Castle Vorden
Discover the castle in the Netherlands that Karin and Joseph call home.
Karin de Rouw & Joseph Hoenen
Who we are
Two people, a shared dream and a connection to extraordinary places.
What drives us
Two people.
A shared dream.
We are Karin de Rouw and Joseph Hoenen. We enjoy working hard to make our dreams come true. For Karin, this meant having her own charming castle: Castle Vorden, decorated as if it had been in the family for generations.
For Joseph (Jos), it meant building houses in two magnificent places in Kenya. One is the Red House on the coast, with a sandy beach and a coral reef in front. The other is Aitong Crater House, in the conservancies adjoining the famous Maasai Mara.
Our local Maasai team
A genuine welcome.
A deeper connection.
Aitong Crater House is managed and cared for by Maasai people from the surrounding community. Their friendliness, attention and knowledge of the land are central to the experience of staying here.
We also like to contribute to the welfare of the communities around our houses. Joseph advises the Maasai community near Aitong on ecologically and economically sound grazing systems and the coexistence of wildlife and livestock.
Community & conservation
Caring for the places
we call home.
Joseph was one of the founders of the Bureni Conservation Community Based Organization (BCCBO). The organisation combines the efforts of the Bureni fishing community and beach-house owners to protect the coral reef.
Our homes in Kenya and the Netherlands are very different places, connected by the same personal spirit and love of character, nature and hospitality.
Red House Vipingo Beach
Continue your Kenyan journey beside the warm Indian Ocean.
Living with the landscape
Powered by the sun.
Sustained by rainwater.
The entire Aitong Crater House property runs on solar energy and collected rainwater. These are part of how we care for the place we call home.
Our commitment to the surroundings also lives in our relationship with the local Maasai community and our interest in the balance between people, livestock and wildlife.
Personal contact · Tailor-made stays
Let’s plan your stay.
Tell us your dates, your travel companions and what you would love to experience. We will put together a personal proposal.