How did your travel blog ‘Hey Frits’ start?
Manon: “It all started with this little space on the internet where I gave personal tips to friends. Now it has expanded to a full-blown travel blog. Hey Frits is named after my cat. I started in 2017, I had a passion for traveling and writing on my blog. I wrote about stuff that happened to me whilst traveling and apparently inspired a lot of people. It’s a classic case of making your job out of your hobby with writing, traveling, and photographing all coming together.”
Where do you get your tips from?
“Everything I hear or see gets pinned in my Google Maps, which results in a mayhem of flags. In addition to stories and experiences from other people, I scour Instagram and the internet in search of places I think are worth a visit. The pillars that I use are design, total experience, environment, hospitality and my personal interests. Free tip: don’t forget to check the local tourist offices of cities you visit. These always have a nice range of things to do in the area.”
Can you tell us a little bit about your forthcoming book?
“After a mini road trip in Zeeland (a province in the south of The Netherlands), I was approached by a publisher. They asked me to write a book. This was a dream come true. When I was young I always wanted to write a book. All these years later, I called my mom to confirm that I was going to do it. The approach of the book: 15 mini road trips in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France. I still have to go there around the end of the summer. I will be writing my own stories and I’ll use my own pictures to create this book. Starting a book takes a lot of time, requires good planning and a lot of research. All of this is needed to accurately mirror the stories I write on Hey Frits right now.”
What was your experience with working in our studio?
“It took a little getting used to to be honest. It was very nice to finally be able to just focus on one thing. Aside from working in the studio, working downstairs in the co-working space also worked very well for me. It lacked the distractions that I sometimes experience at home. The practical layout creates a nice work environment. The division between sleeping, working, relaxing, cooking, and showering added to a great experience.”
Did you have a favorite spot in the studio?
“When I arrived, the sun was shining through the windows. It was a beautiful sunny winter day. I started writing my book with my laptop and a cup of tea on the private balcony. I spend the rest of my days mainly working at the table or in the co-working space.”
Did you suffer from writer’s block at any point?
“In the days before I arrived in the studio, the thought went through my head a couple of times. ‘What if I get writer’s block?’. Luckily this wasn’t the case. My stay here really contributed to a good start of my book.”
Would you recommend our studio to other writers?
“I would really recommend the studios to other writers, it’s a nice way to really get away for a minute. At home I do get writer’s block sometimes, I get distracted by little things that need to be done in the household. Being away helped because it’s easy to look for little spots in the hotel that spark some inspiration. Or just to do absolutely nothing in the hot tubs. A change of scenery is good for a person sometimes.”
Manon’s book will launch during the spring of 2023. Do you want to keep posted? You can follow Manon on her website or Instagram. Interested in a studio? Check all the information here.
📸 by Hey Frits
