A Quick Glimpse
The 2000s were a wild ride: selling a 14th century French monastery, searching for freedom in a camper across Spain and Portugal, and building two wooden studios under the Mediterranean sky. From the seas of New Zealand to the rice fields of Bali, and Krabi Cookery School in Thailand, we lived life to the fullest and helped a Balinese boy start his dream of becoming a tour guide. How about building Mougny’s Creative Haven to hold yearly Portrait-Painting Workshops. Curious? Dive into my full adventure in the 2000s below.
Real Estate Riches
As told in “My ‘90s Journey,” our main income came from selling properties for ORPI. A gem was Le Prieuré in Lurcy-le-Bourg, sold on July 13, 2000, to SCI Le Prieuré de Lurcy de Bourg. This 14th-century fortified monastery in Burgundy, with walls up to 1.4 meters thick, is a historic marvel. Every September, during Journées du Patrimoine, it opens to the public, hosting art exhibitions and performances by local and international artists.
The enormous attic with roof trusses, just like an upturned ship, so beautiful!
See more at prieure-lurcy.nl or journees-du-patrimoine.com.
Office at Home
My workshop—a wooden shed—became our real estate office. From 1999 to 2004, I juggled construction, renovations, and driving ORPI clients to view properties. Agnes handled paperwork—preliminary contracts to final notary deeds. At Notary E. Clerget’s alone, we closed 46 deals.
Camper Dreams
I bought a Fiat Ducato van, a former Dutch TNT delivery vehicle, and converted it into a camper. Spain and Portugal were next—we wanted to explore warmer lands (guess whose idea that was). By now, we were woven into French life, with many local friends. Dinners at each other’s homes were common. A fun memory: the year before Agnes moved permanently, when my French was abysmal, I invited neighbors for dinner. I cooked, they brought wine—lots of it. Those hilarious nights, filled with laughter, taught me French bit by bit.
Selling homes to Dutch buyers sparked friendships, some lasting to this day. We noticed a pattern: Dutch newcomers often called the French “stuffy.” We’d ask, “Have you invited them for an apéritif?” “No, we don’t speak French,” they’d say. “Try it,” we urged. Later, many admitted it transformed their relationships, with regular visits back and forth.
Breaking Real Estate Rules
Most French agents cover small areas. Not us—we’d drive 1.5 to 2 hours for viewings, especially if we’d secured and sold the property, doubling our commission. Our website, targeting Dutch clients, and those long drives fueled our success. The 1998-2010 housing boom helped, too. Agnes became a legend in Bourgogne’s real estate scene—everyone knew her, and tips rolled in. Amid work, we always found time to party.
Farewell, Fertrève
In 2004, we sold our Fertrève home—a tough call. Agnes struggled; it was a beautiful place we’d poured our hearts into. Five years earlier, we’d arrived with nothing, barely affording the purchase. Selling during the boom was a no-brainer, though. Freedom’s worth a fortune. Agnes later agreed it was the right move.
Orchard Oasis
Next, we found an 800m² orchard for sale through village whispers—no “for sale” sign. The owner asked, “What’s your plan?” We said we’d restore the neglected trees and maybe build a small wooden house. She loved it. Had we planned to bulldoze for a mansion, we’d have lost her trust. The price? €800, notary fees included. She repeated it twice—we couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t about money; it was about her late father’s legacy. Do good, meet good. We were now proud owners of a romantic orchard in a tiny hamlet, 30 minutes from Fertrève.
Thai Adventures Begin
After four years of building and parting ways with CBJ Projects BV, it was time for a trip to Thailand in 2005. A good friend raved about Ao Nang in Krabi, where he’d been in 1985. He’d later met Ya, the owner of the newly opened Krabi Cookery School, in 2000. With his tip, we booked a charming house in Ao Nang—a delightful seaside spot with great food, cozy stays, and endless walks. Boat trips to stunning islands were a joy. We couldn’t skip Ya’s Thai cooking class, a highlight of our stay. Thanks to our friend’s connection, we got VIP treatment and stayed for dinner at Ya’s. We’ve kept in touch with her ever since. For an authentic Thai cooking course, Ya’s your woman—even Gordon Ramsay could learn from her! Check yacookeryschool.com/video.
Spanish Ventures
Fertrève’s sale left us free, with a fat wallet—the fuel for our chosen life. Summers in the orchard, winters in warmer climes. Our first camper trip hit Spain and Portugal. Portugal stole our hearts; we stayed months. Near Valencia, visiting Dutch artist friends, we stumbled on 1.5 hectares for sale. Over wine and food, we dreamed of building two wooden homes/studios. The view—overlooking Valencia and the Mediterranean—was unreal. Blood runs where it must. We bought the land with our friend. Below some photos of the construction of one of the two wooden homes/studios.
Building illegally was a saga—notaries, lawyers, judges. My plan: demountable timber-frame houses, an “artistic experiment” to be removed after 10 years, preserving the land. It won approval. Photos tell the tale. For two years, we built in Spain’s winters, returning to our orchard summers in the Nièvre – France to craft a 16m² tiny house—one of the first. Cheap living, freedom, travel: that was the goal. But three break-ins in Spain soured it. Spain felt like the Wild West compared to Portugal or France. We sold and said goodbye.
New Zealand and Bali
Left with our Burgundy orchard, camper, and tiny house, we spent two winters crisscrossing New Zealand in a Toyota Lite van, exploring both islands. We bought a small sailing yacht, Renaissance, in Whangarei on the North Island. Guess who we visited? Tom, Marieke’s father from Riviera Yacht Agency in Menton, now living in New Zealand. We stayed with him, sailing to the stunning Bay of Islands. Photos capture it.
In Queenstown I made a tandem jump with this nice experienced skydiver
Renaissance
By 2006, we sold the orchard. One last New Zealand trip, then Bali. Tom sold our yacht Renaissance. We considered emigrating to New Zealand, but Europe’s old buildings, cozy bars, and terraces won. New Zealand’s nature—deserts, mountains, beaches—is breathtaking, but beauty alone wasn’t enough. Atmosphere matters.
In Bali, we spent six weeks in Ubud, a tropical haven. I’m a tropics guy—cold’s my enemy. Our guesthouse had a pristine pool, cleaned daily by Gusti, a young worker who brought our breakfast. He spoke decent English, loved chess, and had great humor. I asked, “What’s your dream job?” “Driving tourists around Bali,” he said. He had a license.
I proposed renting a car for a tour, with Gusti driving. I’d cover everything—hotels, food. Off we went in a red Suzuki Jeep. He showed us rice fields and a tiny hut where he lived from age 8 to 14, studying by candlelight while working fields and tending buffalo. We were moved to tears. He was wise, independent. We visited his parents in East Bali, sleeping in a hut, sharing meals.
Back in Ubud, I said, “Gusti, here’s a deal. I’ll build you a website for European tourists. Take my phone, get a Bali SIM, and we’ll promote it.” Back in France, he called: “I’ve got 10 clients in two weeks!” Today, in 2025, Gusti’s been a professional tour guide for 17 years, married, with two kids. How beautiful is that?
Mougny’s Creative Haven
In 2007, we bought an old, abandoned farmhouse in the tiny hamlet of Mougny, Nièvre, Burgundy, France—a place with just 12 residents, where I was the eldest. Another massive renovation kicked off: a house and barn transformed into a stunning atelier. Over 2-3 years, we built a new, good-insulated roof, installed water and electricity, and fitted double-glazed windows, doors, and frames and lots more. We also revived an 8000m² plot.
Then our Art-Culture-Center ‘Table-Tableau’ was founded, this studio/atelier hosted years of painting courses by Agnes (see Agnes’s Art), including workshops by renowned portrait artist and friend Ben Lustenhouwer, who taught for a decade, drawing students worldwide for his mastery. Below, a kitchen and restaurant enabled dinners, followed by film nights. Live music, poetry readings, and concerts filled our stage, turning Mougny into a vibrant cultural hub.
Watch below a short impression of one of the many Portrait Painting Classes with Ben Lustenhouwer in our studio – Table Tableau – in Mougny – Burgundy – France.
And how about this: – Ben Lustenhouwer painting a portrait of me!
Amsterdam Canal Tour with Ben Lustenhouwer, 2013
One sunny day in 2013, I met up with my good friend and renowned portrait painter Ben Lustenhouwer, who taught portrait painting courses at our place for 10 years, and his wife Helma in Amsterdam. I borrowed a workboat from ’t Kromhout shipyard for a canal tour. As a former canal boat skipper, I know Amsterdam’s waters like the back of my hand. Ben filmed the trip, and we even ran into my nephew Sjef, who joined us for a bit. A delicious lunch at our favorite café, ’t Smalle, made the day complete. Boating is like driving—you never forget how. It was a joy to be back on the water!
The 2008 Crisis Awakening
In “My ‘00s Journey,” 2008 stands out—the year of the global financial crisis, a fact known to all en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis. Honesty and truth drive my life. That’s why, since 2008, I’ve studied money: what is it, where does it come from, who controls it? It’s a complex tale I’ll revisit later. Many, like me, see something deeply wrong with this system. The U.S. debt, almost $37 trillion, may never be repaid UsDebtClock.org. Not by chance, Bitcoin emerged in 2008. “Give a man a gun, he can rob a bank; give a man a bank, he can rob the world” (All Wars Are Bankers Wars, quotes.net). To me, this quote rings true today. I’ll dive deeper in “My ‘10s Journey” scroll done to ‘Crypto Quest Continues‘.
If you are really interested in “Money” and want to know how it works, this video made by James Corbett, is a must watch film. It will most likely change your opinion about this greatly.
