STORIES OF VÄRMLAND
Their story began in 2015 when they exchanged a few glances at the railway station in Eindhoven and then shared a train compartment towards Amsterdam. Ten years later, Annemarie Aarts and Martijn Molenaar have two children together and live their dream life by a small lake in western Värmland, with the forest and birdsong as their closest neighbors. The adventure has also made them TV celebrities in the Netherlands, where 1.7 million viewers followed the family's new life and business ventures a few years ago in the program Het Hoge Noorden.
– We were looking for a place where we could both live and work, close to a lake and with opportunities to build a business where we could share our experiences with others on a small scale, says Annemarie. We found an abandoned house without electricity and water – but full of possibilities.
They were already well accustomed to the simple life. Their first four years together, they lived in a motorhome and traveled through Europe, via Scandinavia to the Baltics. They stayed in new places, worked as volunteers on farms and in various projects, and enjoyed the freedom. They wanted to start a family, bought and renovated a larger motorhome, and continued the journey together with their son Espen, who is now five years old.
– The pandemic suddenly put a stop to our travels, and we decided to settle down permanently. We liked the life in the motorhome and didn't want to return to the Netherlands, which we find cramped and stressful. Here in Sweden, the pace is much slower and breathing is easier.
Want to be as self-sufficient as possible
The house is located right by the shore of Vargsjön, in Säffle municipality with the postal address Värmlands Nysäter. There are two summer cottages nearby, but it is six kilometers to the nearest year-round neighbor.
– We want to be as self-sufficient as possible, both in terms of renovating our house and in everyday life. It is enormously satisfying while also challenging, as nothing takes care of itself. Nowadays, we have our own well and water drawn into the house. We get our electricity from solar panels but need to support it with a generator in the winter when it is dark and cold.
The family has grown to four members – their daughter Iep is 1.5 years old.
– Many people seeking a new lifestyle want to have all the pieces in place before they dare to take the step. But my advice is: Just do it! If you have a dream, go for it and be open to what happens along the way and the people you meet. There are not answers to everything right away, but for those who can overlook that, there are all the possibilities in the world to create something fantastic here in Värmland.
Many people seeking a new lifestyle want to have all the pieces in place before they dare to take the step. But my advice is: Just do it! There are not answers to everything right away, but for those who can overlook that, there are all the possibilities in the world to create something fantastic here in Värmland.
Annemarie Aars
Owner Upgrid Experience
Annemarie and Martijn have slowly but surely built up their small-scale nature tourism company, Upgrid Experience. It is a small, nature-close campsite with seven motorhome pitches and two furnished permanent tents for rent. There are also a few spots for those who want to stay in their own tent.
– We have a good relationship with Säffle municipality, and it has been valuable to discuss our ideas with the business unit. Our campsite is as close to "wild camping" as you can get without pitching a tent on your own in the forest. We have a dry toilet but no shower and cannot offer electricity.
– We strive for a personal and relaxed atmosphere. The children play together, and we adults like to gather at the barbecue area and campfire in the evening.
Fully booked camping
The campsite is popular and fully booked for most of the summer. Upgrid Experience has 35,000 followers on Instagram, and in 2023 the family became famous in the Netherlands through the TV series Het Hoge Noorden (High Up in the North, freely translated), which attracted 1.7 million viewers each week.
– The TV team documented when we built up the business here in Sweden, and through social media, it is possible to continue following our daily life, both in large and small ways.
Text: Katarina Averås
Bilder: Privat