Janine Kunze: A Life Between Cologne and the Balearic Islands

Janine Kunze: A Life Between Cologne and the Balearic Islands

Why the islands are more than just a holiday for the 51-year-old

There are people who hold on to their holiday memories. Others pack their suitcases and plans and turn them into a new rhythm. Actress Janine Kunze increasingly belongs to the latter: the Balearic Islands draw her, and her family is toying with the idea of moving part of their life to Ibiza. Public figures often maintain such ties, as shown by Kristina Bach makes a comeback: Mallorca remains her home.

If you walk along the Passeig Marítim in Palma on a mild morning, you hear seagulls, the clatter of coffee cups and occasionally the distant horn of a ferry. These everyday scenes are what many people appreciate here: the leisurely pace, the short distances to the sea, the possibility of combining a boat trip and a pool in one afternoon. Kunze describes exactly these elements as part of what makes life there so appealing.

The family's ties to the islands go back several years. From earlier relationships and later with her husband there were regular stays on Mallorca and Ibiza; the family owns a detached house on Ibiza that has now become a firm retreat. The scenario that children might one day ask, "Why don't we just move here?" is something Kunze is now openly considering. Other newcomers have taken concrete steps in similar directions, as reported in Emigrants on the Island: Two Couples Start Anew – How Mallorca Benefits.

A move is not a spontaneous decision when minors of school age and young adults studying at university are involved. The family is currently examining how educational paths, daily life and professional commitments could be combined. The island remains well connected through regular flights to Germany — an important point for family visits and professional appointments.

Alongside family considerations there is her professional life: Kunze remains an actress, presenter and author. A new book is in the works, this time for parents and children. At the same time she has founded a small company: Jikoaii sells dietary supplements such as collagen powder and vitamin tablets. The start-up currently employs seven people and was recently awarded the business prize "Innovator of the Year."

That a well-known television personality becomes a founder is not unusual; similar career-family balances have been reported for Frauke Ludowig: Between the Spotlight and Family Support, but the breadth remains remarkable: former professions, creative work, a new business field. Before stepping into the spotlight, Kunze worked for seven years as a nurse. This experience is not only a personal memory; it also shapes her attitude and respect for care professions, which she publicly emphasizes.

Another open chapter is dealing with menopause: Kunze speaks honestly about severe beginnings and about how medical support and an individually tailored hormone therapy helped her find a calmer everyday life again. This openness creates a connection to many women and families going through similar phases.

For Mallorca and Ibiza a prominent person settling for a longer period brings more than just headlines: new residents mean demand for housing, local services, schools and leisure activities. At the same time exchange develops: culinary preferences, cultural projects, afternoons in small harbors like Port d'Andratx or quiet walks inland help create links between newcomers and locals. Examples of staying connected include A New Start with a Suitcase and Heart: Birgit Schrowange Stays Connected to Mallorca.

The islands benefit when newcomers engage rather than withdraw. This can take the form of investments, small businesses or cultural initiatives. Even public figures living here can make topics such as health, family work and entrepreneurship more visible — issues that are part of everyday life on Mallorca.

How will the chapter continue? It remains open whether it will lead to a permanent move or to a more rhythmic pendulum between Cologne and Ibiza. The decision will hinge on practical questions: school routes, the company, shooting schedules. The only certainty is: the idea carries weight, and it does not sound like a short whim.

For those who live here it means: think along instead of looking away. Those who create space, strengthen schools and revive offers for families make it easier for those who really want to stay. And for everyone who visits the island occasionally, the invitation remains: have a coffee on the promenade in the morning, take the boat in the afternoon, listen to the bells in the evening and feel that life here moves at a different pace — and sometimes precisely for that reason opens up new paths.

Quick look: Actress, entrepreneur, author and former nurse — Janine Kunze is considering spending a larger share of her life in the Balearic Islands. Family decisions, work projects and personal experiences feed into this desire. For Mallorca and Ibiza this could mean new impulses if integration and exchange succeed.