BOUDEWIJN & GITHA

PROPOSITION

Also lost your heart during your studies and still together with your UG love? Would you both like to be interviewed for this column? Tips are welcome at redactieB5@rug.nl.

GITHA

‘Boudewijn lived on Nieuweweg, and I lived on Poelestraat. Whenever he walked by,
I always admired his handsome legs.
I lived with friends of his and witnessed the passing of his parents from the sidelines.

I had my own baggage too. When I was 12, my father suffered a stroke that left him unable to walk or speak. He passed away a few months after my wedding day. Lying on a stretcher, he still managed to give me away in the church.

I fell in love with Boudewijn with both my heart and my mind. I knew: “This man can handle anything.”

In 2010, after nearly a decade of working, we felt the need for a sabbatical. Our family went on a four-month trip. After that, we pursued our dream: running a large hotel. Neither of us had a background in hospitality—we had both wanted to go to hotel school, but our parents had pushed us towards university.

For 14 years, we worked together at Landgoed De Wilmersberg in De Lutte. Boudewijn handled the operational management, while I was responsible for marketing and sales. For the first six years, we lived next to the hotel. The peculiar thing was that people saw us as one. Guests assumed that if they had told Boudewijn something, I would automatically know it too. Over time, that began to feel stifling. I started to wonder: “Who am I then? Am I still an individual?”

Now, each of us is at the helm of our own establishment. We still collaborate a lot, but it’s a huge change – and definitely a positive impulse for our marriage. People now ask us if we even see each other anymore. The answer is yes. We’re free on Sundays, and during the week, we’re both home three evenings. That said, we’re not very good at just sitting together on the sofa.

Our ideal scenario is to run a small hotel together again in an idyllic spot in the Netherlands – perhaps in a decade or so. Right now, though, our focus is on Boudewijn’s illness. His recovery is the most important thing.’

BOUDEWIJN

‘Githa and I were both a bit older when we graduated. I did a board year at student association Albertus and had to pause my studies twice due to my parents’ illnesses – they passed away two years in a row. I am the youngest of six children, a late arrival. I still felt strongly connected to home. Since I’m from Zwolle, I often hopped on the train quickly.

I met Githa during my final year of study. A mutual friend thought we would be a good match. I approached Githa at the Albertus pub, but I had to call her three times before we actually met.

Githa was my first serious girlfriend. I had a certain profile in mind, and no one had matched it until her. When I met her, I thought: “This is her.” It felt right. And I fell for her hearty laugh.

I rely a lot on intuition. In 2002, I realised that my parents would have been married for 50 years the following year. I felt: “Now is the time to propose to Githa.” I wanted to ask her at restaurant Kaatje bij de Sluis in Blokzijl, on the little bridge. But the bridge was crowded with Chinese tourists. We went inside, where I immediately knelt down to prevent the restaurant owner – who knew about my plan – from bringing out the champagne before
I had even proposed.

In 2011, we moved from Amsterdam to Twente to take over the management of De Wilmersberg. Living, working, and raising young children together—we spent all day together. On holiday, we would joke: “Oh, are you here too?” After six years, we moved to Lochem to give each other more space. Much healthier.

We were approached about moving to Landgoed Lauswolt in Friesland. We explored it but decided we didn’t want to repeat the experience of running a place together again. As of May 2025, I am the director at Lauswolt, and Githa remains at De Wilmersberg. Unfortunately, I’ve had to take an unexpected step back. This summer, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I’m currently undergoing intensive treatment. My goal is to recover, and I trust that I will. My intuition has never let me down.’

Relationship since: 29 February 2000 / married: 5 July 2003 / children: Lieve (21), Bonne (18), and Safien (15)

&

GITHA VAN VILSTEREN-BILLET(52)

Business Administration (1995–2001), General Director of Landgoed
De Wilmersberg in De Lutte, previously
worked at Amnesty International and War Child

BOUDEWIJN VAN VILSTEREN (54)

Business Economics (1992–2000), General Director of Landgoed Lauswolt in Beetsterzwaag, previously held various positions at Centerparcs and, together with Githa, was part of the management of De Wilmersberg