In 2013, Esther and Joris both decided to go to the local youth club for a night out with friends. They had no idea that this casual decision would eventually lead them to a vineyard in Northern Italy. But when they first met that night, they knew that it was the start of something special.
Esther (Back Office and Customer Success) and Joris (Operations Manager) are living proof that true love still exists, and we think that what they have created together is too inspiring not to share. I spoke with them about their unique life story and how Publiq made it all possible.
Esther and Joris married in 2017 and shared a passion for travel. Their adventures took them to Spain, Portugal, and Italy, where they first spent holidays together. Not in resorts, but on the road. They wanted to see as much of the world as possible and embraced the freedom of being constantly on the move.
During their travels, they adopted Dembé, a proud Rhodesian Ridgeback who accompanied them everywhere. Soon, a new dream began to take shape: “What if we went on a longer journey in a camper van? We will take Dembé with us.” The only obstacle was that Esther’s job at the time did not allow her to work remotely.
“When Publiq was looking for someone for a back-office role, I applied,” Esther explains. She got the job, and with it, the freedom to manage her own schedule.
“Publiq only asked of us that we always have a strong internet connection. As long as we do our jobs well, Mark and Paul (the founders) are happy for us to work from wherever we want,” they explain together.
So Esther and Joris bought a camper van and set off across Southern Europe, Dembé happily along for the ride. From Portugal and Spain to Slovakia, Croatia, and Italy, they combined adventure with work; a perfect blend of freedom and structure. “We could never have done this without Publiq,” says Esther.
It was mainly Northern Italy that had a special pull on them. During their road trip, they decided to set the wheels in motion, and hired someone to look for a permanent home there. “The food is amazing, and the landscape is perfect,” says Joris. “The mountains are nearby, and the rolling hills in the rest of the area are stunning.” “And,” adds Esther, “it is still quite easy to go back to the Netherlands. It is about twelve hours by car and that is still doable for us.”
While still travelling, they heard about a house for sale that seemed to be just right for them. True to their nomadic lifestyle, they drove straight there, parked the camper in the yard, and knew instantly: “This is our home.”
What they bought was not just a house, but a vineyard, with a large plot of land, barns, and stables. After months of renovating, they officially moved in the day after the Publiq team-building weekend. Now they have been living there for several months, working hard on the house and the land while staying connected to the Netherlands through friends, family, and their work for Publiq.
“The BouwApp gives us structure,” says Esther. “There is so much to do here, so many plans, that we need a bit of peace and order in our lives.” “Our work with Publiq keeps us grounded,” Joris adds. It provides them with the structure and order they both admit they need.
Esther and Joris may live on a vineyard overlooking the hills of Northern Italy, and plan to rent out part of their estate for events. They are doing all this, whilst enjoying financial stability through their roles at Public. Does that not sound perfect?
“It is not all sunshine and roses,” says Joris. “Sometimes we feel lonely, especially because we live in a small village with mostly older residents. It can be hard to arrange paperwork, or even to find someone who actually shows up when they promise they will.”
“We are both starting Italian lessons,” Esther adds. “And there is another couple in the village around our age that we are in contact with. It is slowly starting to take shape, but moving to a country where you do not know anyone and do not speak the language fluently simply is not easy.”
Despite the challenges, neither of them has felt true homesickness. In spite of the difficult moments, they are confident they made the right choice. They have only been there a few months, but Joris and Dembé have already had an encounter with a wild predator.
“I was walking through the vineyard when I saw a deer,” Joris recalls. “Then I saw a wolf, clearly hunting it.” The wolf disappeared into the woods, and Joris and Dembé continued their walk.
From a local youth club to crossing paths with a wolf in an Italian vineyard; Esther and Joris still have a lifetime of adventures ahead of them.