Interview with Jan and Margreet

Living on the tenth floor and work on the lift. Giving up or staying somewhere else temporarily? Jan (72) and Margreet (71) didn't have to think long about that. They decided to go on holiday at the neighbour across the street: at Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum. "A very good decision and recommended to everyone," they say. Read their interview here.

"Many around us thought it was a crazy action," says Jan. "Why not just stay with friends or family or go really far away, away from Tilburg?" Jan and Margreet laugh about it. "We have plenty of reasons to stay with our opposite neighbours," they replied. "You already know the city, you know your way around, you do your own thing and yet you are pampered throughout the day. In the morning, a delicious breakfast is waiting for you and the breakfast lady welcomes you with a smile on her face. Your bed is made and your room is cleaned every day. You don't have to worry about housework at all. It was really great"

Enjoyed and pampered all week

Jan and Margreet stayed at Mercure for a total of seven nights and had a wonderful time. "Everyone was so nice and had a nice chat. They thought with you and gave you all the attention. Even though we live across the street and did our normal thing, we were still able to relax completely and it was really a holiday in our own city. We felt as relaxed as when you come back from a holiday outside Tilburg," Margreet says.

Jan and Margreet have lived in Tilburg almost all their lives and therefore know the city very well. Yet during their stay, they noticed that they were much more concerned with what was happening on the Heuvel. Despite living there themselves, they get little notice of the traffic and people on the streets. "Sitting here like this, you start to take a closer look at all that. For instance, you notice how many taxis drive here," says Jan.

Together with their grandchildren, they dined at Grand Café Puur. There, the grandchildren could pick out delicious friandises in the refrigerator for dessert. A culinary visit to restaurant Taste! was also on the agenda. "That is always such a treat! Really great that the chef comes to the table and asks if it all tastes good. And the matching wines complete it all. Dinner wishes were also taken into account perfectly. That was really enjoyable."

What to visit in Tilburg?

They also have tips for tourists and Tilburgers themselves. For example, Jan and Margreet enjoy a nice cup of coffee at BijZestig on Willem II street and definitely recommend Piushaven. There you can drink delicious beers at Burgemeester Jansen. A casual pub where everyone is welcome and the atmosphere is cosy. They also rave about Doloris, the new rooftop bar in Tilburg.

The experience in one sentence

And even if you ask Jan and Margreet if they can describe their week in one sentence, Margreet replies "Great" and Jan "A breath of fresh air". They need no more words. "Enjoying it as long as you can," says Margreet with a smile. "Yes, that's just the way it is, isn't it?"