Chase away the winter blues with a sauna, hot tub, and cozy comfort in Normandy.
We’re Peter and Juliëtte, and this is the story of how a Dutch family fell in love with Normandy and decided to make it home.
Our journey started in 2015 when we bought our first motorhome. What began as a way to explore Europe with Peter’s son Tygo quickly became our favourite escape. Every holiday, every long weekend, we’d pack up and head south – chasing sunshine, discovering hidden villages, and making memories on the road.
For Dutch families, France is the natural choice for holidays. It’s close enough for a weekend trip, yet feels like a completely different world. And for us, it became so much more than just a holiday destination.
While many people head straight for the Mediterranean coast, we found ourselves drawn to Normandy’s western side. The rolling countryside, the rugged coastline, the quiet beaches – it all felt right. The locals were warm and welcoming, the landscape won our hearts, and year after year, returning to Normandy began to feel like coming home.
We discovered a small campsite near Carentan where we became regulars. The owners welcomed us like family, and what started as a guest-host relationship grew into a genuine friendship. They watched our family grow – first when Novée arrived in 2017, and later when Lenny was born in 2020.
THE DAD
THE MOM
THE PRINCESS
THE WILD ONE
For years, we talked about a future in France. Could we take over our beloved campsite? Could we work there somehow? The dream was there, but the path wasn’t clear.
Then COVID arrived, and like so many people, it made us rethink everything. What did we really want? What kind of life did we want to build for our family? The pandemic gave us time to reflect, but it also put many of our plans on hold.
As restrictions eased and life began moving again, we knew we couldn’t let the dream slip away. If not now, when?
In 2024, we took the leap. We found a property in Graignes-Mesnil-Angot – a peaceful village in the heart of the Marais wetlands, just a stone’s throw from Carentan. It wasn’t the campsite we’d dreamed about, but it was something even better: a place where we could create our own story, our own way.
We transformed the property into La Nouvelle Histoire – a small retreat with charming gîtes, a private sauna and hot tub, and plans for a small, intimate campsite in the future. Every detail reflects what we love about Normandy: authenticity, tranquility, and a deep connection to nature.
Le Petit Gite was our first – a cosy retreat for up to 5 guests, overlooking the marshlands.
Le Charmant Rigault followed in 2025 – our second gîte, lovingly restored and named after the family who once sheltered Allied paratroopers here during D-Day.
A small campsite is coming in spring 2026 – six spacious pitches for those who love the freedom of camping with the comfort and tranquility La Nouvelle Histoire offers.
We want to share the Normandy we fell in love with. Not the crowded tourist version, but the quiet mornings watching herons glide over the marshlands. The local markets bursting with cheese and cider. The beaches where history happened. The villages where time moves slower.
When you stay with us, you’re not just booking accommodation – you’re joining our story. You’re becoming part of the La Nouvelle Histoire family, even if just for a few days.
We’re still the same family who fell in love with France from a motorhome. We still love discovering new corners of Normandy. And now, we get to share this place we’ve built with people like you.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Normandy or returning for another chapter, we’d love to welcome you.
