Thinking about leaving the UK for life in sunny Spain? Marijke, a Dutch national, and her British husband Hilary swapped London life for an olive grove in Andalucía. Here, she shares her first-hand experience – the joys, challenges, and what day-to-day life really feels like.
“We’ve arrived at Casa Campestre, our paradise away from it all. And we’re living here for a whole year. How amazing and exciting, but also suddenly what a strange feeling to know that we’re not going back next week, or even next month.”
Share this:
Why we decided to move to Spain
Marijke and Hilary were classic empty nesters: their two grown-up children had flown the nest, and they wanted a change of pace.
“I am Marijke, a Dutch national, married to Hilary, a Brit, and we’ve lived and worked for many years in and around London. With two grown-up children, we decided in the usual empty nester way to do something entirely different, which in our case was to buy a holiday home in Spain.”
A holiday home soon turned into the dream of living abroad for a year – to see if Spain could truly feel like home.
“A friend re-phrased the question and simply said: ‘why don’t you live in Spain for just one year?’ And this suddenly seemed a much more attractive proposition. No commitment forevermore, but a way to spend a good long chunk of time in our lovely Spanish house, and really knowing what it is like to live there.”
Like many expats, Marijke fell in love with Spain on holiday. But the region they chose wasn’t the Costa del Sol or bustling Barcelona – it was the tranquil heart of Andalucía.
“We saw the house of our dreams on an impulse visit to Fuente del Conde, near Iznájar, around one hour’s drive due north of Málaga. May is the most dangerous month to view houses – the spring flowers are at their best, the sun shines brightly, the water sparkles, and everything, even the worst hovels, looks charming!”
The rural location promised a slower pace of life, mountain views, and a chance to integrate with a tight-knit community – very different from their busy London routine.
Buying a home in Spain: what to expect
The process of buying a property in Spain is exciting, but it’s different from the UK, and there are a few things every buyer should know. Marijke and Hilary learned a lot during their own journey to Casa Campestre.
“We plunged straight in, having seen the house of our dreams on an impulse visit to Fuente del Conde… Not exactly the most planned or rational approach, but we simply couldn’t resist.”
The viewing and offer stage
Like many buyers, they were swayed by the magic of spring in Andalucía:
“Beware of viewing houses during the month of May, when the spring flowers are at their best, the temperature is delightful, the sun shines brightly, the water sparkles, and everything, even the worst hovels, look charming.”
Once you’ve found the right property, the first step is usually to make a formal offer, often accompanied by a reservation deposit to secure the home.
Navigating the paperwork
Spanish property transactions require several key documents, and Marijke quickly learned how vital it was to get professional help.
“An important and necessary document is an empadronamiento (basically proof that we reside in the municipality), available from the local town hall, which is based on proof of house purchase or rental agreement.”
To get this, they needed to provide:
Their property deeds (escritura)
Proof of identity and residence
Utility bills and, in their case, a marriage certificate
“Thank goodness we had the foresight to pack our original marriage certificate! Our gestor will help us with our residencia application… It’s a high priority for us, because post-Brexit this process may not be quite so easy for Brits.”
They also discovered that Spanish addresses can be a little… creative:
“Our house deeds say the number of our house is 107, the previous owner was registered as 170, and our letter box by the roadside says 16c. Go figure!”
Working with professionals
For a smooth experience, Marijke recommends two things:
Hire a bilingual estate agent to guide you through local rules, property checks, and the negotiation process.
Work with a gestor or lawyer to handle residency applications, NIE numbers, tax registration, and contracts.
These professionals will also help ensure:
The property has no debts or unpaid taxes attached
The land and buildings match the description in the deeds
All necessary licences (for pools, extensions, or rural property) are in place
The hardest part of moving
While Marijke’s Instagram-worthy life looks idyllic now, the early days weren’t without challenges.
Language barriers:
“I have this fear of being misunderstood and not being able to convey what I want to say… when we meet our Spanish neighbours I grin, say a quick ‘buenos días’ and walk on.”
Bureaucracy and brave pills:
“Ever since we moved here… I’ve been relying on Hilary to deal with deliveries, trades people, Spanish administration… So I took a brave pill, and phoned the mobile phone company… The call went brilliantly!”
Adjusting to rural life:
“In Casa Campestre, the nearest village store is 25 minutes’ walk away and the nearest supermarket is a 30-minute drive. It may prove to be too calm for me, and once we are in Spain, I will want to explore what’s out there, and what I can get involved in.”
A day in the life at Casa Campestre
Curious what expat life actually looks like? For Marijke, every day in rural Andalucía is a mix of small routines and slow pleasures.
Morning:
Wake up with the sun around 7–8 am
Coffee on the patio, watching the cats explore the olive trees
A little admin or 30 minutes of Pilates before breakfast
Daytime:
Shopping runs to the village or nearest town
Gardening (“planted one day, eaten the next by rabbits!”), home projects, or a long countryside walk
Lunch around 2–3 pm – often something fresh from the market or neighbours’ gardens
Afternoon:
Siesta or reading in the hammock (“My new life will be about taking time to do things, reflect, read and learn new skills.”)
Evening:
A stroll or paseo along the track to meet neighbours
Dinner around 9 pm, sometimes under the stars (“From around 8 pm, the temperature begins to drop – slowly. It’s the best time for eating outside.”)
Final thoughts from Marijke
Marijke’s journey is full of humour, warmth, and reassurance for anyone thinking of making the leap.
“Finding friends has been hugely important to make us feel at home, here in Spain… And our little kittens – though no longer so little – are continuously introducing rabbits, mice and birds into our living room. Now, that feels like home!”
If you’ve ever dreamed of moving to Spain, her advice is simple:
12 best rural locations to buy a property in Spain
As prices in traditional hotspots like the Costa del Sol continue to rise, savvy foreign buyers are turning their attention to Spain’s rural regions to find their dream homes. From the Spanish countryside to bustling inland towns, discover the best rural locations to buy property in Spain.
Be the first to comment!