Buy a Home in Chios: Guide for the Dutch

Who Is Wesley?

Wesley calls his travel blog Grieksblauw. He started it after noticing that many of his friends had never been to Greece and associated it with "touristy and tacky." Since then, he considers it his mission to let everybody see Greece through his eyes: welcoming, adventurous, diverse, and endless. Wesley often gets asked if he has Greek roots. "I have an Indonesian background, but it seems that some ancestors lived in Greece. My grandmother's grandfather would have been a sponge diver at Leros. There were Greek stories around in the house of my (Indonesian) grandma. This may be why it feels like coming home when I set foot to land in Greece. But most likely it's the Greek hospitality that makes me feel at ease." Find Wesley on Instagram @grieksblauw and on his travel blog.

About Chios

The island of Chios is located in the North Aegean Sea, near the coast of Turkey, and is the fifth-largest island in Greece. It is known for its mastic trees, its medieval villages, the UNESCO-listed monastery of Nea Moni, and a rich history. Chios also has very attractive beaches in every shape and size.

Mastic Villages

Chios is scattered with the so-called Mastic Villages. Their roots go back to Byzantine times, but it was under Genoese rule in the 14th century that mastic growing was systematised: the Genoese designated these villages as mastic centres in order to hold a monopoly on the precious resin. Today, 24 villages on Chios are known as mastic villages. Among the best known for mastic production are Armolia, Kalamoti, Mesta, Patrika, Pyrgi, and Kalimasia.

Pyrgi Architecture

Chios is known for unique architecture, on full display in the village of Pyrgi. It is called the "painted village" of Chios because of its stone houses decorated with striking grey and white geometric motifs, created with a technique called xysta. Walking through Pyrgi, you will not want to leave, because the whole village feels like an open-air art exhibit.

Kampos Architecture

Kampos is another fascinating area, famous for the grand mansions built by the island's wealthy families from the Genoese period onwards. The district is recognised as a historic site by the Ministry of Culture. The mansions, with their traditional architecture, walled citrus gardens, and terraces, reflect the prosperity the island once enjoyed.

Rating Chios For The Dutch

Ranking Methodology

How did we decide which factors matter most to Dutch home buyers? We first asked our sales and legal team, who provide consultation and legal handling to dozens of Dutch clients (both those who do and don't end up purchasing). We then combined this with a small survey of Dutch clients who bought a home, to learn their highest priorities.