Are you Dutch and thinking about buying a home on the Ionian Coast? You probably have many questions and unknowns: What are the biggest cultural differences between Greece and the Netherlands? How hard is it to buy a home in Greece if I’m Dutch?
We answer these common questions in this article, with the help of our friend Iris, who moved permanently from The Netherlands to Greece and now offers villas for rent on the Amvrakikos Gulf.
About Iris
Meet Iris, who first came from The Netherlands to Greece in 1998 for holidays. After several return visits, she finally decided to purchase a pair of villas in Greece in 2017. Giving them the fitting name “Iris Villas”, Iris took up residence in one of the villas, and split the other villa into three apartments, which can be rented.
Iris Villas are located in a picturesque corner of central Greece in the village of Sparto, not far from Amfilochia. Now her permanent residence, this spot on the Amvrakikos Gulf is a hidden gem in Greece, because most visitors think first about the Greek islands.
About Amfilochia
The town of Amfilochia is located on the Gulf of Amvrakikos, 55 kilometers from Preveza. It’s a fairly small town and not known to many Dutch visitors. With 4000 residents, Amfilochia lies at the base of two mountains.
In Amfilochia, you will find plenty of taverns and cafes along the boardwalk, and some of the area’s food specialties include sardines and prawns. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of dolphins swimming when you watch the sunset. Other towns nearby include Preveza, Arta, and Agrinio.
Why Did Iris Choose Amfilochia?
Iris chose Amfilochia because she first moved with a camper van, which is expensive (and sometimes impossible) to take on a car ferry in Greece. Iris also chose the area because it offers the perfect balance – busy enough to keep her apartments booked in the summer, but not completely empty in the winter (a phenomenon which is common in the Greek islands).
You can book one of Iris’s Villas on Booking.com.
What are the Biggest Cultural Changes, Coming from the Netherlands?
Iris commented on the cultural norm of living all together with extended family in Greece, which is less common in The Netherlands. Iris lives alone, but notices that for local Greeks, it is common to live near to aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.
Iris also commented on the cultural phenomenon of the Greek coffee shop, which is a public space frequented mainly by men. The coffee shop is where they meet to share news, play cards, and talk politics. Iris notices that in traditional Greek coffee shops, she is sometimes the only woman. With an active social life, Iris is out interacting with local Greeks every day, and has become a regular at several local restaurants.
“Jumping” Into the Local Social Scene
Iris is an expert horserider. Locally in Amfilochia, horseriding is a popular activity, but Iris admits “I was the first and only woman ever to be part of competitions here”. She started at the Vonitsa competition in the 350 meter event, held annually in September, and the local men were impressed by her skills.
Iris couldn’t help but chuckle at the reaction of the local Greeks, since it’s something you probably wouldn’t hear in the Netherlands : “A woman on a horse… That’s not possible.” Despite these existing local beliefs, with her strong performance in the local competition, Iris was quickly respected among local riders.
As the only female rider among a group of men, soon local women were making requests to Iris: “Can you also teach us how to ride?” The local men were even more surprised to see their female relatives suddenly taking an interest in a sport that until then, was only reserved for men.
Tips for Dutch Buyers of a Home in Greece
Iris, who found her own home in Amfilochia (which later became the Iris Villas), emphasized the need to have a good lawyer: “Bureaucracy is difficult in Greece. You need to keep in mind that almost everyone has a house for sale – but many of those homes might not have papers.”
So, Iris did her own research to find a property for sale. It took her a great deal of searching locally to find the right home. She was delighted to find a property with three separate units – these later became Spiti Bougainville, Spiti Louloudia, and Spiti Delfina, the three rooms in her villas available for rent.
Unfortunately, there was a legal problem with local farmland, which delayed the purchase process. Having completed most of the property search and negotiation process herself, that’s when Iris called on Elxis for the legal handling.
Today, Iris manages almost everything herself: catering to the needs of constant guests, as well as managing her cleaning and gardening staff. She still finds time to maintain an active social life, and relishes the sunsets over the Amvrakikos Gulf just like the first time she set foot in Greece.
