They traded 50,000 residents for a fjord and silence in Feda

Fell in love with Fosseland

Jerry and Linda moved from the Netherlands to Feda in spring 2026. At Fosseland, the family has built a new everyday life close to nature.

After several years of holidays in Norway, Jerry and Linda began looking for a new place to live. When Fosseland Hytter came up, everything fell into place. In spring 2026, they packed up their children and moved to Feda – to mountains, forest, stillness and a completely new everyday life.

The family already had a close relationship with Norway. Over several years of holidaying there, they knew they loved both the nature and life in the country. When they started looking for a new home outside the Netherlands, they still considered several places – both in Norway and in other countries.

Then they found Fosseland Hytter.

We fell in love with the place and the surrounding area.
Jerry og Linda

The combination of the cabins, the nature and the surrounding area tipped the scales. Here, Jerry and Linda could combine their dream of running their own place with their wish for a new everyday life for the family. In spring 2026, the plans became reality.

De gule hyttene ved Fosseland Hytter sett ovenfra, omgitt av tett skog.

Photo: Privat foto

From a fast pace to calmer days

The contrast between life in the Netherlands and everyday life in Feda is huge. Jerry and Linda laugh as they explain that what they called a small town back in the Netherlands would typically have around 50,000 inhabitants.

It's especially the difference in pace they've noticed. Here, they feel there's time to stop, talk to people and live life a different way. At the same time, they don't have to choose between peace and quiet and having what they need close by.

In the Netherlands it's often 'bang, bang, bang'. Everything has to happen fast. Here it's more harmonious.
Jerry og Linda

The children settled in quickly

One of the biggest worries before the move was how the children would cope. The start has gone better than the family dared hope.

The children are thriving at school in Feda, and Jerry and Linda especially point to the way the headteacher and teachers have welcomed the family. Contact with the school also feels different than it did in the Netherlands.

The children have learned Norwegian impressively fast. Linda laughs as she explains that they sometimes speak Norwegian with each other at home. The parents find it especially amusing when the children sing Norwegian versions of songs they know from the Netherlands – they recognise the tune, but don't always understand the Norwegian lyrics.

The family also appreciates the range of activities and sports available for children. For Jerry and Linda, it was essential to find a place where the children could feel safe, thrive and grow up in good surroundings.

We've been very warmly welcomed. The children have settled in extremely well. Here we can talk to the teacher without feeling like there's no time.
Jerry og Linda

Jerry og de to barna viser fram en ørret de har fisket ved et vann nær Feda. — The family has settled well into their new everyday life in Feda.Photo: Privat foto

Trampoline, hens and a new family life

Everyday life at home also looks different than before. The children now have both a trampoline and hens. They followed the whole process from when the eggs arrived, through the chicks growing up, to when they started laying eggs themselves. The animals have now become a natural part of family life.

The family also explores the local area together. One trip comes up again and again: Dyreknuten. It has become a favourite – and a place they happily recommend to guests at Fosseland Hytter.

A different kind of first summer

When the family moved to Norway, the plan was to see how the first season went. The result turned out better than expected.

Summer is peak season at Fosseland Hytter. Both holiday guests and workers in need of accommodation stay there. As a result, the period that used to mean family time and holidays has become the busiest time of the year.

Since summer is peak season, the family can instead plan their holiday for winter. New hobbies have also emerged: Jerry enjoys riding the four-wheeler, which is both fun and practical when you own forest and a large area of land. He now jokes that the next investment might have to be a boat.

It's been a busy summer, but also a really fun and different kind of summer.
Jerry og Linda

He says hello to everyone

Jerry and Linda aren't the only ones adapting to life in Feda. They've also brought a bit of the Netherlands with them. Back home, Jerry was used to greeting the people he met – a habit he's kept up.

Some people seem a little surprised at first, he says. But after a quick hello, people often stop, and a little conversation tends to follow. For Jerry, it's quite simple: he just thinks it's nice.

I say hello to everyone.
Jerry

Here, people have time

Their first impression of Kvinesdal was how beautiful it was. The fjord, the mountains and the nature made a lasting impression. After their first summer, though, it's more than the view that makes the family feel at home.

They highlight the people, the school, the range of activities, and how close everything they need is – not to mention the calm. The family has settled in well, and when asked whether they'd recommend others move to Kvinesdal, the answer is clear.

Here you have time and peace. You have time for the things you want to do.
Jerry og Linda

What started with holidays in Norway and a wish for a different everyday life has become the family's new life. At Fosseland, Jerry and Linda have found the combination they were looking for: the chance to run their own place, nature right outside the door, and a safe environment for their children to grow up in.

The first season would show whether it could work. So far, it has gone better than they had imagined.

Jerry og Linda står på trappen foran huset sitt ved vannet i Feda. — The first season at Fosseland has gone better than the family had imagined.Photo: Privat foto

Want to know more about Fosseland Hytter?

Jerry and Linda want to give guests the chance to experience what they themselves fell for: the nature, the calm and the surroundings at Fosseland.

Visit fosselandhytter.com

Questions and answers

They moved from the Netherlands to Feda in spring 2026.

They run Fosseland Hytter, where both holiday guests and workers stay.

Summer is peak season, with both holiday guests and workers staying there. The family therefore takes their holiday in winter instead.

Both Kvinesdal and Flekkefjord are located near Feda.

The children are thriving at school in Feda, have settled in very well, and have learned Norwegian impressively fast.