Time in Nes is short—the ferries wait for no one, and the schedule dictates the stay. So, there’s only enough time for a brief walk through the village, which, with its old houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, feels as if it has fallen straight out of another era. Brick facades, mullioned windows, neatly kept gardens—everything is quiet, orderly, idyllic.

A striking landmark is the windmill “De Phenix”, its sails reaching toward the sky. The name suggests rebirth, but why? Was there a fire here once? Did something rise from the ashes? The answer remains a mystery.

Not far from this picture-perfect scene lies something entirely different: the ruins of Aqua Plaza, a massive swimming complex that hasn’t seen visitors in over 20 years. A deserted place that was once filled with life and leisure. Now, it’s just an empty, crumbling shell—a strange contrast to the pristine charm of Nes.

Perhaps that’s exactly what makes Nes intriguing: a place caught between history and impermanence, between preservation and decay. At first glance, it seems unremarkable, but look a little closer, and it reveals more than expected.