Make a small donation here, if you’d like to help us recover even a small part of what we lost and support this project:
https://whydonate.com/fundraising/help-ons-onze-droom-opnieuw-opbouwen
We lost €15,000 trying to build our dream life in Spain…
and for a moment, it felt like everything was over.
This is the story of how it all fell apart —
and how it unexpectedly led us here… to a small village in Italy, starting over from zero.
We are Nicolas and Bieke, a Belgian couple with two small dogs — Miguel & Mirabel.
In 2025, we sold everything and moved from Belgium to Italy to buy and restore two old stone houses in the mountains of Umbria.
This channel documents the real journey of buying property in Italy as foreigners — from the house search and paperwork to renovating a ruin step by step and building a new life abroad.
🌿 On this channel you’ll find:
– buying a house in Italy
– the real cost of moving to Italy
– renovating old stone houses in Umbria
– navigating Italian laws and bureaucracy
– learning Italian as beginners
– expat life in rural Italy with two dogs
No romantic filters. No “Instagram Italy.”
Just the honest process of starting over in another country.
Our long-term goal is to transform these stone houses into a small boutique B&B and retreat space in the Italian countryside.
🎬 New documentary-style episodes every 2 weeks.
If you’re dreaming of moving to Italy, renovating abroad, or building a life from scratch — subscribe and follow our journey.
contact: info@nicolasderudder.com
27 Comments
We didn’t just lose €15,000…
we lost the chance to start our life.
But we refused to give up.
Right now, we’re rebuilding everything from zero in Italy — step by step.
If you’d like to help us recover even a small part of what we lost and support this project:
👉https://whydonate.com/fundraising/help-ons-onze-droom-opnieuw-opbouwen
Every small contribution truly helps us move forward 🙏
And if you can’t — just being here means everything
Bravi!!! Greetings from Marche!!
Have you been to the Bagni Triponzo thermal bath yet?
Hello you two,
the algorithm led me to you, and since I’m already fascinated by the videos of Nikky de Graaf and her brother, I’m really happy to have found you as well.
Forget about the €15,000. I lived in southern Spain for four years, and to this day I still have sleepless nights when I think about how many Spaniards (not all!) treat animals—especially in rural areas.
Italy is certainly the better choice, also in terms of climate.
In any case, I wish you the very best of luck. You clearly seem to have the power and energy needed for such a project.
Lascia perdere il rudere ti costerebbe una fortuna
have children – you are a lovely couple
SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU !!!
🎃 : to avoid loosing more data I stop watching your video , I only watch progressive video 👎
I liked 2 things you said – 1st) that what happened to you in terms of 'the loss' might had been the best thing that happened for you. And 2nd) you said that you did not choose Italy because it made "sense" but that it "felt" right. Great insight and good to be reminded of such things in life. Thank you. But what I did not understand is how you lost the 15K. Was this because you had paid an advance or a down payment for the home and then you had to withdraw?
Wow you have chosen a beautiful place and region( Umbria) I'm Italian but from northern, I'm currently working in Ireland but I'd like to come back to Italy further on and buy a house in the Appennini mountains ( Emilia Romagna/ Liguria area) or Alps( Piedmont), good luck for all
Your videos are awesome and so encouraging not to loose hope
So very grateful ypu used that 1st experience to keep moving forward 🙌 🙏 ❤❤
Hello from a South African living in Germany. From your video I think you have visited my country. Was that bungee jump on the garden route? I look forward to watching many more of your videos. ❤❤
Pięknie tam jest , dużo szczęścia życzę
Out on snow , sea and desert vacations don't sound normal to alot of us…00:50. 1:27. naa not normal at all lol 1:32 Don't think 15,000 euros should have broke you… 4:10 Something called Due Diligence….lawyers or someone should have caught things sooner. Seems to happen alot on YTuber buying in foreign countries. Time to tighten the old buckle…is a sayin in my country. So lost $$ then bought in Italy….think your in good shape ! Cheerio !
Bella Itlalia!!! Auguri!!!!!!
what a fantastic place you have now found, best of luck for the future
Benvenuti in Italia…
Io vivo a Riccione, in Romagna sul mare… ma voi avete scelto un posto bellissimo dove far crescere i vostri sogni…
Vi auguro il meglio per il vostro percorso di vita!!
You sound very nice i subbed.
Hello from a Belgian living in England (with a Flemish husband from Oudenaarde 😉). I’ve just come across your video and absolutely love your project (and Diego and Mirabele!). I’m really curious – what made you leave Spain and head to Italy? It looks like such a beautiful place! Wishing you all the best, I’ll definitely be following along for your next adventure with the ruin. Veel succes!
Dag Bieke en Miguel, jullie hebben een goede keuze gemaakt. Ik heb verschillende plaatsen gezocht om ergens te wonen, Spanje, Marokko, Turkije,etc en iedere keer kwam ik terug op Italië en nu… we zijn hier super gelukkig. Als jullie zin hebben kunnen we gerust eens afspreken, wij wonen op een anderhalf uur van jullie in le Marche. Spoleto bezoeken we regelmatig met ons bezoek. Alleszins zoal ze hier zeggen buona fortuna per la vostra nova vita.
I was wondering whether it might be feasible to complete the restoration by summer, considering that the paperwork alone can sometimes take several months.
beautiful! moving really ..I love Italy and you have choose a beautiful place this is real life…your experience is really inspiring!
0:40 YOu need a child..
😂 Miguel's little face when Mirabel's crazy was coming out!! Omg I love them, beautiful souls. You both have such brilliant skills to apply to your new project – power couple! I'm curious, with the advantage of being EU citizens, and opportunities in so many countries, how did you narrow it down to Italy (after your Spanish 'correction/redirection' – when bad things turn out so well)?
Hello dear Bieke and Nicolas,
We are a german couple and going to buy a villa in Italia in the next years.
We'd be interested to know how you finance your current life while renovating your villa. Do you have an online job or do you live on savings? Would be perfect if you could share your expirence
Thanks in advance and best wishes,
Elle and Max
Jakým způsobem jste přišli o tolik peněz ,,,vy jste koupili dum který jste neviděli v jakém je stavu ,,,nebo jak,,,,,,,, na obrázku vidím zbořeniště ne dum ,