Feature article
A concussion upended her city life. Now she’s rebuilding a forgotten bush bach, and herself
A Dutch expat rebuilding a tiny Waitākere bach says nature helped heal her after a devastating concussion.
AI summary
After a severe concussion made city life in Amsterdam difficult, Dutch expat Marinella van den Hoven and her partner moved to New Zealand for a quieter, nature-focused lifestyle. They purchased a tiny 1940s bach in the Waitākere Ranges to aid her recovery.
The couple is renovating the 50m² cottage themselves, preserving its character while creating a "cosy cocoon of joy." This move has been instrumental in her healing, embracing a calmer life surrounded by nature and a garden project.
Marinella and Bronson are doing most of the grunt work themselves. Photo: Marinella van den Hoven
Marinella van den Hoven at home in the Waitakere cottage she is renovating with her partner Bronson Wilson. Photo: Marinella van den Hoven
The cottage is surrounded by garden and native bush. Photo: Marinella van den Hoven
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