Imagine: one day you are running your own B&B in sunny Spain, the next day you are suddenly a famous Dutch person. It happened to Debbie de Jong, who became a true audience favorite after her participation in B&B Vol Liefde in the summer of 2023. And believe us, she is still a bit upset about it herself.
A summer full of love and excitement
Looking back on that exciting summer in which Debbie met her partner Paul Visser, she shares with LINDA. Magazine: “The reactions we received were really bizarre. It seemed as if the whole of the Netherlands was suddenly a fan of our story. We felt it was comparable to the Netherlands playing the European Championship or World Cup: everyone watched the program and talked about it. Debbie and her sweetheart Paul were soon labeled as crowd favorites. what do I owe that to? I did nothing but let myself be filmed for three weeks. Then they leave and it remains quiet. Only during the broadcast period did something come to life. It was sizzling around me.”
A flood of positive reactions for Debbie de Jong
Debbie was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of responses she received. “It really was a madhouse,” she reflects. “I wondered: what’s going on here? But to be honest, I also really enjoyed it. With the other B&B owners you sometimes saw that the reactions were different. You never know in advance how viewers will react to you. I am I’ve always been an expressive person, but I could never have predicted how it would all turn out.”
‘People want to take a picture with me’
Yet Debbie continues to find the moment when she suddenly became a celebrity special. “During the broadcast period it was a strange thing that it was so vibrant. I live in the countryside in Spain and suddenly all the Dutch people came by and wanted to take a picture with me. But because everyone is so positive, I think it is very special and loving. The hysteria of the beginning has now subsided, but people still come to me wanting to have their picture taken.”
A few more holes
Shortly after the last episode of B&B Vol Liefde, Debbie revealed that her B&B was fully booked, so busy that she could use some extra hands. Fortunately, Suus, a fellow candidate from the program, offered to come and help all summer. Even though it’s been almost a year since the high-profile broadcasts, Debbie’s address in sunny Spain remains popular. “Yes, it has always been busy, but now almost all the holes I have are full. Only in the summer I still have a few holes for holidaymakers.”
