About us

Who are we?

We are Maarten and Celina Schiphorst-Ongenae from the Netherlands. In the summer of 2025, we opened our Boutique Guesthouse in the eastern Algarve.

Celina is a true Brabanter and Maarten worked for more than 40 years at the municipalities of Aalsmeer and Amstelveen. Our three sons, their girlfriends, and grandchildren live in Amsterdam.

Guests bring excitement to our retired life. How wonderful it is to share the Mediterranean life here in Portugal with our friends, family, and guests from all over the world! Maarten often cooks for our guests (frequently Indonesian cuisine).

Photo: dining out in Tavira with two of our three sons 

How did this come to be?

Quite by chance, during a holiday in the east of the Algarve, our eye was caught by this piece of land with an old Portuguese cottage on it near the village of Moncarapacho.

We were immediately enthusiastic about the location, the view of the Atlantic Ocean, and the possibility of being able to build there.

The plan to build three rental accommodations, a swimming pool, and a jeu de boules court after retirement was born!

Photo: old Portuguese cottage ( Casa Pauline ) before renovation

Volunteering

Besides our hobbies such as reading, relaxing, gardening, yoga, computing, cooking, Portuguese lessons, and enjoying good food and drink, we are each involved in volunteering in our own way.

Rotary

Maarten joined the International Rotary in Estoi, a nearby village, through a neighbor. Together with other members, he organizes activities that raise money for projects in the area around Estoi.

That ranges from providing money for daily school milk to food parcels for poor families.

Photo: winter carnival in Moncarapacho

People's House

Celina volunteered in the center of the village of Moncarapacho. And at Casa do Povo, or "the house of the people". A lot of attention is paid to the elderly in the village who are often lonely.

Throughout the week, you can participate in various activities at Casa do Povo. These range from Portuguese conversation lessons, Somatics, yoga, senior gym, tap dancing to lunch.

On Sunday afternoon, there is plenty of dancing and eating, not only by the Portuguese but also by people from outside the community. In the summer, various festivals are organized. There is both a summer carnival and a winter carnival!

Photo: May 2025 Boutique Guesthouse-Moncarapacho under construction

Photo: August 2025 Boutique Guesthouse - Moncarapacho

Photo: July 2026 Boutique Guesthouse-Moncarapacho official opening

Digital information guide

Guests who book a stay with us will receive a link to all activities and attractions. This way, you can comfortably view at home where your interests lie.