We are...

Sílvia and Ruud, owners of Casa do Prado in Tomar. 
Because our life became too busy in the Netherlands, we decided to change our lives and go after better weather. After travelling around by caravan through different parts of Portugal, we fell in love with Tomar. It took quite some time before we found our new home, and even longer to restore it to create the guest house you see today. Casa do Prado is our beloved on-going, probably never ending, project, which we hope you will come to see soon.

Before Tomar...

Ruud was born in Amsterdam and lived his whole life in NL. Sílvia was born in Brazil and lived in various places before meeting Ruud in Amsterdam. Together we lived for 12 years in Landsmeer, just north of Amsterdam. We also renovated that house during 6 years of hard work, but the result was a marvelous home with a garden at a canal near great national park.

Still, we packed all our belongings and moved to Tomar, this small town that took us by surprise. As soon as we crossed the old roman bridge we could see what the place has to offer. Not only the view of the old buildings with the cascade, but also the Convento de Cristo in the back were very inviting! We moved here in 2019, without regrets so far.

About the name...

"Casa do Prado" is a free translation of Ruud's family name (Veldhuis), which also links nicely to the street name (Estrada do Prado). Prado is a small town close by, and our street is the only "road" leading to it.

The project...

Sometime we need to see the images to believe where we have been..