Blaumas Hof

We were very happy with our stay at the manor house. There were nine of us in four lovingly furnished bedrooms. The spacious bathroom had an extra-large tub and a shower, and there was another shower in the adjoining area on the first floor. We also had a washing machine and dryer. Downstairs, there’s a large dining area with a long table and lots of antique furniture, plus a big living space with a fireplace and a small, practical kitchen. Outside, there’s a beautiful terrace and a huge garden or park. Kids can use the trampoline, table tennis, and swing set, and there are plenty of sunny and shady spots to relax. We’d stayed here before and rented the manor house this time. It’s a really nice, quiet place, with lovingly decorated rooms, a kitchen, and a shower and bathtub. There’s a lovely terrace out front, and you can rent bicycles if you ask. The views are beautiful and there are great cycling routes.

The garden, with its sun loungers, and the barn full of flea market stalls were lovely. You can rent bikes for different needs, and the owner shared helpful ideas for places to visit and restaurants. The East Frisian scenery, dikes, and wide open views made the setting feel special, with the Netherlands close by for more things to explore. We were impressed by the whole property, especially the themed rooms with their original antique furniture. The living room was wonderful, with a fireplace, stucco ceiling, and antique dining room. For a larger group, the spacious bathroom and shower room, along with a separate toilet, felt like pure luxury. Highly recommended for a holiday with a small or large family or group.

The beginnings of a so-called "Slinger Tuin" (old Dutch garden) are still visible, though it also needs work. There were renovations going on in the building during our visit. We didn't see signs of a holiday farm. A flea market is held regularly on Saturdays and Sundays, with genuinely old building materials such as Delft tiles and plenty more. A must-see for enthusiasts.

We stayed at Johannes-Hof for a week. The host was easy to reach on WhatsApp and replied quickly, and communication was excellent. There’s a small drinks fridge in the hallway. The keys are in a safe, though there isn’t a spare. The apartment was very clean, with a practically new bathroom and a well-equipped kitchen. The furnishings are modern but still have farmhouse character. Some beams are only about 1.80 meters high, so you need to duck in places, and the wooden floor creaks quite a bit. One thing the listing photos and description didn’t make clear was that the third bedroom is completely open above the kitchen. You can sometimes hear the fridge humming there, so there are really only two enclosed bedrooms. The stairs up to it are very steep and have no safety barrier. With two two-year-olds along, that wasn’t ideal. There are also knee-high windows throughout that don’t lock, so there are a few hazards for small children to keep in mind. With all the waterways and ditches nearby, there are countless mosquitoes. The windows have no screens, so bring mosquito lamps, spray, or something similar. There’s a huge outdoor area, with lots of places to sit, a well-kept lawn, a barbecue spot, an XXL trampoline that’s well secured, and a swing attached to a tree. The grill grates are rusty, though. The village has a small, charming supermarket, which is more than some villages offer, but it’s very small otherwise. There are no walking trails or nearby playground, and you have to go quite a few kilometers by bike or car for anything interesting, like Ditzum, Leer, or Emden. The sea is a nature reserve, and the nearest sandy beach is about 50 minutes away, at Knock near Emden or in the Netherlands. We’d definitely underestimated that. Friesenbad in Weener is fantastic, and you can see all the sights within a 45-minute drive in a week. We don’t expect to visit the region again anytime soon, though it’s definitely worth the trip if you haven’t been before. We’d recommend the place with a few reservations, especially for anyone travelling with young children who are already mobile.