Here, we work together to make this place a great home

Tanja (50) lives with her husband and youngest son in Clubhouse Boompjes in Rotterdam. After years of living in a large house in Spijkenisse with a large family, they longed for the city. ‘We are a blended family with five children. We had been looking for some time to see whether we could move to Rotterdam, but it’s not easy to find a house for seven people

‘But then four of our children moved out to places of their own, so this was the perfect time. And when Clubhouse Boompjes became available, we were immediately enthusiastic. The location is excellent, and you can live here with an adult child, which is ideal for us.’

Feeling at home

When Tanja and her family moved to the city, it took some getting used to. ‘Waiting for the lift, not being able to park the car nearby and mail carriers  not coming to the door – all part of living in the city.’ Luckily, it wasn’t long before she felt right at home. Tanja says: ‘The hallway is carpeted, which almost makes it feel like a hotel. We brought that ambience into our apartment: light colours, custom-made cupboards and a warm, suite-like atmosphere. We are still waiting for some furniture, but soon this will truly feel like our home.’

‘My favourite spot in the apartment is the breakfast bar. From there, I have a clear view of the outside. And, of course, there is the balcony. In the summer, we sit there in the morning with tea and sandwiches, watching Rotterdam wake up. We really enjoy that.’

View of the city

‘We live on Maasboulevard. That means as soon as you walk out the door, you’re in the heart of the city. Restaurants, shops, Hoogstraat – in just eight minutes, you’re in all the hustle and bustle. We live on the 22nd floor, so we have a truly fantastic view. We can see the Maritime Museum, the Laurenskerk, and on clear days, I can even see The Hague, Delft and the Spijkenisse Bridge. But I like the view best in the evening. With all those twinkling lights, the city is truly beautiful. We keep a pair of binoculars on hand, and we can always see something new. The Erasmus Bridge recently had texts projected onto it, and we could see them from here.’

Getting around

At Clubhouse Boompjes, you can easily rent a shared car or an e-bike. ‘My husband needs a car for work, but I regularly rent a cargo bike using the Hely app. It works perfectly – I can take our two dogs and bike across the whole of Rotterdam. My son often takes an electric bike, and I rent a van when I need to transport something. Having this option is perfect for us. ’

Living together, working things out together 

Clubhouse Boompjes also introduced new forms of personal contact. ‘You live here with so many different people. Expats, young couples, families – you run into each other all over the place. I know who my next-door neighbours are, which I find important in case of an emergency. I also have good contact with the caretakers and community managers.’

‘We pushed to have cameras put in the bicycle parking area, and it’s great that they’re now being installed. You live here together, so you have to come up with solutions to problems together. We use a residents’ app to keep each other informed. If there is an issue, like dirt in the lift or packages left where they shouldn’t be, I simply report it. But people also lend things or offer leftovers to each other. It’s great that this is possible!’

ABOUT CLUBHOUSE BOOMPJES

Clubhouse Boompjes provides modern rental apartments in two residential towers along the River Maas, ranging from 50 m² to 160 m², including 130 co‑living units, and offers shared facilities such as a communal living room and garden, complemented by an innovative mobility concept that promotes car‑sharing among residents.