Helen and Henk Silk, two Dutchmen in love with Livradois-Forez | Vacances en Auvergne

Who are they?

Helen and Henk Slik have lived with their two children and their chickens in Tours-sur-Meymont since 2008. Originally from Holland, they fell in love with the Livradois-Forez region.

Where do they come from?

Originally from the Netherlands, Helen and Henk wanted to change their lives. “We said to ourselves, ‘If we’re going to change our lives, we might as well make a radical change’. After all, we like France and have often vacationed here. The only imperative: no move to Brittany or Normandy. It’s beautiful, but the climate is too similar to ours.

Why settle in Livradois-Forez?

“We decided to settle in central France. It’s still quiet and green, with landscapes very different from ours. Real estate prices are low. And above all, the four seasons are well marked. We had chosen Auvergne, the Puy-de-Dôme in particular, and had spotted a house near Besse, in the more touristy volcano area, but it was sold.

We were then invited to ” visit a superb house further east “. It was love at first sight! The house, the area around it, everything appealed to us. It’s not like the volcanoes. Here, it’s prettier, clearer. We really like it.

What can you say to people who would like to settle here?

“We receive people who are looking for a new home and would like to settle in the region. We tell them we’ve had nothing but positive experiences. We advise them to try to integrate properly. For example, we haven’t tried to make contact with local Dutch people, out of a concern for integration. We reach out to others, to families in the local school where our children attend. People say that Auvergnats are introverts, but if you make the effort to speak French with them, they like it a lot and everything is easier.”