In Love With the West Fjords: Video

Janne Kristensen and Wouter Van Hoeymissen.

Janne Kristensen and Wouter Van Hoeymissen. Screenshot/YouTube

Vala Hafstað

Janne Kristensen, from Denmark, and Wouter Van Hoeymissen, for Belgium, met in Reykjavík in 2005, mbl.is reports. Janne came to study literature, while Wouter came to travel. They began traveling the country together, and fell in love, not only with each other, but with the country.

They tell their story in a video, created by 66° North, accessible on YouTube.

After visiting the village of Þingeyri, population about 250, located on the south side of Dýrafjörður fjord, the West Fjords, they decided to settle there. They ended up purchasing a dilapidated house for ISK 2,500 (USD 20; EUR 16). The house has a long history. It was originally imported from Norway in 1915 by an Icelandic merchant by the name of Sigmundur Jónsson, a.k.a. Simbi.

Sigmundur operated a store in the house from 1916 until the 70s, when he and his wife moved to Reykjavík. Subsequently, a video store was operated in the house, then a store that sold electrical equipment, and finally a book store.

Now, Janne and Wouter live in the house with their two children, and on the lower floor, they operate a café, called Simbahöllin, which serves as a cultural center as well.

We invite you to watch this beautiful video and to listen to the couple’s story about what life is like in this stunning landscape. The video comes with English subtitles. 



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