On the edge of the Brabant village of Cromvoirt, on part of a former sports field, lies Klein Groenrijk: a small-scale ecological housing project where nature, community, and sustainable living come together. Five small sustainable houses, three of which are Tiny Houses, a food forest, an open space for activities such as yoga and meditation, and even a children’s forest, form a vibrant, green neighborhood. What makes this project special is not only the beautiful design of the site but especially the way it came about: step by step, with a lot of effort and strong collaboration with local residents and the municipality.
Image by Job Koenders
From initiative to realization
The seeds for Klein Groenrijk were planted during the Corona period when co-founders Wim and Pascale responded to a call on the Facebook page of ‘Tiny Houses Vught’.
Soon, a small group of enthusiasts formed to embark on the adventure. What really gave the project momentum was when it became clear that the municipal council would have mid-term elections. The initiative group seized this moment to bring their plans to attention, with success. An online information evening attracted no less than 250 interested people. Thanks to the large reach and enthusiasm, the urgency of the initiative became apparent—and it did not go unnoticed.
Although the original group eventually fell apart, the foundation remained thanks to the tireless dedication of Wim, Pascale, and the rest of the current residents.
A municipality as a partner
For the success of the project, the collaboration between Klein Groenrijk, local residents, and the municipality was essential. Thanks to the efforts of all parties, and the fact that the project could deliver a win-win-win situation, it was successful.
The municipality of Vught proved to be a valuable partner. A committed civil servant supported the initiative group from the start and actively collaborated. When resistance arose from the village, for example, about losing part of the sports field as a public space, Klein Groenrijk chose dialogue, and the municipality fully supported them, following where possible. They listened, brainstormed, and adapted. The original plan for 8 to 12 tiny houses was adjusted to five houses at the edge of the site. At the same time, the municipality bought the sports field from the private owner and is now collaborating with the village to develop ‘Buitengoed Cromvoirt’: a green meeting place for everyone.
This active approach from the municipality, their willingness to move with the process, and their readiness to invest in a joint result were, according to the residents, crucial to the success of the project. Together with good communication with the surrounding residents, who were also willing to keep the dialogue open and work together towards solutions. A lot of goodwill has been generated, partly because the group from the beginning had the intention and made the effort to communicate clearly, keep agreements, and remain open to the concerns of others.
Building a place together
Klein Groenrijk now consists of five households: seven adults and four children. They live in self-designed houses connected to sewage and electricity, but also equipped with compost toilets and solar panels. The electricity generated is shared among the residents, and the cables and meters are installed by the group themselves.
What stands out is how well the community-building process has been thought through. For example, the common building was constructed first—valuable advice from another project, to prevent energy from being depleted after the houses were built. Every two weeks, there is a joint work morning on the site, alternating with a work morning in the food forest. The group works in task forces on topics such as communication, finances, community building, and the food forest.
The food forest as the heart of the neighborhood
The food forest is a story in itself. When the site was still uncertain, the group—during a team-building exercise—grafted a hundred fruit trees under the guidance of Monique Wescher from ‘Op Goede Grond’. They were temporarily housed in the vegetable garden of the neighbors Ton and José, who are now making the food forest possible.
Since then, thousands of trees have been planted, in zones with both native and exotic species. Work is underway on a wildflower meadow, a pick-your-own garden, and a small play forest where adults will not be allowed to enter—creating a private world for the youngest residents.
Local residents also contribute. For instance, they help in the food forest, the first meditation sessions for villagers have recently been organized to contribute to the development of the sports field, Buitengoed Cromvoirt, and the first steps are being taken for a future community vegetable garden.
Living in balance
Life in Klein Groenrijk requires effort, coordination, and self-reflection. As Wim says: “We do this because we enjoy it, so we tried to make the journey enjoyable too.” Setting boundaries, respecting differences in effort, and continuing to communicate are essential. Elke adds: “There is a kind of solidarity within the group that I’m really grateful for.” Sociocratic decision-making helps with this: everyone has a voice, and decisions are supported by the whole group.
An inspirational example
Klein Groenrijk shows how small-scale living and greening can go hand in hand with community spirit and collaboration with the government. By navigating smartly, seeking connection, and being open to adjustment, something beautiful has been created—for the residents and for the village.
Want to learn more or visit? Check out kleingroenrijk.nl. Twice a year, they host an open day!
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