Living surrounded by greenery, birdsong, butterflies, and rustling leaves – who wouldn’t want that? For many in the Tiny House community, this dream is a powerful motivator: not just to live small, but to live close to nature, self-sufficiently and in harmony with the earth. Yet in practice, this dream often runs into obstacles. Living in or near nature is quickly blocked by laws and regulations. Fortunately, a new tool has arrived to help change that: the Guide to New Nature and Small Living.
This practical guide was developed by De Natuurverdubbelaars (The Nature Doublers) on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Volkshuisvesting and Ruimtelijke Ordening. The aim? To support municipalities, initiators and policymakers in combining nature development with small-scale, sustainable housing. And that’s great news for anyone who dreams of living small and giving back to nature.
Building biodiversity and affordable housing – together
The guide shows that nature restoration and housing don’t have to be at odds – in fact, they can strengthen each other. Think of a small-scale Tiny House community that contributes to rewilding a food forest, creating flower-rich meadows or monitoring local insect populations. Tiny House residents are often deeply motivated to care for their environment – so why not harness that energy?
What makes this guide so valuable is that it offers concrete examples and practical tools. What regulations apply? What’s possible within current policy? How do you gain support from neighbors and the local council? And what role can residents play in maintaining new nature?
Real-world inspiration
The guide features inspiring real-life examples, including Peel Natuurdorpen in the Dutch region of Brabant. Here, former farmland is being transformed into new nature with space for up to three Tiny Houses per hectare – partly tucked away among newly planted trees and flowering meadows. Farmers lease out their land, creating a new income model and boosting biodiversity. It’s a win-win-win for nature, farmers and residents.
Klein Groenrijk in Cromvoirt is another beautiful example of how small living and nature can go hand in hand. On a former sports field, a lush oasis has emerged with five sustainable small homes, a food forest, and space for meditation and community connection. Residents work together on an ecological and social housing project that proves what’s possible when nature and people are central.
A call to municipalities and pioneers
The ball is now in the court of municipalities, developers and engaged citizens. Let’s use this guide as a starting point for a new housing culture: one that creates space for small living, ecological restoration and community spirit. Not either housing or nature, but housing with nature.
If you’re committed to a greener, fairer and more sustainable way of living, the Guide to New Nature and Small Living is a must-read. Let’s read it, share it, and use it to open conversations with municipalities, provinces and fellow changemakers.
You can download the guide for free from the website of De Natuurverdubbelaars:
👉 View the guide
Small living is not a trend – it’s a forward-looking choice. And if that choice also helps restore nature, we’ve truly struck gold.
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