A major bucketlist item was ticked off when Victoria and hubby Marcel took to the open road for a couple of years on a road trip around Europe as digital nomads in ‘Dakota’ their 110 Landy. To help others tap into this sense of adventure, and consciously spend more time in ‘play mode’ they were inspired to create the activity book for adults ‘Life is Better in Flip-Flops‘. Following on its footsteps, Victoria helped Marcel create ‘The Dude’s Beauty of Beer‘ activity book and designed the cover for Marcel’s Medic Memoirs ‘A Year Late and a Border Short‘.
In March ’24 they shared their passion of the African bush with dear friends during a 3-week 4×4 adventure in Botswana and are currently soaking up life in Provence, enjoying their creation ‘Pepe’ the mobile beach shack. Intent on embracing the ‘unknown’, plans are usually made 3 months at a time.
“Je suis un mélange”
South Africa
Victoria Koning (néé Pitwood) was born in Cape Town and knows South Africa pretty well, having lived in far away places like Tzaneen, Knysna and Henley-on-Klip. Along with her four siblings, Victoria learned to travel light and adapt to change. She loved her secondary school years at Clarendon High School for Girls (’82-’86 in East London).
Then at the tender age of 17, determined to forge a successful career, she moved to Johannesburg and found a job as a receptionist within 2 weeks. Over the years she delved deeply into computers, eventually becoming the IT manager for Oracle Corporation, where she was awarded “Achiever of the Year” and her fave “Most Positive Attitude”.
Then love and the adventure bug struck! Getting together with Marcel, they decided to try out different ways of living.
Netherlands
Victoria and Marcel moved to the “Lowlands” (The Netherlands) and started their business partnership, MarVic VOF in 2002. Victoria learned to speak Dutch and how to navigate the seemingly-gazillion business rules. Marcel taught Victoria about flooring and they became an excellent team installing laminate in peoples’ homes; their record was 120m² in one day!
To get closer to their long-held dream of working and travelling, Victoria learned (and showed Marcel) photography, website design, online marketing and SEO. Then in 2007 they started helping other small business owners.
A childhood dream was realised when they bought ‘Muddy Boots‘ a Land Rover 90 who took them on the wildest adventures across Europe, including Portugal, Croatia and Poland.
Provence
In December 2013, Marcel and Victoria grabbed an opportunity to experience Provençal life at its “worst” in winter, to look after their aunty’s old farmhouse in Cotignac for 4 months. Three months later, they returned to Holland. For a week, to pack up and move South. She was gutted when they weren’t able to import their beloved Landy ‘Muddy Boots’ and cried all the way back to Holland to sell it. The pain eased when ‘Dakota‘, an incredibly well travelled 110, joined them. Their favourite thing is going camping and enjoying road trips.
With her penchant for moving, instead of buying a little cabanon in the forests, they decided on something more mobile to live in. Enter ‘Pepe‘ a 1985 Iveco Unic camper that used to transport 20 troopies (military). Renovating this into a “mobile beach shack” has been an amazing labour of love.
With their smorgasbord of skills, Victoria & Marcel have been working with various homeowners and businesses locally, engaging with customers, working online and being guardians of other people’s properties. Victoria worked with Maison Mirabeau as a digital consultant while on the road, having been the Customer Experience Manager for many years with a myriad of responsibilities like helping with online marketing and design, liaising with bridal couples and wedding planners, running the village boutique, organising events like Taste of London, etc. – see the Journal ‘Arriving with a Paintbrush‘.
NetNomads Community
Inspired by the idea of being part of a warm & fuzzy professional community that values people before profits, Victoria is co-creating NetNomads Community for heart-minded people to meet, exchange skills and knowledge, and support each other’s personal and professional growth.
PERSONAL GROWTH
In January 2020, Victoria and Marcel joined Wim Hof and 98 other adventurous souls in the snowy mountains of Poland for the “Winter Expedition“.
A life-changing event, where Victoria also learned of Dr Joe Dispenza and his work. Victoria practices conscious creation, empowered by breathwork and meditation. Victoria loved her first Advanced Week Long retreat in London in 2022, and is hugely inspired by the community.
“Becoming an avid observer of one’s state of being. Learning how to BE. Taking inspired action. Remembering the true relationship between our mind, heart and body. And taking radical self-responsibility. It’s amazing being surrounded by similarly heart-minded people.“
Victoria loves nature, wildlife, photography, self-empowerment and is passionate about helping people realise their dreams. “It’s such a gorgeous creative energy!”
