Author
Moving to Bali
Yes, we’re moving to Bali for a few months in 2026! And you might wonder, why Bali and not, let’s say, an island in the Caribbean? To explain that, we need to go back a few years… all the way to 2019.
Our world trip to Bali with Celina, while Lis was pregnant with Katie.
Why Bali felt like the perfect place for us
In 2019, my wife Lisette was expecting our second daughter, Katie. Later in this article, you’ll find out how we shared the news with our family. Being pregnant was for us a very special moment because staying pregnant was not as easy it it looks for us. We shared this story on our socials, and I’m going to tell it here too.
Eight years ago, we couldn’t have imagined welcoming a second child. We had just gone through a miscarriage and two ectopic pregnancies. The first in the right fallopian tube, which had to be removed, and the second in the stump left behind.
When people asked us if we wanted another child, we didn’t know what to say. Life was beautiful with Celina; why risk more heartbreak? But deep down, we wanted a 2nd child. Not just for us, but because we know how special having a sibling can be.
At the end of 2019, we decided to give it one last try. We thought it might take time, but just weeks later: two pink lines.Then it hit us. Because we never struggled to get pregnant, but staying pregnant was the challenge. Seeing those two lines, Lis cried for 15 minutes. The timing felt impossible. Because we were about to leave for a two-month trip, starting in Bali.
On Bali, Lis started having symptoms that worried us. But to our surprise, the scan from the local hostipal in Denpassar showed a healthy heartbeat! What was it? Just harmless bleeding from the opposite side of the uterus. Suddenly, our trip felt like a gift. We could rest and slow down and continue our trip with little Katie with us.
But during our 2 months world trip there was something else going on in the world. Massive bushfires in Australia at the end of 2019. We had a plan to go there too for a couple of weeks. But unfortunately it was almost not possible to go due to the bushfires. The safest place back then was Sydney. Lis has family living there so we stayed in there for just a couple of days instead of the weeks we planned in Australia. This also meant that we stayed longer on Bali then planned. And because of that we both felt how peaceful the island is. We started to love it every day more and more. The friendly people, the food and the beautiful green nature. We said to each other back then that we go back one day. Also because our trip felt chaotic during all the events happening in the world back then.
Katie was born in august 2020 in the middle of COVID-19. This started during our world trip in 2019 after the massive bushfires. Our plan was Bali, Australia and flying back via Hong Kong to Amsterdam. But in 2019 when COVID-19 started everybody was in panic. And yes Hong Kong became quickly a no-go area because of all the threads about the virus and people did not know how bad it was. Things like toilet paper was already sold out in Hong Kong (can you believe it) and people on the socials said it was just the beginning of a catastrophe. The whole world will be affected. Okay.. we didn’t know what to excpect so we said to each other to skip Hong Kong and go longer to New Zealand. We stayed in NZ 3 weeks instead of a couple of days and we flew back via Los Angeles. So instead of Christchurch-Hong Kong-Amsterdam it became Christchurch-Los Angeles-Amsterdam.
A Special Moment at the Skyline of Los Angeles
One of our favorite memories in Griffith Park—with the breathtaking skyline of Los Angeles in the background—is now even more unforgettable. It’s the place where we shared some incredible news: we’re expecting our second child!
Fun fact: We weren’t really supposed to be there, since it was a spot meant just for influencers. But the gate was open and we missed the sing for this so we just walked in.
I remember we landed back in Amsterdam the same day the first COVID case was found in the Netherlands. The rest is history…
In the years after that, we didn’t travel as much as we did with Celina. We did a few trips around Europe and in 2023 we took a big trip to South Africa. Now that Katie was with us too.
South Africa Roundtrip Jan. 2023
One of our most unforgettable journeys was a road trip through South Africa. Starting in vibrant Cape Town and ending in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. Along the way, we explored breathtaking landscapes, charming towns, and wild national parks + we did a safari trip where we spotted 4 of the big 5.
And yes.. When kids are really little, traveling can be easier. But as they get older, it gets harder to keep them happy and entertained all day. Still, that didn’t stop us. We love traveling too much to give it up for that reason.
In 2024 we had the idea to live and work abroad for a couple of months with our kids. We starting to look to places where we’ve been. And Bali was one of the places we immediately thought of. And its so funny because when we went there in 2019 we didn’t have a feeling at all to live there for a longer time. But Bali seemed to stole our hearts. Lis here roots are there and they were also calling 😉
We started to search for a school for our kids, well, Lis searched for a international school for the kids and quickly she found one. We think it’s important for the kids to follow school, also when you are going abroad for a longer time. We planned a call with the school and explained to the school our plan. She was excited to hear and very happy that we were coming to Bali. We also explained to here on which school she is now. It is a Montessori school in Amsterdam. She told that the system on their school is similar to Montessori and it will be a perfect match for our kids. She also said that this is an International school, that means, kids are speaking English to each other. And our kids love to speak English.
We early applied for 1 semester of 3 months starting in January 2026. We asked if there is an extension possible for another semester and she said it was not a problem at all. Just important that you apply for the school. Once you are here its easier for us to extend. This is the school where Celina and Katie will go to.
Where are we staying in Bali?
Our daughters’ school is located near Denpasar, so we’re planning to stay close to that area.
At first, we’ll probably book an Airbnb or hotel. Just like we did last time. That worked out really well. It gave us time to settle in, get used to the surroundings, and then find a more permanent place to live and work.
We’ll do the same this time. It feels relaxed to have a soft landing, especially with kids. And who knows, maybe we’ll even find a nice spot before we arrive on the island!
We’re keeping things flexible, which is one of the big benefits of working remotely.
Working remotely
When the kids are at school, our days will look pretty similar to how they are in Amsterdam.
The big difference is now: we’ll be living in a tropical place instead of a city!
We’re moving our work to fully online. That means everything Lisette offers with here company and everything I do will be digital. That means we can work from anywhere in the world we like.
As long as we have our laptop and a good Wi-Fi / Ethernet connection, we’re good to go. You might like this blog article where I share the 10 best compact gadgets for digital nomads.
Working remotely like this gives us so much freedom and flexibility. We can plan our days the way we want and work from wherever we are. And when the kids are back from school we can easily pick them up and then go somewhere on the island.
On the weekends, we plan to explore new places around the island with our kids. Let’s say every weekend another place.
We might also take some short trips to other islands or nearby countries. Like Singapore, for example.
Accessories you will like
When we were in France on a brocante last spring, Lis found a straw bag she really loved. A woman was selling it and told us it came all the way from Bali. That made it extra special for Lis. And she still loves it to this day.
If you’re looking for a similar style, we’ve put together a small collection of beautiful straw bags on Amazon. From beach-ready totes to everyday favorites. They’re perfect for summer days, travel, or just adding a natural touch to your outfit.
6 popular Straw Bags from Amazon
A Little Note to End With
Thanks for reading about our Bali adventure. It’s a special chapter in our journey as a family, and we’re so excited for what’s to come. From tropical school runs to weekend island escapes, we’ll be sharing it all.
Stay tuned and follow us on socials for updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and a dose of sunny inspiration from Bali 🌴
This blog contains affiliate links. That means if you click and buy something, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our journey!
