Welcome to our website

We, Francine Satijn and Loek Mandaat, bought this beautiful house 7 years ago, before our retirement. We knew we could built a beautiful house out of these ruins. When we bought the ‘Quinta’ which means farmhouse, it had been empty for fifteen years. In the first five years we thought of ideas, planned, reconstructed and rebuilt the house, together with our Portuguese neighbours. Next to this we reconstructed our garden, went to Portuguese lessons, met a lot of other people and made friends. But above all we enjoyed our lives here, which were different from the lives we led before our retirement, when we worked as teachers and in coaching.

Many people asked us, what our motive was in moving to Portugal. That is always hard to respond to. Of course the beautiful weather had got something to do with it and the beautiful nature, the space and the sea nearby.  But also the Portuguese people who are easygoing and relaxed.

We are also often asked whether or not we miss our children and family. Yes we do, but family and friends can come to visit us and fortunately  they do and we can go to the Netherlands. Besides we have met new friends here and we have lots of opportunities. One of the things we do is to rent out our two apartments. It is a way to meet people and to pass on our enthousiasm for Portugal. Who does not want to enjoy a ‘sardinhada’ in our outdoor kitchen or to taste wine in a beautiful vinery,  run by English people? We'll give you the ideas, you only have to enjoy them.       

The apartments

The Quinta has two apartments. One, the Adega, in a converted adega, suitable for two to four people. It consists of a kitchen, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom.   A large bookcase, with a huge choice of Dutch and English books, divides the sitting room from the bedroom.  There are French doors which open out  on to a large veranda. 

The Loja

The other apartment is built in the house. It has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a sitting room, and a  bathroom

Outside in the garden, we have built an outdoor kitchen where you can barbeque and relax in the evenings.  We have a huge garden with a labyrinth and beautiful views over the pastures and fruit trees. There is a plungepool, more to cool down than to swim.

The surroundings

Our Quinta is situated near Acipreste, a quiet village ten kilometers from the coast, one hundred kilometers from  Lisbon. Salir do Porto, Sao Martinho do Porto and Nazaré are very near. Very famous and well worth a visit is the nearby castellated town of Óbidos and Alcobaça with its beautiful ans ancient monastery.