I left the Liefke ages ago, and I’m still dreaming about her. Who knew that you could fall in love with a houseboat?

She may look like no more than a jaunty red boat, but this isn’t just a place to stay — it’s an experience. Here’s why I fell in love with this little boat in Oudorp.

The Space

The interior of the houseboat is eclectically and tastefully decorated. I felt instantly at home and spent hours relaxing in the hanging egg chair, doing a puzzle at the dining room table, and sitting on the stools while staring out the window at the canal. This was my view every morning as I ate breakfast:

The Liefke has two bedrooms on either end of the boat, each cozy as can be. You sleep up on little platforms (with super-soft sheets) …

… and, if you have a child, you can be very traditionally Dutch and have them sleep in a cabinet underneath (yes, there’s a bed hiding behind those blue doors).

The Liefke also has a well-stocked kitchen with beautiful tableware, in which I cooked many a meal, and it comes complete with local cheese.

It’s such a nice space — I found myself hoping for rain so I wouldn’t have to leave!

The Setting

The Liefke floats on a canal just underneath this windmill, the Ambachtsmolen.

This drainage mill was built up on a very old dike in 1632 to help maintain water levels in the area. And it’s amazing to have it in your own front yard. Here’s where the Liefke sits relative to the mill:

You’re surrounded by nature here, but there’s still plenty of civilization (from the windows of the houseboat, you can see a bike path just across the canal — and a highway runs just beyond that, though you hardly notice it). There are also some farm elements: the property supports chickens and a pair of adorable sheep!

The Liefke is a quick drive or bike ride from the sweet town of Alkmaar, famous for having the oldest and largest cheese market in the world (check out my post about Alkmaar here).

Amsterdam is under an hour away on the train, or you can be on beaches and dunes in twenty minutes by car. So while you feel like you’re getting away from it all on the Liefke, there’s still plenty to see and do if you can tear yourself away from the boat. For any immediate needs, you can walk to the shops in the village of Oudorp. Make sure to try the sweet treats from Bakkerij Beerse (the apple dome pictured below was yummy, but the forest fruit pastry won my heart).

The Extras

At most Airbnbs, you’re given your own little space, and that’s it. Not so here! You’re encouraged to take advantage of the many things that the property has to offer. Want to borrow a bike or a canoe? Feel free. Want to sit and draw or play music in the little greenhouse when it’s cold or windy outside? Go right ahead — paper, soft pastels, and a guitar are waiting for you. You can also swing in the shade in the hammock …

… dive in the canal from their homemade beach (complete with sand) …

… or sit and have your afternoon tea in the little seating area they’ve built by the canal for houseboat guests.

You could not possibly ask for kinder hosts. Han and Kelly are always up for a chat, and Han will even give you a private tour of the mill. It’s not every day that you get to see how millers live and learn about how windmills actually work! Han spent three years restoring the mill before he moved in, so he knows it inside and out.

It’s incredible to clamber up ladders all the way to the top of the mill and look out at the world just beyond the blades.

There are so many lovely extra things here, from the big to the small. You’ll even have the chance to try a bit of Dutch snoep!

If you want to learn more about the Liefke and its owners, Han and Kelly have a website at ilovewindmills.com. I found and booked the houseboat through Airbnb, but it looks like you can also book through them directly. It’s so worth the trip — you’ll never get tired of looking at this view!

Has staying beneath a windmill got you curious? Check out my post on everything you need to know about Dutch windmills and how to visit them.