You must have seen it pass by at some point. When you spend a bit of time in online Tiny House circles you can hardly miss it. The newest addition to the Dutch Tiny House library: Build your own Tiny House by Jan-Willem van der Male and Noortje Veerman. And it is really to be recommended, which is also why I am writing a blog about it. Building your own Tiny House is now even more within your reach. If you still have doubts about whether you can do it, read this book!
I first came to know Jan-Willem and Noortje online in the Tiny House Nederland channels and have followed them since they started building their own Tiny House. I have a lot of respect for them. They’re such go-getters, and also are so clear and positive! They know what they want and they just go for it. They are to me a perfect example of walking the walk. You can see that in their book, which is very pleasant to read and clearly explains what steps you need to take if you want to build your own Tiny House. Practical step-by-step explanations, solid background information and good supportive drawings and images. Jan-Willem is an architect and together with Noortje they started the Tiny House Academy, where they support Tiny House enthusiasts with practical workshops on the design and construction of Tiny Houses. With the 235-page book, in addition to a “truckload” of information, you also get two building plans for Tiny Houses that you can use as an example. Now nothing stands in your way of realizing your dreams anymore!
Noortje and Jan-Willem want to empower people to build their own house based on the idea that you learn so much in the process. Not only about how your house works but also about yourself. And about each other, when you build it together. Autonomy is important to them. Their philosophy is: “You build a Tiny House yourself. Be satisfied with enough. This is the essence of the Tiny House Movement. But what is enough for you? Is it about the amount of space, the amount of stuff, leisure, income or independence? It’s about everything. Life, and living, revolve around the balance that is needed to be able to develop as a person. That is why we believe that if you build your own Tiny House, you will be able to achieve self-development.” (Source: www.tinyhouserotterdam.nl)
It almost makes me want to build my own Tiny House! Haha no, that’s really not for me. Constructing it myself has never been my wish; I simply am not handy enough and I don’t like building either. Fortunately, not everyone is the same as me. But if you do like making things with your own two hands and you are thinking about building your own Tiny House, then this book is a golden tool that will save you a lot of time and probably money. Imagine how proud you will be when it is finished, and how much you will have learned! Therefore, in the words of Noortje and Jan-Willem: “Grab a hammer and go!”
You can order the book “Build your own Tiny House” from Bol.com, Paagman, Bruna, Libris and Bookspot or via the links on the website of Tiny House Academy.
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