We all know Jacobien from the program ‘There they go again’. She emigrated to the Italian village of Apulia with her husband Arjen and children. Such emigration brings significant changes and can have a major impact on a family. Jacobien tells in ‘De Telegraaf’ how their emigration went and what this did to her daughter Fleuri (8).
“Fleuri is the main reason why we really continued emigration”
Jacobien says that the climate was the main reason for their departure from the Netherlands. “We wanted to go to a place with more sun, sea and where a siesta is part of the culture.” Italy ultimately turned out to be the place for Jacobien and her family. Arjen often came to Italy for work and Jacobien also often went to the country as a child. Italy also has a European culture, so it wasn’t too much of a switch for the couple and their children.
The family initially focused on northern Italy, but ended up in Ostuni, a town in Apulia. Here they own a large piece of land where they are building their dream house. They are a few hours from major cities such as Rome and Naples, making it easy to switch between ‘luxury life’ and life in nature. According to Jacobien, the children in particular have changed from fashion dolls to nature children. Because they now live more in nature, they know more about animals and plants.
The children did not experience any problems during emigration. Daughter Fleuri in particular loves living in Italy. “Fleuri is the main reason we really pushed through with emigration.” She always said that she wanted to move to Italy, because she loved the holidays there. Jacobien indicates that they initially doubted whether it was an impulse on their daughter’s part, but Fleuri stood her ground. After a month, the eight-year-old daughter already spoke the language fluently and her parents are very proud of that. “She’s like a sponge; she hears the language and she speaks it.”
When asked whether the children miss the Netherlands, the answer is: no. “When Arjen recently had to go to the Netherlands for a week, they did not want to come.” The children indicated that at least the sun is shining in Italy, so they do not have to return to the Netherlands for that. They also have three months of summer holidays in Italy. Much longer than in the Netherlands. The children really enjoyed cycling with the cargo bike along the Amsterdam canals. “They go super fast and they find that very exciting.”
Watch the fragment below in which Jacobien panics because her Gucci glasses are lost.
Tags: Jacobiens children DGZW changed emigration fashion dolls RTL Boulevard
