DEN HELDER – While some choose a tiny house because they cannot afford rent or a mortgage, Dennis Emmerzaal and Amrit Khalsa (both 31) are concerned with the future of the world. “Wood and water are not unlimited, but it is given to us as if it were there without limit.”
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Dennis and Amrit on the location of their future tiny house – Private photo
The couple does not want to leave a large ecological footprint on the world, and therefore prefer not to live in a terraced house. Their aim is to move into a tiny house of 3.5 by 9 meters with a barn of 2.5 by 4.8 meters in the Helderse Falgabuurt at the end of the summer.
“The snow is difficult for a while,” says Dennis. There is a lot of snow on the plot, which is a nuisance to us. “Amrit agrees with a smile.” We are building a house without any building experience. We entered it with the idea that we would build a tiny house, but we are now building a small house. That sounds the same, but it is really different. “
Lifestyle
Housing shortage, sustainability and overpopulation: the three factors influence and reinforce each other and have made small and self-sufficient living increasingly popular in recent years. Especially among people with a sustainable lifestyle.
Their travels and time spent in nature made Dennis and Amrit think in a different way: “That how we live now is at the expense of other parts of the world,” he explains. In addition, this way of living offers financial freedom and the environment is considered. “You will appreciate everything more, because you are close to nature.”
The combination of small living and a large plot of land was decisive for this project. Den Helder was a conscious choice, because of the possibilities to rent a large piece of land with a small budget. “It’s the cheapest way to realize your own dream. Plus the challenge itself and living in your own built house.” According to the two, it is about personal growth and the learning process about self-sufficiency, which takes shape during construction.
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“We got in a bit naively and also optimistic, with the idea that everyone on YouTube is doing it too”
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The couple must comply with Dutch regulations while building the tiny house. “There are a lot of hooks and eyes. We have to meet strict requirements, with the building decree of 2012, whereby you meet the requirements of building a house. You start building a small house and now you are building a” bigger ‘house. We got in a bit naively and also optimistic, thinking: everyone on YouTube is doing it too. “
Getting the 2012 Building Decree into a tiny house concept is not easy. Dennis and Amrit, for example, spent a year trying to get a permit every day. The advantage of the Building Decree is that this tiny house can remain standing permanently, while other pieces of land are made available for five years and can then be extended for a maximum of five years. “Now that we are here, I am happy. It is remote, but it has everything. The piece of nature that you can easily find here.”
Last week’s corona crisis and winter conditions did not exactly speed up the construction process. “It is especially very difficult that the hardware stores are all closed. You cannot quickly go back and forth for a screw or ask a group of friends to help.”
Orders at hardware stores are possible from twenty euros, so the couple decided to think creatively. For example, their Chamber of Commerce number comes in handy and they get materials or parts from commercial hardware stores that are open. “You have to see, fit or feel what kind of material you are holding.” Where possible, construction will be realized sustainably. “Everything we use can be reused, nothing has to go to landfill in the future.” Still, the couple has to mix up a little here and there, because due to their limited budget, they cannot build their dream home one hundred percent sustainably.
Storage space
And whether Dennis and Amrit can store all their belongings? That has also been thought of. “We both ski and surf and we really built the tiny house around that, by providing enough storage space. We have enough space for storage.”
Text continues below the Instagram post.
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“I think we have to give up a lot for it, but that what we get in return is more than worth it”, they say now. You can go far with a dream and an optimistic attitude, as Dennis and Amrit prove. “It is a temporary experiment where we will live for a long time”, the couple concludes proudly and with determination.
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