Living on a farm, surrounded by nature, growing food together and being part of a close-knit community. For many people, it sounds like a wonderful dream. In Ooltgensplaat, that dream is gradually becoming reality at Tiny Alteklein: a unique Tiny House community located on the land of the regenerative organic farm owned by Cornelis and Carolien Mosselman. While the focus was previously on the plans and first steps, it is now becoming clear what everyday life on this special site really looks like.
Living as part of something bigger
From the moment you arrive, the site feels alive. Children ride scooters and bicycles along the paths, play in sandboxes made from large tractor tyres and happily explore the food forest. Around the Tiny Houses are well-kept gardens, birds can be heard everywhere and residents regularly gather around the communal fire pit to roast marshmallows.
But Tiny Alteklein is much more than a collection of Tiny Houses in a beautiful location. That is perhaps what makes this project so special. It is not simply about living on farmland, but about becoming part of something bigger.
Sharing responsibility
The community grew from the initiative of a farming family with the idea that residents actively contribute to life and work on the farm. There are many ways to help. Some residents plant cabbages or sow pumpkins, while others wash the harvest, update the website or help keep the communal canteen clean.
It is about much more than getting work done. It is about connection: contributing together to something that is bigger than your own home and garden.
A food forest created together
The food forest is also developed collectively. Residents help shape its management and take responsibility for their own section of the site. Everyone keeps an eye on a particular area and reports back whenever something needs attention. Step by step, this creates shared responsibility for a 2.3-hectare food forest.
Community living: rewarding and sometimes challenging
Living in a community brings many wonderful moments, but it also requires commitment. According to the residents, community life takes more time than they expected. There are meetings, committees, campfire evenings and countless spontaneous encounters throughout the week. Alongside all the positive aspects comes the challenge of finding the right balance between contributing to the community and making time for yourself. Even so, everyone agrees that what they create together is well worth the investment.
From citizens to “farmizens”
One event from last year perfectly illustrates what this community means. While the farming family was away on holiday for a week, an outbreak of Colorado potato beetles was discovered in the potato field. The residents noticed the problem, worked together to deal with it and allowed the farmers to enjoy their holiday without worry.
Within Tiny Alteklein, they describe this transformation as a journey from citizens to farmizens—people who not only live on the land but also help care for it. Perhaps that captures the essence of this place best. Here, it is no longer about farming, housing or nature separately. They all exist together, strengthening one another.
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