Country Living Close to the Bustling City: This National Monument Melds Extremes

Arriving at this destination just past the pleasant village of Winssen, you are greeted by an original central barn dating back to 1866. Three-year-old Nellie Noorduijn laid the first stone back then. 

The facade seems endless. Along the winding path through meadows and past farms, the charming front yard unfolds in all its authenticity. A crunching gravel path leads to the entrance. The back entrance shows how this national monument has been architecturally transformed into, well, what exactly? For this modern yet characterful barn house, words fall short. 

Privacy, tranquility, and plenty of space 

The current owners sought peace, privacy, and ample space in the land of Maas and Waal. They wanted to be close to the vibrant life of their beloved city of Nijmegen, as well as the highways to the rest of the Netherlands. They also desired a rural location with the expansive views that come with it. 

By chance, they ended up here, at this chic barn house that was once part of an actual farmstead. Howve Bouwlust, history tells us. A large central barn where livestock once roamed and found shelter. A monument begging to be transformed into their home. A home where the future unfolds and history tells its story. 

Modern in a historical jacket 

It was certainly not a ready-made situation, though there was a plan from an architect specializing in new construction and renovation in a rural context. “In fact, we bought four walls and a tiled roof connected by beautiful oak beams,” says the current resident. A major task with a unique advantage: under the beautiful tiled roof, a house could rise that meets all modern standards. Well-insulated and equipped with a new base for underfloor heating throughout the ground floor and bathroom, this barn house is completely ready for the future. With a view of the old beams, which give this barn house a very special character. 

And then that height… 

What immediately catches the eye is that there is not a full floor across the entire surface. It’s not necessary because, with a length of over twenty meters, there is plenty of space in the living room to fully utilize the total height. From the mezzanine, you can best see that the beams steal the show and the historic oculus window at the peak and the former hayloft hatch provide unique lighting. Just like a glass wall with sliding doors has been placed in the side facade, here too the beautiful open shutters have been carefully preserved. A nice detail: behind the seating area, there is enough space to swing. 

A dream loggia 

The house is very light, largely due to the clever placement of an indoor glass loggia at the level of the kitchen. Six meters of glass offer a view of the back yard from the kitchen island. When the first spring sun appears, it’s wonderfully sheltered there. When it gets warmer, the glass sliding doors can be opened, blending inside and outside. Literally, as the polished concrete floor, forming a solid and contemporary foundation throughout the house, extends outside. This way, the terrace with the large wooden dining table is literally one with the kitchen. The view from the charming loggia and terrace is also very special. It opens onto the deep garden with the orchard behind. The surrounding fields are a free bonus. 

Everything fits the monument 

A very smart touch: The kitchen facade is set back almost a meter, and both the front and back doors are recessed 30 centimeters. The other elements are integrated into the facade. “From the outside, there’s no reflective glass visible on the facade,” says the resident. “The municipality didn’t find that suitable for a national monument.” The many glass internal doors also make the farmhouse even lighter. Everywhere, the light is optimally utilized without compromising the monument’s status. 

Moreover, the features of the historic central barn are beautifully incorporated into the design. Symmetry dominates, making the farm feel naturally balanced in every space. Another special aspect of this long facade farmhouse was that in the past, tenants could drive their horse and wagon through the high entrance on the right side and exit through the left side. They just had to open the wooden shutters… 

A nod to the past 

Today, a fantastic nod to this historical aspect has been made. The current owner is a vintage car enthusiast. Hence, there is an indoor ‘garage’ connected by a glass wall to what is now used as a dining room. Having dinner with a view of the Porsche surely makes for conversation… 

The special car storage can easily be transformed for another use, says the resident. “A nice apartment, a studio, or an independent practice. The foundation is there. Just like everywhere else, the polished floor extends here too, with underfloor heating.” She would also place a glass facade with French doors in this side wall. For now, the space is closed off with the same deep green shutters that stay open forever in the living room. 

A warm embrace 

Simplicity, unity, and honesty play the leading roles in this farmhouse, with the kitchen as its warm beating heart. The back wall accommodates both appliances and a cozy coffee corner. To the side, the door leads to the storage behind it. This sits under the oak stairs to the upper floor, creating a ‘block’ in the heart of the farmhouse that beautifully breaks up the space and makes it cozy. From the high living room, you walk through the kitchen to the dining table with a view of the showroom garage. Then through the entrance to the front yard and back through what is now the children’s playroom to the living room with its old beams. 

And then the possibilities 

The playroom was originally designated as an office by the architect. “We chose to keep it open,” says the current owner. “We like being connected with the little ones and appreciate that you can stay connected everywhere. It’s big but you’re never lost. But we have the option to realize a glass wall here too.” This way, the space can easily be transformed into a spacious room where you can work from home in peace.” From the open mezzanine on the upper floor, the historical beams can be seen, and through the facade, the sheep pasture of the neighbors. 

Simply perfect 

Of the four bedrooms on the first floor, the master bedroom is quite special. The bed is positioned so that the morning light enters through the former hayloft hatch. Behind it, under the wooden roof structure, a walk-in closet has been built. The TV cabinet in the living room was expertly made by a carpenter from Renkum, who also crafted the oak countertop of the kitchen island downstairs. The bathroom, in all its luxurious simplicity, is perfect. It’s like the whole farmhouse: the unity of materials forms a calm, honest, and delightful foundation. 

As Piet Oudolf intended 

The spacious garden is a story in itself. The current owner has a green thumb and a keen sense of garden design that fits this rural setting. She found inspiration in the world-famous landscape architect from Gelderland, Piet Oudolf. Whether it’s the High Line in Manhattan or the garden of the Voorlinden museum in Wassenaar, Oudolf always integrates greenery that complements the surrounding landscape. It’s a style she greatly admires. 

For the design, the resident chose perfect sightlines: “I stood in front of the kitchen window and asked myself what I wanted to see. Then I created a path that leads to the orchard.” She also felt the straight residential house needed some soft curves for balance. She points to the kidney bean-shaped borders planted at varying heights. It forms a beautiful line play that is different every season and never boring. 

Butterflies, birds, and low maintenance 

For the plant species, she consulted Landschapsbeheer Gelderland. “The hedge on the boundary, the shrubs, and the fruit trees. Now we have native plants like hawthorn, blackthorn, privet, and elderberry. It attracts butterflies and birds and fits the landscape.” This theme continues in the orchard with apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees. “I even took a pruning course,” she laughs. 

Thus, the garden has become a true extension of the house, exactly as she envisioned. “It adds an extra dimension,” she says. And a lot of work? “Most of the garden is low-maintenance.” A robot lawnmower does the job… 

Prepared for the future 

She would love to take her garden to the next ‘project’. But that’s not possible. The future residents will enjoy it. And also nice: anyone who doesn’t want to change anything about this monument has hit the jackpot. The house is delivered turnkey. But those who want to customize it will also find it ideal. Everything is designed so that multiple rooms can be easily created. The barn house is fully prepared for low-temperature heat pumps and has plenty of space for solar panels. 

 A gem under the shadow of Nijmegen in the beautiful land of Maas and Waal. A fantastic base with a network of highways just minutes away. And all of this in a national monument to fall in love with and cherish forever. True love is eternal.