In the new green neighborhood De Kwekerij in Doetinchem, the municipality has made space for a Tiny House community that is allowed to rent the land temporarily, as well as five permanent plots for Tiny Houses. This unique combination is the result of the determined initiative group In de Wildernis and a forward-thinking municipality. TinyFindy visited this community, where nature takes the lead and the houses are merely guests.
How it all began
Fieke Derksen is the initiator and driving force behind the Tiny House project In de Wildernis. Together with her neighbor, Bethany de Jager, she enthusiastically shares the story of how the project came to life.
From left to right: Fieke Derksen, Marjolein Jonker (TinyFindy), Bethany de Jager
“In 2020, I started by drafting a vision and looking for like-minded people. Together, we wrote a plan for a Tiny House living project that aligned well with the policies of the municipality of Doetinchem and the province of Gelderland. Doetinchem wanted to create space for alternative forms of housing, including Tiny Houses; the policy even already included specific size regulations. Together with my partner Jort, I explored different locations in the area, including the site where the De Kwekerij residential neighborhood was planned. We thought it was a stunning location, but we never expected to be able to realize our project there. To our great joy, the alderman believed our plan and vision were the best fit for this new green district. From the very beginning, the municipality has focused on co-creation; the collaboration was and still is very pleasant.”
The location
On approximately 3,000m² of land at the edge of De Kwekerij—a sustainable residential neighborhood under development—you’ll find the plot of In de Wildernis, surrounded by a small forest. Originally, the plot was larger, but because a main road runs through it, the group decided not to use a portion of the land. They believed that doing so would not benefit the sense of community. Instead, the municipality chose to allocate that space for five permanent Tiny Houses, the first two of which have now been built.
The In de Wildernis plot will eventually house a total of eight Tiny Houses—seven of which are already in place—along with a shared community building. This building will provide space for a shared washing machine, bicycles, and a communal storage area. It is being developed by the municipality but will be managed by the In de Wildernis community and will also be accessible to the entire neighborhood. The municipality designed the building in consultation with the community. Fieke explains: “We are working on various ideas to involve the neighborhood, such as facilitating a pickup point for organic vegetable packages, setting up a mini-library, and much more. We also plan to organize open days in the future.”
Nature takes the lead
The In de Wildernis project is not just about living in Tiny Houses; it embraces a much broader vision. Nature takes the lead, and the houses are merely guests. A well-thought-out green plan has been designed by residents Stijn (an ecological garden designer) and Jort (a forest and nature management expert), in which native species that naturally occur here play a central role. The residents adapt to the existing flora and fauna. Everything planted is native, and anything non-native is kept in pots. Special attention is also given to preserving existing vegetation and expanding the forest edge.
Exemption for verandas
Every project comes with its challenges. While the municipality has been highly cooperative, they had also developed specific policies for Tiny Houses—being progressive in their approach. Sometimes, this worked in the community’s favor, and sometimes it didn’t. One of the policies stated that verandas were not allowed to be built. However, verandas are an integral part of Tiny Houses. When you have a small indoor living space, a covered area where you can remove wet clothing and sit outside sheltered from the rain is far from a luxury—it’s a necessity. It took a long process to get approval for this. With a clear new framework and an exemption regulation, we finally received permission for verandas (defined as a covered area attached to the house, up to a maximum of 50% of the house’s footprint).
Facilities
The Tiny Houses in In de Wildernis are all connected to sewage and electricity but not to a water supply. The group extensively researched the options and adjusted their choices based on their core vision: to be as sustainable as possible. They opted to connect to the electricity grid because being completely off-grid in the Netherlands is not feasible year-round if you also cook and heat your home electrically. Using gas was out of the question—the houses are all-electric, and the conclusion was that staying connected to the grid was the best option for now. In the future, a community battery may be installed.
Initially, the group wanted to purify wastewater using helophyte filters. However, after reports of water quality issues in the self-build area Oosterwold in Almere—where residents are now being connected to the sewer system after all—and since suppliers of IBA (individual treatment) systems could not guarantee that the groundwater would remain uncontaminated, this idea was abandoned. Although the houses are now connected to the sewer, everyone still uses a composting toilet, as it requires minimal water usage. The group managed all the utility connections themselves, including digging the trenches for the sewage system and electricity cables. Each Tiny House has its own water collection and filtration system. Bethany shares, “I find it so amazing that the water from my tap is the very same water that falls from the sky here; the cycle is so short and visible!”
The Future
In de Wildernis has been granted a ten-year permit to carry out their beautiful project. It was quite a puzzle to put together, according to Fieke: “Everything was possible, but if we were to buy the parceled land, we wouldn’t have control over who buys it, risking the loss of our project’s mission and vision. Now, we also have more communal green space for which we share responsibility.” And that is important to the group: carrying out the vision together and bringing the plan to life.
Most of the Tiny Houses are now in place; the first arrived in August 2023, and in the fall, the first family officially moved in. Bethany shares, “I was a bit nervous about living so closely with others in this way, but I love it! Sharing spontaneous meals, or a neighbor calling out from across our little community: ‘Hey, how are you? Coffee?’ We don’t constantly visit each other’s homes, but we can easily drop by when needed, and that is such a great feeling. We designed the selection process ourselves, and it worked out so well—we’re a great match!”
What an incredible project you are creating in De Kwekerij! And what a wonderful, progressive municipality Doetinchem is, with such a green heart! We wish you all the best in In de Wildernis and would love to visit again in a few years. Thank you for your hospitality!
Fhoto credits: In de Wildernis
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