“Don't protect by a fence but by friends.” Czech Proverb
Welcome to the Kiezebrink Family Estate. Erik designed the inn, and built it with his Dad Harry (now passed away). His wife Deborah & mom Erika did the decor. Kids Sam and Racquel (now grown up) also helped. (See inn before & after photos). It took 4.5 years for the family to build the inn. In June 2018 the Kiezebrinks got permission to build a lodge with dining and spa which they hope to open in 2021. (For now their chef hosts monthly 5 course dinner date nights.) When you have a tour you can hear some of their inn stories. Please contact the office to book your tour. The family live in a private residence at the inn. They and their team have been doing destination weddings for 10+ years and would love the privilege to serve you!
BEFORE PHOTO
This is the original family farm. The Kiezebrinks lived here and renovated this original bungalow.
AFTER PHOTO
The Kiezebrinks hand-built the inn as a family. It took 4.5 years.
Charitable Contributions
Thankful for Blessings
Water Wells for Developing Countries
Thankful for Your Patronage
A Note from Deborah Kiezebrink:
As a child I grew up in Central Africa where some of the happiest people I’d ever met lived in huts made of mud. They suffered with poverty, disease, but what inspiring spirits they had! Later my husband Erik and I assisted people who lived on platforms in the Philippines suspended over muddy marshy ground. Without a sewage system and with homes made of makeshift scraps, you can only imagine how it smelled. But they radiated with a fragrance of joy and passion... I don’t know why I was born in North America with ready access to medicine, bank loans to start a business, and other resources, but in my heart I determined that whatever business God blessed us with, we would bless back in tribute to our friends in less privileged circumstances.
Thankful for Your Patronage
Water Wells for Developing Countries
Thankful for Your Patronage
Your stay with us has helped us support:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Blackstock Lion's Club Dog Walk
- Canoe the Nonquon
- Cartwright Sports & Recreation
- Durham Christian Homes
- Habitat for Humanity
- Scugog in Bloom
- Scugog Shores Heritage Centre and Archives Opening
- Emmanuel Pentecostal Church Relief Efforts in Africa and Haiti
- Lakeridge Health Hospital Port Perry (CT Scan Fund)
- Durham Tourism’s “Durham Farm Fresh” initiatives
- Dragonflies (support group for cancer survivors)
- Port Perry Novice Girls Softball Team
- Port Perry Skating Club
- Possibilities House Orphanagee
- Scugog Chamber of Commerce
- Scugog Christian School
- Scugog Council for the Arts
- Uxbridge Scugog Animal Shelter
Water Wells for Developing Countries
Water Wells for Developing Countries
Water Wells for Developing Countries
All’s “well” at Nestleton Waters Inn! - FALL 2010 UPDATE: WE DID IT!
Our goal in 2010 was to pay for a water well to be installed in a developing country. Thank you to all of you our guests, bridal couples and business groups, and thanks to a matching doner, our $5000 gift has been matched, and we have been able to pay for not 1 but 2 water wells to be installed this year! You can read more about the program here! NWI is well-based with a beautiful spring-fed pond and near Lake Scogog where people boat and go on dinner cruises. We know how important water is not just for tourism but for life. We have not asked guests for any donations but rather committed a percentage of your stay for this effort. How exciting to know that not 1 but 2 wells are the result! Thank you to each of you! Isn't it great that together we can do more!
2019 Update: NWI is happy to report we've been able to put a water well in a developing country each year since 2010.
So Thankful for Mom & Dad's Legacy
So Thankful for Mom & Dad's Legacy
Water Wells for Developing Countries
Harry and Erika both retired from the Durham District Schoolboard. Erika continues to enjoy the occasional visit from former students, who are cherished fondly.
So Thankful for our Guests!
So Thankful for Mom & Dad's Legacy
So Thankful for our Guests!
Until We Meet Again...
So Thankful for Mom & Dad's Legacy
So Thankful for our Guests!
Inn Story
How the Inn Came to Be
PICTURED: SAM AND RACQUEL BUILT THEIR OWN INN WHILE WE BUILT THE BIG VERSION.
The Kiezebrink family’s 7200 square foot estate, is a creation of the Kiezebrink family, architecturally designed by Erik and built primarily by he and his Dad with family, friends, and some craftsmen helping. What was intended to be one year of construction, turned into four and a half, with each phase of construction requiring unexpected twists and turns. Initially Kiezebrink Juniors lived in the basement under a tarp, while the Kiezebrink Seniors lived in the remaining free-standing bedroom after nearly a full demolition of the old farmhouse. A wood stove kept the pipes from freezing, but temperatures were below 30 and the family kept warm with space heaters, and by winter camping wearing layers of clothing, coats, sleeping bags, and sometimes even shoes to bed, for two and a half winters. During rains, every available pot, pan, pail and dish, collected water from the drips, as the roof and shingles weren’t finished until the third winter. By the third year of construction, deadlines had to be maintained, and family and community volunteers came out in droves to accomplish the final miracle of completing floors, washrooms, unpacking furniture, and hooking up phones in time for the first scheduled guests! Their testimonial was reward enough: “This is not a five star Inn, this is a seven star!” (Thank you everyone who helped!)
Original siding is now cedar ceilings for covered decks, porches, and archways. Stones dug up, now adorn gardens. Local artisans helped with the website, spiral staircase, hand crafted wrought iron railings (Artistic Wrought Iron by Tito), and some painting (Spice Up Your Space). Since the Kiezebrinks originally emigrated from Europe and their educational and charitable endeavors have given them opportunity to serve not only in Durham Region but also in Asia, Africa, South America and Nunavut, the themed rooms reflect their passion for investing in people of all cultures. The front arched mahogany door they ordered from South America. The Mapenzi Suite’s paintings are originals from Kenya and Jamaica. Filled with appreciation for the amazing people they’ve met and for the hospitality of the nation of Canada, their aim is to reciprocate and share their estate’s hospitality with others. Here’s a little bit about your hosts!
Kiezebrinks' Senior – Erika & Harry
PICTURED: HARRY & ERIKA
Erika was born in Germany and lived on a “Hof” complete with a moat, ballroom, and cheese factory. During World War II her family was in a position to assist others and they did so sacrificially, rescuing many Jews and helping them escape. Then her father was imprisoned in an unknown location, for his efforts. Erika’s mother despaired when with her husband gone, her home was commandeered by lice-infested military, their livestock eaten, and their orchard burned for fuel. Yet with faith and courage she pressed on. Later, when her husband miraculously survived, they emigrated to Canada. Erika was just 10 when they crossed the Atlantic on a hospital ship called “The Homeland” ending up in Port Perry, Ontario. Preparing for the possibility of another war, Erika’s Dad constructed a bomb shelter beneath their farmhouse. On his deathbed, he kept his family and farmland in view, thanking God for the life he’d been able to build in Canada.
Harry’s family enjoyed a rich culture and family life in Holland. That changed…During the war his family’s convictions would not permit them to join in the annihilation of Jews. Rather they endeavored to thwart military efforts. They even buried a 10 ton lorry in a forest rather than let Nazis use it. Harry’s mother died leaving his father and sisters to raise him. They survived on meager meals of onion soup. Harry’s father, determined to provide for his family of eight children, also emigrated to Port Perry where Harry met Erika met in high school. They were married in 1962 and spent their lives educating the children of Durham, Erika as a teacher and Harry as Durham’s youngest principal at that time. To this day, each year an outstanding S.A. Cawker Public School student is given the “Harry Kiezebrink Humanitarian Award”! They raised three children and a foster daughter.
Kiezebrinks' Junior – Deborah & Erik
PICTURED: ERIK AND DEBORAH WITH KIDS SAM & RACQUEL
Deborah knew poverty first-hand while living in the remote Kalemie, Congo, Africa. The oldest of seven children born to Charles and Fern Willner, her family assisted crippled, blind, and those with leprosy with food, as well as helped to open bush medical dispensaries with supplies provided from European aid organizations, as well as education and Biblical instruction for national pastors who wished it.
In addition, Deborah’s mother’s education of local women assisted them with hygiene, sewing, and baking businesses via the creation of ovens in the ground. Deborah’s mother’s inspiring autobiography called “When Faith is Enough” contains gripping stories of events and life lessons learned. Browse through a copy in the Inn library or purchase gift copies in the gift shop or our online store. At 18, Deborah flew to the U.S. gaining a Broadcasting/Vocal Performance degree and doing some modeling, then to Japan to work in public relations, and back to Canada to work in radio, sales, TV, marketing, and recording some albums where she met Erik on a blind date.
Erik loved the outdoors as a child and began as a five year old helping his Dad dig up, cart in his wagon, and replant about a third of the trees that guests now enjoy around the Inn. He worked on his uncle’s dairy farm. Summer holidays with his family routinely included trips to South America to volunteer in construction projects to benefit residents in extreme poverty. He was garnering a Biology degree from the University of Western Ontario when he met Deborah. He first told her he loved her and proposed to her on the Inn property. Married in 1991, they became ministers, started a family, and worked in London, Shallow Lake, and later the Philippines. Erik continued to lead construction and ministry projects, taking volunteer teams to South America, Nunavut, and the Philippines. After completing Masters degrees in Asia, Erik & Deborah moved to Durham conducting Marketowne Church worship services at the AMC Movie Theatres for a time. Erik owned a construction company framing houses for new home builders like Tribute Homes. Deborah worked as Interactive Business Development Manager for Metroland East Interactive. Then they with their parents built and launched Nestleton Waters Inn.