What is the name of your accommodation? 

Villa Silencio Andalusia

Could you introduce yourself (and share a bit about your life, such as your interests, hobbies, or background?

In the Netherlands, Marc-Jan Hollenberg and Mirjam de Boer, have been successfully running their company iDDD Company with a close-knit team for 15 years, focusing on entrepreneurs and leaders with their teams who want to grow in their personal leadership and collaboration. Our focus in everything we do is what we call ‘progress with relaxed decisiveness,’ both in business and in private life. That is also exactly what typifies us: love for each other and for life, truly experiencing life in the now, being relaxed in contact with the people around us, and being entrepreneurial towards the future. In June 2024 we got married and were able to celebrate our boda extensively with our family and friends in the 165-year-old cortijo Fuerza del Amor, our home in Alfarnatejo.

How did your property become part of your life? When did it happen, and what inspired or motivated you to take it on?

For a number of years, we have been living and working both in the Netherlands and in Alfarnatejo. We especially enjoy the people here, their lifestyle, and the wonderful climate. We have been in love with the Axarquía region for more than 10 years now, with its peace, the silver-green rolling hills full of olive trees, the rocky surroundings reminiscent of the Pyrenees, the proximity of the coastline, and of course the lively city of Málaga.

What was the process of creating your property like? Tell us about renovating, furnishing, or styling it.

The core of the creation process is trust and collaboration with people with whom we have entered into a close connection. We forged a well-cooperating team of committed professionals. It started with the purchase through our friend Marga, now the owner of DreamHomesMalaga. The first sketches of the interior came from our friend Femke de Vries. She is a very experienced home stylist who now also focuses on home renovation in southern Spain. She was supported by her partner, Klaas Keizer. The execution of the transformation was expertly and quickly carried out by the team of Grupo Mostazo under the leadership of José Mostazo. They really delivered a tour de force! Mirjam took care of purchasing the furnishings. An enormous search, because we knew exactly what we were looking for and this was not always directly available in Spain. Marc-Jan took on the direction and communication with Grupo Mostazo. It turned out to be a golden collaboration. Looking back, almost nothing went wrong and the result became exactly as we had visualized on our mood boards. Our principles ‘know your outcome’ and ‘in connection everything is possible’ once again proved to be oil between the gears.

What makes your property truly special to you? Do you have any favorite spots, cherished memories, or personal touches that make it dear to your heart?

What makes Villa Silencio extra special for us is the balance between simplicity, luxury, and comfort. This is reflected in everything. Nothing is ‘over the top,’ but it breathes quality and unobtrusive luxury and contributes to a relaxed stay. Whether it is enjoying your first cup of coffee on one of the terraces at sunrise, or a delicious extended lunch at the long table under the veranda, or enjoying a drink in the specially designed pool with its magnificent view, or in the evening having good conversations around the fire pit on the unique moon-shaped bench, or falling into a deep sleep in one of the comfortable beds after a relaxing day—the consistent whole makes Villa Silencio so special for us.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interior of your property?

What makes the villa so special? In one word? Then we say ‘Silencio’… This place, in addition to a breathtaking view, has above all a calming effect on everyone who comes here. The subdued color schemes in and around the villa are carefully coordinated. The sounds of the surroundings are soft and natural. The silences are a relief in busy life. For example, if you sit on the specially shaped bench in the saltwater pool enjoying the infinity view, you drift away and time and worries disappear. Experiencing the now is the vibe in Villa Silencio that will touch you. Hence the name ‘Villa Silencio’.

Are there any sustainable or eco-friendly applications associated with your property that you are proud of?

We're proud to have integrated several eco-friendly features without compromising the design or comfort. The solar panels are positioned so they're out of sight. The boilers and heat pumps for the air conditioning are concealed and silently installed at the rear in a dedicated technical room. The saltwater pool's water condition is automatically controlled, and the lack of chlorine makes it gentle on skin, eyes, and hair. The air conditioning units in all rooms are equipped with an energy-saving night mode. This reduces electricity consumption and keeps the noise level low while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere. This is especially beneficial at night when you want to enjoy a good night's sleep. Furthermore, the entire house and grounds are equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting, and all doors and windows have double glazing. The garden is irrigated in an eco-friendly way. All water from the showers and sinks is separated from the wastewater from the toilets and reused at night to irrigate the garden. In this way, we contribute to an eco-friendly stay.

What motivated or inspired you to rent your property to guests?

About 3 years ago, our dream arose to, besides bringing personal growth, also let others enjoy all the beauty that this part of Andalusia has to offer. We decided to find a house that needed renovation and to transform it into a luxury villa in a very special place. The latter was the most important for us: after all, you must find a unique place and you can create the house in that place. This fitted seamlessly with our way of life and our vision of our future. We researched the different types of houses and accommodations in the Axarquía and beyond and gained clarity on our criteria by which we would make our dream come true. And coincidence or not, through our friend who had just started as a real estate agent, we discovered a gem! Everything was right and within a week the house was bought and a creative process started the likes of which we had never experienced before!

What can guests expect when staying at your accommodation? Share the experience, the highlights, and perhaps the best compliment you’ve received from past guests.

Our guests greatly appreciate the personal contact before their stay, whether this is from the Nice2Stay team when the reservation goes through their platform or Anna of the Villa Silencio team for direct bookings. In both cases, guests will be personally contacted before their stay to answer any questions and share various practical tips. The welcome at the villa itself is always taken care of by our local Villa Silencio team.They are also on standby in case situations arise where support is needed. For example, it once happened that someone had to go to a dentist. The team ensured that this guest was quickly helped in the right place.
Our guests especially notice that the combination of an atmosphere of peace, silence and comfort, and the possibility of making a diversity of day trips with very acceptable travel times, is very pleasant. That could be, for example, a day enjoying the sea and beach in Torre del Mar (about 30 minutes’ drive), or a city visit to Málaga (45 min.), Córdoba (1h45), Granada (1h30), Nerja (50 min.), Mijas (60 min.) or Marbella (1h25). In the immediate natural surroundings there are also many hiking opportunities. The famous Caminito del Rey (1h15) or El Torcal de Antequera (50 min.) are also perfectly doable. Also for the more adventurous guests there are possibilities such as the zipline in Comares, bike rental or motorbike rental in Vélez-Málaga. If guests choose to simply stay in Villa Silencio, there are many restaurants with diverse cuisines within a 20-minute drive. Of course, arranging a chef on-site is also possible, as well as massage on-site. In short, our guests appreciate the many options for free choice, with Villa Silencio as the home base where, after a long day, you can happily come home again to peace and silence.

What do you hope guests will take away from their stay, and do you have any special tips or recommendations to make their holiday unforgettable?

Villa Silencio wants to be remembered as a magical place where family and friends have made unforgettable memories. Where deep relaxation has been experienced. Where people happily and with enthusiasm talk about it at birthdays and at work. Where the beautiful photos are regularly brought up again in the photo roll on the phone. Where people love to return, for a holiday or even a workcation. That is what Villa Silencio stands for.