This morning I got into my car and drove to the picturesque village of Olst close to Deventer for an appointment with Daniel of Hermit Houses. I contacted Daniel via the website www.hermithouses.nl to ask whether they had heard of the Tiny House movement and whether they would be interested in building something similar. That same night I got an enthusiastic response from Daniel: yes, indeed, they had heard of it and what’s more, they would be starting the build of their very first Tiny House on Wheels for another client. That was great news, so I immediately made an appointment, which was for today!
I visited their build site and talked with Daniel for about two hours. We discussed the possibilities and even made a first design together. He knows a lot about autarkic living (= self-supporting or off-grid living; I don’t know about you but I had to google that one) and, as an architect, he is very adept at making beautiful designs. I love the American Tiny Houses, but don’t want my own Tiny House to be an exact copy of those. That will not be an issue at all! This is going to be fantastic! Among other things he had a great idea for a porch attached to the house that can be folded away when the house needs to be moved. The house will measure approximately 6 by 2.5 by 4 meters. There will be a sleeping loft accessible by a solid staircase, a bathroom with shower and composting toilet, a wood-burning stove, kitchen, sitting area with a sofa bed and a solar power installation. I’d love to go off-grid, but need to be able to connect a water hose. Otherwise I’ll be doing a lot of heavy lifting shuffling around with jerrycans ;)
Now, I didn’t immediately place an order. There are still a lot of things to do before I’m ready for that. Not least in the financing of it. But if all goes well I could be living in my Tiny House in September/October! Daniel is going to start designing and give me a cost overview. Ok, back to earth now…
My parents helped me put my feet back on the ground, bless their hearts. Which is just as well, for I do have a tendency to make light of things. So on my way back home I stopped for a cup of coffee and wildly enthusiastically told them everything. They do like it all but as I’ve said before, this is not the first radical idea I’ve had and so they are patiently waiting to see where this goes. My mother pressed me to first make sure that I am allowed to ‘legally’ live like this. She thinks I need a residence permit. And ‘please find a place to stay before you buy anything’. All very sensible advice and of course those are the first steps to take now: finding a spot and talking to the local council. Or talking to the council about them finding a spot for me. That could also work.
So, if anyone knows anywhere!!
This is an example of a Hermit House; my own tiny house will be quite different!
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