It’s interesting to note that Denmark and Holland both feature in the Top 10 listing of the World’s Happiness Report 2017. In fact, Denmark was only toppled from number one position by Norway this year. Produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report was a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012. The rankings are based on six factors: per capita gross domestic product, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, social support and absence of corruption in government or business.
Bosch en Duin, Near Amsterdam (Above)
Designed over the course of a decade, this contemporary, 2,163m2 villa is set in beautiful hilly woodland. Its architectural design over seven levels has been inspired by its surrounding eight-acre plot and exquisite materials feature throughout. The property includes a guest apartment, elevator, sumptuous private spa, home cinema, convertible indoor pool and state-of-the-art home automation.
£15.8m / €18m / $19.2m
Engel & Völkers Private Office
www.ipmag.link/2oXRHJS
Going Dutch
A region in the Kingdom of the Netherlands just to the west of Denmark, Holland is famous for its colourful bulb fields, cheeses and extensive waterways. Its capital, Amsterdam, has no less than a quarter of its surface area taken up by canals and harbours. The city’s 65 miles of canals provide a mode of transport as well as a source of recreation, with more than 15,000 pleasure boats registered in the city. These thriving waterways are also dotted with houseboats, canal-side terraces, cafes, bars and restaurants. Holland also boasts a long coastline with beautiful beaches while its flat landscape makes it an ideal place for cycling. There are no restrictions on foreigners buying a house in the Netherlands and this appears to be attracting overseas interest as Hans Veenhuijsen, CEO of Residence 365, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, explains.
“Most of the buyers are Dutch however we have done some major transactions with Asian buyers. Other international buyers until now come from the USA, Turkey, Australia, UK and Switzerland. “Buyers traditionally purchase homes in or near the big cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. Prices per square metre for high end apartments on prime locations in the Netherlands vary from €6,000 (Rotterdam and The Hague) to even €16,000 (Amsterdam). The average is €10,000 per square metre.”
Mr Veenhuijsen expects prices to rise, depending on interest rates and other macro-economic factors. This is due to the fact that Dutch properties still are relatively affordable compared to other European countries, particularly cities such as London, Berlin and Paris.
“We are experiencing a lot of confidence in the market again and buyers – both national and international – are buying homes for investment.”
Van Eeghenstraat 80, Amsterdam
This stately family home of 595m2 features spacious rooms, a magnificent stairwell and light-filled bay windows. The villa is a nationally listed building built in 1899 with a rich history and a wealth of original period features. Only high-quality materials have been used during the renovation, carefully restoring the property’s distinctive characteristics and combining them with modern finishing. The property has five floors and all rooms offer stunning views of the Vondelpark. These include a large, modern kitchen with spacious dining room, classic sitting room with fireplace, second stylish dining room, work room with private balcony, two home cinemas, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a lift. Outside is a large sunny garden (under which a six-car garage could be built if wished) and a garden house.
£16.5m / €18.75m / $20m
Christies Real Estate
www.ipmag.link/2ptO6zC
Central Amsterdam
A beautiful, stately national monument dating from 1755, this canal house has recently been completely renovated to a particularly high level with a new foundation. It has been restored using only original and first class materials and provides a living area of 826m2 across six residential layers. The property features authentic floors, ceiling paintings and woodcarvings alongside all modern technologies including a lift. The only canal house with gas-lit lanterns, it has spacious accommodation which combines a monumental atmosphere with all contemporary comforts.
£8.8m / €10m / $10.7m
Engel & Völkers Amsterdam
www.ipmag.link/2oXRHJS
Baltic bound
Denmark is a Scandinavian country on a peninsula that extends into the Baltic Sea and, like the Netherlands, is a constitutional monarchy. It has an exceptionally long coastline and literally hundreds of Danish islands just waiting to be explored. The capital city of Copenhagen features fascinating architecture, gourmet restaurants, the famous Tivoli Gardens and, of course, the Little Mermaid statue. According to the Global Property Guide, Denmark’s property market continues to show spectacular performance, with residential property prices surging, boosted by negative interest rates. It goes on to report that, because of strong house price rises, the International Monetary Fund has urged the Danish government to reverse its negative interest rates mandate and introduce new policies, such as zoning rules and relaxing rental market regulations, to avoid a housing bubble. There are certain requirements for non-Danish citizens when it comes to buying property. Unless you have lived in Denmark for a minimum of five years, you must obtain permission from the Danish Ministry of Justice. However, this restriction does not apply if you are an EU-citizen and if the property is to be used as a permanent residence.
Ålsgårde
Designed specifically for its location on the edge of the Sound, this villa and its plot gives fabulous views all the way to Kullen, Sofiero Castle in Sweden and Kronborg. The property offers 384m2 of large, bright, open living spaces, the mark of a renowned Danish architect, and was built in 2010. Its layout is designed in the form of one large room filled with natural light and tailored to the family’s need for private rooms. Therefore, all the doors are sliding and fitted with special glass to create a unique transparency. Custom-made floor to ceiling glass panels and large skylights also help to blur the line between indoors and outdoors. The first floor offers access to the building’s rooftop terrace with its outdoor fireplace and covered bench where both the view and the sunset can be enjoyed. There also is a built-in sound system from Linn, which can be adapted to the need for varying audio experiences in different rooms.
£3m / €3.5m / $3.8m
Lilienhoff
www.ipmag.link/2oY18cC
Slotsstien 1, Fredericia
An outstanding residence directly next to the Little Belt, a strait between the island of Funen and the Jutland Peninsula. The villa is privately located at the end of a closed road and was built in 2007. It offers over 600m2 of living space as well as a guest house of approximately 80m2 and a long jetty for easy access to activities on the water. There are panoramic views of the sea, forest and Old Little Belt Bridge from the main part of the villa’s rooms and large terrace areas. The property includes a plot of approximately 7,500m2 and about 2.7 hectares of adjacent land can be purchased in addition if wished. Features include underfloor heating throughout, a Smart House system, central vacuum and Bose speaker system.
£2.8m / €3.23m / $3.5m
Lilienhoff
www.ipmag.link/2oY18cC
