Our family of three:

Erik (42), Annemiek (36), and Willem Jan (7, but almost 8)

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On our first date (November 2012), Erik was asked two questions: Do you want kids? And do you want to stay in the Netherlands forever? 

Well, you guessed it—our photo and situation show exactly the answers Erik gave, which were exactly what Annemiek was hoping for. 

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But life went the way it went at that time. A nice place in the city of Groningen, both of us with good jobs, a great network of friends and family, a beautiful home, and vacations a few times a year. And we never felt like going back home. But once home, right back into the routine. And that one vacation that sparked our dreams seemed like a very long time ago. 

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Until that one day. Because two dreams became our shared dream. And dreams are meant to be realized. And that’s exactly what we did.

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With our experience in real estate, the hospitality industry, and renovating and renting out vacation accommodations in Groningen and the surrounding area, it made perfect sense to bring these experiences to a place in the mountains that embodies what’s important to us:

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“Connecting”

“Discovering”

“Relaxing”

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With these factors in mind, we started looking for a suitable location where we could run our business year-round. Since ChatGPT didn’t exist yet at that time (we’re talking about 2018), Erik typed into Google: “Gasthaus kaufen Österreich.” When a property popped up, the other one couldn’t believe her eyes—it couldn’t possibly be that beautiful. So we quickly hopped in the car to see it with our own eyes. And it was love at first sight in the little village of Mallnitz. And under the motto “third time’s the charm,” we found the property in May 2019: Mallnbach Apartments Mallnitz, where our ingredients come together to create the ultimate recipe—the Mallnbach experience, where guests meet, discover, and relax.

 

So, at the end of September 2019, we waved “Auf wiedersehen” to our friends and family during our “Auf Wiederschnitzel Fest.” 

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For us, an “ending” in the Netherlands has become a new beginning in Austria, in Mallnitz. 

 

While our Willem Jan is proud of the fact that he was born in Groningen, he’s already a true Mallnitzer with a delightful dialect from the province of Carinthia. 

 

In the seven years that we’ve been living in Mallnitz and running our Mallnbach Apartments, we haven’t had a single moment of regret.

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Step by step, we’re still renovating and revitalizing the space. Our Mallnbach style is literally becoming more and more evident. The cozy Meet & Eat evenings with pizza, burgers, or juicy pulled chicken—complete with a crackling campfire—are the evenings we’ll never forget. 

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With a huge number of returning guests, regulars, and a community of over 8,000 on Instagram, we’re three cheerful souls who can’t wait to welcome you as our (returning) guest every season. We’re still brimming with plans and ideas to bring that Mallnbach vibe to life more and more. 

Because your vacation isn’t just a vacation—it’s an experience. Meet people, discover new things, and relax.