Romantic Country House ‘De Kleine Ehze’, a gem nestled in the tranquillity of the Almen countryside
Just outside the village centre of Almen, with the river Berkel flowing nearby, stands a fairytale-like country house. An impressively beautiful villa in the beloved English country house style. With its thatched roof draped like a stole over its shoulders, the magnificent English landscape garden, and sweeping views of the surrounding bocage landscape, this elegant residence appears as though it has always been there. And yet, it is remarkably young for its category, having been built in 2001. Only the barn by the driveway recalls the predecessor of this magnificent home. Villa De Kleine Ehze is a classical beauty, yet young in structure and condition.
The Master’s Touch
The design originates from the drawing table of Leeflang Architectuur, renowned for masterfully blending contemporary and historicising elements in such a way that the result gains a sense of timelessness. It almost seems like magic—this architectural firm consistently delivers outstanding results: a substantial country house with a living area of 379 m², situated on a plot of over 2.5 hectares, yet feeling entirely like “home.” Human scale has always been the guiding principle, resulting in a residence full of charm, warmth, and domestic comfort.
Thanks to modern construction methods and standards, this villa is not only visually striking but also exceptionally comfortable to live in. It features excellent insulation, HR glazing throughout, underfloor heating, a lighting plan with LED spotlights, and a ground-mounted installation of 48 PV panels in the garden—earning it an impeccable A energy label. The interior is fully in harmony with the exterior, both in detailing and colour palette (beautifully curated in Farrow & Ball tones), resulting in a well-balanced composition.
Villa De Kleine Ehze draws heavily in look and feel from its larger counterpart across the road. Huis De Ehze is one of the iconic estates the Achterhoek region proudly showcases. The 19th-century landscape romanticism is in full bloom here, as the surroundings were shaped in the 18th century when Huis De Hoogenkamp still stood here. In 1905, the current house in English country house style was realised, designed by George Nicolaas Itz. His design principles—abundant light and air, a large dramatic roof, refined window glazing bars, and shutters—create a charming image perfectly suited to the idyllic setting of Almen.
Almen
A village to dream of, just outside Zutphen. Almen looks as though it was conceived by a poet, with winding paths and roads, an ancient church, a small village school, stately tree-lined avenues, rolling fields, a church path, a small shop, a tennis court, and a swimming pool for warm days—all embraced by the gently meandering Berkel river.
You live less than ten minutes from the vibrant Hanseatic city of Zutphen, and centrally between charming towns such as Gorssel, Laren, Vorden, and Lochem, each offering a wide range of shops and amenities. Within 15 minutes you reach the A1 motorway, which connects you to the Randstad in approximately 45 minutes.
The House – Ground Floor
A tunnel of greenery leads to the driveway. The property is enclosed by white fencing and tall hornbeam hedges. At the edge of the grounds stands the old young-cattle barn, a remnant of the former farm.
The house is preceded by a large circular driveway with a beautiful lime tree at its centre, symbolising happiness and domestic fidelity.
Entrance beneath the large central canopy into the main hall. This beautiful hall is paved with Solnhofen stone in shades of ochre. The white woodwork of the double staircase contrasts elegantly with the ochre-yellow walls, which provide a warm, sunny tone even on the dreariest days.
Immediately to the left are the utility meter cupboard and WC, as well as a hallway providing access to the driveway, garden, and utility room with pantry, featuring sand-coloured cabinetry, a stone countertop, and a double stainless-steel sink. Adjacent are two alcoves housing the cloakroom and access to the study. To the right is access to the kitchen, and straight ahead lies the living room.
The kitchen is a delightful space; the long dining table invites leisurely tea breaks with a newspaper or relaxed Sunday breakfasts. The kitchen is beautifully crafted with light cabinetry and a terrazzo countertop. The backsplash and hood surrounding the induction hob are made of Belgian bluestone. Naturally, the kitchen is equipped with all desirable built-in appliances, including a dishwasher, convection oven (Siemens), fridge-freezer combination, and a 4-in-1 boiling water tap (Quooker).
The spacious living room, also accessible from the kitchen, is flooded with sunlight thanks to the villa’s ideal north-south orientation. The floor features robust oak parquet, perfectly complemented by underfloor heating throughout the house. At the heart of the room is a classic fireplace with an elegant mantel in French sandstone. Deep-set bay windows provide charming seating areas with garden views. From the dining area, French doors lead to the sun terrace. Custom-made oak bookcases are installed throughout the house.
The study is a wonderful space where, surrounded by books and with stunning views over the gardens, you can focus on work, hobbies, or that one book still waiting to be read—or perhaps written.
From both the living room and study, there is access to the atmospheric garden room, which opens onto the gardens on three sides. It also features bespoke cabinetry and, thanks to the abundant natural light, is perfectly suited as an artist’s studio.
Upper Floors
The first floor offers a spacious landing and three generous bedrooms.
The master suite includes a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom with walk-in shower, sunken bathtub with whirlpool function, double vanity, and WC. From the bedroom, there is access to a spectacular loggia with sublime views over the gardens and surrounding countryside.
Also on this floor is a second bathroom with vanity unit, walk-in shower, built-in cupboards, and a separate WC.
The second floor, accessible via a fixed staircase, provides three additional large spaces, including a large studio or guest accommodation and storage attics.
Garage
The villa offers abundant storage space. The integrated garage with two electrically operated roller doors accommodates two cars and includes a separate storage room and a fixed staircase leading to a large attic.
Outdoor Space
With nearly 27,000 m² of land, you live here in a green oasis filled with lush flora. The grounds flourish year-round.
The house is surrounded by a beautiful terrace with multiple seating areas, an ornamental pond, and richly planted borders. White and purple wisteria grow along the façades. The ornamental garden, designed in accordance with English landscape principles, is a visual delight and a paradise for gardening enthusiasts. It features a large water feature, expansive lawns, and a wide variety of trees, shrubs, borders, and flowerbeds.
The undulating beech hedges evoke traditional fruit walls typical of English gardens, while a corridor leads to the play lawn—perfect for football, trampoline jumping, or games of hide-and-seek.
At the front left of the property stands a large open barn with parking for six cars. Adjacent lies a classical orchard with apple and cherry trees, as well as wood storage. There is also a black timber-clad barn (Swedish style) for storing a camper or caravan, secured with an electric roller door.
The old young-cattle barn, complete with a water well and a beautifully designed French parterre garden with boxwood hedges and spheres, offers an excellent opportunity for redevelopment—whether as a B&B, office, studio, workshop, or otherwise. This remarkable building has a floor area of 127 m² and can be transformed into whatever you desire.
In Summary
Villa De Kleine Ehze—charming, elegant, warm, and inviting—awaits its next chapter. Curious to discover this delightful ensemble? We would be pleased to guide you on a viewing of this exceptional property.
General Information
Year of construction: 2001
Condition: Excellent, well maintained
Insulation: Fully insulated
Location: Rural and privately situated in the outskirts of Almen
Storage: Double attached garage, two detached wooden garages, and detached stone barn
Parking: Ample parking on private grounds, electric charging point available
Volume: 1,843 m³
Living area: 379 m²
Other indoor space: 147 m²
Building-related outdoor space: 57 m²
External storage space: 211 m²
Plot size: 27,138 m²
Energy label: A
Transfer: By agreement
