Idyllic Country House 't Onvree in a Forested Estate near Lochem
Key Features
Upsides
- The property offers a very large plot of over 10,000 m² with the unique option to expand to nearly 37,000 m², providing exceptional privacy and a true country estate feel.
- The house is designed for practical living with a bedroom and bathroom located on the ground floor, making it suitable for age-proof living or hosting guests.
- The location combines rural seclusion with convenience, situated near the A1 motorway and close to the amenities of Laren and Lochem, while being surrounded by beautiful forests and nature.
- There is a generous outbuilding featuring a double garage and ample separate storage space, ideal for housing vehicles, hobby equipment, or a workshop.
Downsides
- The kitchen space is currently unfinished and requires investment and completion according to the new owner's personal taste.
- The property was built in 1952 and, although modernized, has partial insulation and glazing, which may require future updates to meet modern efficiency standards despite the Energy Label C.
- With only three bedrooms, the house may not offer sufficient accommodation for larger families looking for a move-in ready home without modification.
- The maintenance status is described as 'reasonable to good,' suggesting that some ongoing or upcoming maintenance work might be necessary.
Description
Nestled in the serene surroundings of Groot-Dochteren, located in the buitengebied between the towns of Lochem and Laren, stands a truly exceptional ensemble known as country house 't Onvree. This distinctive residence features a playful design with a stolpdak (barn roof) and is completely surrounded by a lush forest filled with ancient oaks, beeches, and clouds of colorful rhododendrons. The property offers a unique sense of seclusion, allowing residents to feel entirely alone in the world while actually sharing the garden and woods with local wildlife. The area is home to a diverse array of animals including roe deer, squirrels, various bird species such as woodpeckers, little owls, nuthatches, and robins, as well as hedgehogs, hares, and rabbits. Through the trees, one can even spot the ladies of the Holstein-Friesian cattle herd gazing interestedly into the garden while they chew their cud.
The location is characterized by its sweeping views of the green horizons. While the region is known for its numerous country estates like Ross, Ehzerwold, and Velhorst, this property provides a genuine estate feel without requiring the maintenance of massive public grounds, as the private plot measures over 10,000 square meters. The main house was originally constructed in 1952 but has undergone significant modernization over the past decades. The name 't Onvree is derived from the 'unfree area' from the Napoleonic era. The layout has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate age-proof living, featuring a bedroom and bathroom en suite on the ground floor. In total, the residence offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms. While the living and wet spaces are move-in ready, the kitchen provides a blank canvas for the new owners to implement their own taste and style.
The country house has a living area of 185 square meters and a pleasant floor plan that can be relatively easily adjusted to suit specific needs. Artist impressions included with the listing provide inspiration for how a delightful living kitchen could be realized. There is also ample space within the living room to create a study area. The property is strategically situated between Laren and Lochem, just a fifteen-minute drive from the A1 motorway. Groot-Dochteren is a friendly hamlet situated between Laren, Harfsen, Almen, and Lochem, providing convenient access to a wide range of amenities.
Laren is a charming village featuring various shops, a supermarket, a world-renowned bakery, and welcoming hospitality establishments with terraces that fill up quickly when the sun shines. For those interested in sports and outdoor activities, Laren offers a lovely outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. Additionally, one can start at various points on the completely renewed, challenging 90-kilometer MTB route that winds through the surrounding forests and countryside areas. Lochem, a small landstad and a large municipality in the Achterhoek, has long been a popular landing place for people seeking the rest and quiet of the eastern Netherlands. The town offers everything one could need, including shops, restaurants, good schools, and various flourishing sports clubs. It also features fine hotels, an open-air theater, and a theater with a beautiful annual program, as well as a train station.
For those who wish to seek the bustle of the city, the A1 is a mere ten-minute drive away. Within fifteen minutes, one can park the car in the heart of Zutphen, and Deventer is reachable within a small twenty-five minutes. The approach to the villa is via a winding forest path, leading to a cozy, classical entrance and a light, spacious hall. From the hall, one finds the wardrobe and staircase to the left, and the guest toilet, access to the living kitchen, and the central hall to the right.
The living kitchen is a substantial space featuring an en-suite layout. Thanks to the large glass facades and the skylight on the flat roof, the room is filled with daylight, making it a wonderful space to enjoy the beautiful scenery while cooking. From the central hall, there is access to the utility room, which houses the connections for the washing machine and dryer, and the spacious living room. This is a delightful, generous living area with French doors, allowing year-round enjoyment of the beauty in the garden. A cozy open fireplace sits in the heart of the living room. At the rear left is a spacious bedroom with a new bathroom, fully equipped with a bathtub, walk-in shower, double sinks, and a toilet. From this bedroom, one steps directly into the garden via double French doors.
The upper floor features a generous landing, two bedrooms, and a bathroom equipped with a walk-in shower, sink, and toilet. Outside, the house is surrounded by terraces, ensuring there is always a sunny spot to be found. Just behind the villa stands a spacious outbuilding with two garages featuring double doors and a separate storage space. There is plenty of room here for a workbench, hobby equipment, a ride-on mower, and even an old-timer car. The ornamental garden is magnificent and serves as a true forest garden. Around the house, there is a spacious lawn framed by large clouds of rhododendrons. Various forest paths allow for lovely walks across the nearly four hectares of land, leading past a large pond and various very old trees.
In summary, this property comprises two cadastral plots, LOCHEM AA 183 and LOCHEM AA 336, with a combined area of 10,289 square meters of full ownership. There is also an option to purchase an adjacent forest terrain, expanding the plot to a maximum of 37,000 square meters. The house has a volume of 649 cubic meters and an external storage space of 45 square meters, part of which is suitable for upgrading. The maintenance status is described as reasonable to good. Insulation features include roof insulation, partial wall insulation, partial ground floor insulation, and partial double glazing. Heating is provided by a combi-boiler from Intergas installed in 2016. The property has an energy label C. Acceptance is by agreement. A structural inspection and energy label are available for this residence.
Features
Bathroom
Shower
The listing explicitly mentions '2 inloopdouches' (2 walk-in showers) in the features section and 'inloopdouche' in the room descriptions.
Bathtub
The listing explicitly mentions 'ligbad' (bathtub) in the description of the ground floor bathroom.
Ensuite Bathroom
The text states 'op de begane grond is een slaapkamer met badkamer en suite gerealiseerd' (on the ground floor a bedroom with ensuite bathroom is realized).
Guest Toilet
The listing mentions '1 apart toilet' (1 separate toilet) in the features section and refers to a 'WC' accessible from the hall on the ground floor.
His And Hers Sinks
The listing explicitly mentions 'dubbele wastafels' (double sinks) in the description of the ground floor bathroom.
Building General
Corner Property
Exterior
Balcony
The description mentions terraces and openslaande deuren but does not explicitly mention a balcony.
Rear Garden
The property is described as having a garden and forest surrounding the house, with specific mentions of walking into the garden from the rear bedroom.
Front Garden
The property has a 'Tuin rondom' (garden all around) and is accessed via a path, implying a front garden area.
Side Garden
With a garden surrounding the house ('Tuin rondom'), side gardens are implied.
Terrace
The text explicitly states: 'Het huis wordt omringd door terrassen'.
Rooftop Terrace
The roof is a 'stolpdak' (barn roof) with a skylight; no rooftop terrace is mentioned.
Fenced Yard
The property is a country estate ('landgoed') bordered by forest, not described as having a fenced yard.
Patio
The presence of 'terrassen' is confirmed, which is functionally similar to a patio.
Guest House
There is a large shed and garage, but no guest house is mentioned.
Waterfront
The property has a 'grote vijver' (large pond), but the house is not described as being on a waterfront like a lake or river.
Equestrian Facilities
No stables or equestrian facilities are listed.
Small Livestock Facilities
No facilities for small livestock are mentioned.
Private Outdoor Pool
The listing mentions an outdoor pool in the nearby village, not at the property.
Private Outdoor Jacuzzi
No jacuzzi is mentioned.
Private Tennis Court
The listing mentions a tennis court in the nearby village, not at the property.
Remarkable Mountain View
The Achterhoek region is known for gentle hills, not mountains.
Remarkable City View
The house is described as secluded in a forest, away from the city.
Remarkable Garden View
The description repeatedly highlights views of the garden, forest, and surroundings from the living areas.
Remarkable Sea View
The property is located inland in the Netherlands.
Remarkable Harbour View
The property is located inland in the Netherlands.
Remarkable Landmark View
No specific landmarks are mentioned in the views.
Interior Comfort
Air Conditioning
Not mentioned in the listing, which is standard for Dutch countryside homes of this age; absence in description implies it is not present.
Central Heating
Explicitly listed as 'Combi-ketel Intergas (2016)' and 'Cv-ketel'.
Fireplace
Description states 'In het hart van de woonkamer een gezellige openhaard' (a cozy fireplace in the heart of the living room).
Home Office
The text mentions there is 'room enough for a study in the living room', implying no dedicated home office currently exists.
Skylight
The description mentions a 'lichtstraat op het platte dak' (light street on flat roof) and the features list includes 'Dakraam' (skylight).
Private Indoor Pool
No mention of a pool; the property is a 185 m2 country house, making an indoor pool highly unlikely.
Private Indoor Sauna
No mention of a sauna in the amenities list.
French Doors
Description mentions 'openslaande deuren' (French doors) in the living room and the bedroom leading to the garden.
Interior Style
Scandinavian
The property is a classic country house ('landhuis') built in 1952 with a thatched/barn roof, situated in a wooded area, not a Scandinavian minimalist style.
Modern
Although modernized and featuring large windows, the house is described as a 'speels landhuis' with a 'klassieke entree' and 'stolpdak', making 'classic' the dominant style.
Industrial
The house is a traditional country house in a rural forest setting, with no mention of industrial materials or design.
Mediterranean
Located in the Dutch Achterhoek region with a 'stolpdak' and forest garden, the style is rural/classic, not Mediterranean.
Classic
Described as a 'landhuis' (country house) with a 'stolpdak', built in 1952 with a 'klassieke entree' and historical references.
Exterior Style
Traditional Historic
Built in 1952 with a 'stolpdak' (traditional barn roof) and 'landhuis' style, it has a classic character, though not ancient.
Early 20th Century
The house was built in 1952, which is mid-century, not early 20th century.
Post War Functional
Built in 1952, it is post-war, but the 'landhuis' style suggests it was not purely functional mass housing.
Modernist
The 'klassieke entree' and 'landhuis' style contradict the strict functionalism of modernism.
Newly Build
The listing states the construction year is 1952 and it is 'Bestaande bouw'.
Kitchen
Pantry
The listing explicitly mentions a 'bijkeuken' (utility room/pantry).
Shared Kitchen
The property is a detached country house, not a shared living facility.
Design Kitchen
The kitchen currently needs to be filled and is not finished; artist impressions only show potential future design.
New Kitchen
The house was built in 1952 and the kitchen requires fitting/updating.
Parking & Storage
Parking
The features section states 'Parkeergelegenheid: Op eigen terrein' (Parking on own terrain).
Storage Room
The listing explicitly mentions 'External storage space: 45 m²' and a 'separate schuurruimte' (storage room) in the outbuilding.
Garage
The description explicitly mentions 'twee garages' (two garages) located in the outbuilding behind the villa.
Double Garage
The text explicitly states 'twee garages' (two garages), indicating capacity for two vehicles or two distinct garage bays.
Covered Parking
The property includes garages, which constitute covered parking.
Underground Parking
The property is a detached country house from 1952; underground parking is not present or implied.
Workshop
The description mentions space for a 'werkbank' (workbench) and hobby items ('hobbyspul') in the outbuilding.
Shed
The listing explicitly mentions a 'royale schuur' (large shed) and a 'vrijstaande berging' (detached shed/storage).
Street Parking Permit
It is a rural property with on-site parking; street permits are typically an urban feature and not mentioned here.
Parkspot Rent Price Month
This is a freehold house sale (full ownership), not a rental property with separate parking fees.
Parkspot Sale Price
Parking is included on the property terrain ('Op eigen terrein') and not sold as a separate spot.
Rules
Owners Association
The property is described as a 'vrijstaande woning' (detached house) with 'Volle eigendom' (full ownership). No owners association (VvE) is mentioned, which is typical for this type of property in the Netherlands.
Leasehold
The listing explicitly states 'Eigendomssituatie: Volle eigendom', indicating it is a freehold property and not leasehold (erfpacht).
Oa Chamber Of Commerce Registered
There is no owners association present for this property.
Oa Annual Meeting
There is no owners association present for this property.
Oa Fees
There is no owners association present for this property.
Oa Reserve Fund
There is no owners association present for this property.
Oa Maintenance Plan
There is no owners association present for this property.
Oa Buildings Insurance
There is no owners association present for this property.
Other Rules
The listing text does not mention any specific other rules or restrictions for the property usage.
Open Viewing
NULL
Safety & Accessibility
Elevator
The house was built in 1952 and has two floors. No elevator is mentioned. The listing describes 'levensloopbestendig' (age-friendly) living via a ground floor bedroom and bathroom, rather than a lift.
Private Entrance
The property is described as a 'vrijstaande woning' (detached house) with its own access and parking on the grounds.
Gated Community
The property is a standalone country house in a rural area, not part of a residential community with shared gates.
Wheelchair Accessible
The listing mentions the house is set up for 'levensloopbestendig wonen' (age-friendly living) with a ground floor bedroom and bathroom. However, it is a 1952 villa accessed by a forest path with a 'classic entrance,' implying potential thresholds or stairs that currently limit full wheelchair accessibility without further adaptation.
Utilities & Technical
Washing Machine Connections
The text explicitly states 'aansluitingen voor de wasmachine en -droger' (connections for washing machine and dryer) are located in the utility room.
Laundry Room
The listing describes a 'bijkeuken' (utility room) accessible from the central hall which houses the washing machine and dryer connections, effectively serving as a laundry room.
Energy Efficiency
Double Glazing
The listing explicitly states 'gedeeltelijk dubbel glas' (partial double glazing) in the general specifications.
Triple Glazing
The listing mentions double glazing but does not mention triple glazing. Given the age of the property and the specific mention of double glazing, it is unlikely to have triple glazing.
Wall Insulation
The specifications list 'deels gevelisolatie' (partial wall insulation).
Floor Insulation
The specifications list 'deels begane grond vloerisolatie' (partial ground floor insulation).
Roof Insulation
The specifications explicitly list 'Dakisolatie' (roof insulation).
Heat Pump
The heating system is specified as a 'gas gestookt combiketel' (gas-fired combi boiler). There is no mention of a heat pump.
Home Battery
There is no mention of a home battery or energy storage system in the listing.
Other Energy Efficiency Measures
The property has an Energy Label C and features a relatively new (2016) Intergas high-efficiency combi boiler. It also has partial insulation on the roof, walls, and floor, as well as partial double glazing.
Location
History
No history available for this listing.