBS Sports also has a padel team. There’s always someone on for a game of padel. This sport’s popularity is growing all over the world, but its origins are in Spain, where padel has been played for more than 40 years.
Who knows? There might one day be an EBS padel tournament with a coveted EBS challenge trophy! Join in some time!
