I came to central Portugal looking for something slower, more rooted. I found it — and I've spent the years since helping others find their way here too, whether they're searching for land, a house, or just the confidence to navigate a place that doesn't always speak their language.
How I got here
I grew up on the edge of the forest in the centre of the Netherlands. I studied at the University of Amsterdam, then completed a master's in Geo-Communication at Utrecht and trained as a geography teacher. I taught for three years before other paths opened up.
Speaking Portuguese is something I learned in 2003, when I went to Brazil between degrees and my world opened up. A long time later, that language led me here — to the schist villages and green valleys of central Portugal, where I've lived since 2017.
What I do
I started working as a freelance translator, consultant and local assistant in 2019. Real estate came naturally — I love exploring houses and land, and I found I was good at connecting the right people to the right property. I'm licensed by IMPIC, the Portuguese real estate authority.
But the work has always been broader than property. People settling here face real challenges: language barriers, bureaucracy, difficult neighbours, cultural differences. I draw on years of experience, a local network built slowly and honestly, and a calm approach to help navigate all of it.
What drives the work
I sell properties the way I'd want someone to sell a property to me — with transparency about what's there and what isn't, without pressure, without embellishment. If a house needs a lot of work, I say so. If a valley gets no sun in winter, I say that too.
The same goes for immigration and interpretation. I don't promise easy answers. I do promise to be honest, to show up, and to stay until the problem is solved.
Stories & place
Alongside the practical work, I collect stories. This corner of Portugal is changing fast — the older generation with their deep roots in these hills and valleys, and a new wave of people from all over the world who heard the call of a simpler life. I try to document something of the traditional culture before it fades, and to pass it on to those who are arriving.
You can follow these stories on my Instagram, @ruralmountainroots.
What people say
Else is a literal lifesaver. We would highly recommend her services if you want a well-managed and safe entry for settling in Portugal.
— Reik, Germany
Do plenty of your own internet and Facebook research until your head is spinning with information, then sit down with a real person who actually knows the real nitty gritty of what she's talking about.
— Will, UK
I can only have praise and gratitude for the tireless work Else did in helping me through this process and sorting everything out from the biggest of issues to the smallest of details.
— Peter, UK
A question about a property, a helping hand settling in, thinking about selling — whatever brings you here, I'm happy to hear from you. I work in Dutch, English and Portuguese.
