The story of
Sarie Steenbergen
"Suddenly, there were a lot of opportunities here in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen."
Until I was 18 years old, I lived nowhere else but in the town centre of Hulst. In a hidden, quiet spot in a bustling city. As a schoolgirl, I appreciated Zeeuws-Vlaanderen mainly because my friends and family lived here, and I seized every opportunity to go out. To Perkpolder, having sleepovers with friends in the polder, shopping in Antwerp and Ghent or going to parties. But still, I knew for sure that as soon as I got my degree, I would leave Zeeuws-Vlaanderen! On to Breda, the city that had won my heart.
And off I went, ready to never return to live in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Freedom! Not everyone knows you and you can do whatever you like. Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Tilburg, Eindhoven; everything was just a few train stations away.
Yet, I write this blog from my own little office in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Love has brought me back. The love of having my family close by, the love for the space and the possibility of going wherever I want to go, and, last but not least, more and more friends returned. It all convinced me to come back.
Suddenly, there were a lot of opportunities here in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Without any trouble, I found a place to graduate, within two weeks I found a new house to live in and, once I had my diploma, I could choose between three jobs! I had never expected this in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
I've been back for five years now and have come to know Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and its people even better. I enjoy the great restaurants, the location close to Belgium and the feeling of like knows like no longer bothers me, because it's nice to have connections and relationships.
At the weekend, I like to drive through the Netherlands and Belgium to visit friends, a festival or a nice city. And yes, Breda still feels like my second hometown where I know my way around, but every time when I see the basilica appearing in the distance, I say to myself: “What a beautiful life I have here!”