Maartje and Clemens had it all: a happy family, a beautiful home, and interesting jobs, living on the Caribbean island of Barbados. But they wondered: how could they make the world a little better? The idea took shape when Maartje found a construction project online on the Costa Blanca: an old, dilapidated farmhouse that they dreamed of rebuilding as an eco-friendly and sustainable rural retreat.

With their two daughters, Linde and Jade, they embarked on the adventure of transforming this ruin into an ecolodge in Spain. In August 2022, they acquired the property, and for two years and eight months of intense work, they rebuilt every stone, beam, and tile with their own hands to turn it into the sustainable rural retreat that today offers tranquility, nature, and relaxation.

Thanks to the support of friends and family from the Netherlands, Belgium and the neighbors of Refugio Marnes, it was possible to complete this organic farm!

The estate, authentic and steeped in history, once processed grapes and olives. In the large bathroom, you can still see the basin where the grapes were trodden, and in the bedroom and television room, the animals would spend the night after being brought in through the main door following grazing in the inner garden.