In the municipality of Opsterland, in the heart of the Frisian Woods, a remarkable initiative is taking shape: TinySinneblom. A small-scale housing project where seven households are bringing their dream of small and sustainable living to life. Since June 2025, initiator Renske Holwerda has been living in her own Tiny House. “It’s actually even better than I imagined,” she says enthusiastically.
A citizen initiative that grew into a housing project
It all started in 2019 with a call on Facebook. A large group showed up at the first meeting, from which five women eventually remained. When they started looking for a suitable location, they discovered that the municipality of Opsterland was open to tiny houses. Soon, a promising site came into view: a piece of municipal land next to the allotment gardens in Gorredijk, where sheep had grazed for years.
After an intensive process of more than five years – with changing participants, objection procedures, and a lot of patience – the time finally came in July 2024: the leasehold deed was signed. This secured the project for at least ten years. After three years, there will be an evaluation moment, after which the group can apply for a permanent permit if the outcome is positive.
Space for living and greenery
The TinySinneblom site covers 4,000 m². Each resident has a 300 m² plot, and in addition, there is space for shared facilities and green areas. A mixed hedge planted by the group forms the natural boundary of the site, and there are plans for a communal shed, a freezer for the harvest, and perhaps even a small food forest.
For Renske, who has always lived in apartments, gardening is something new. Fortunately, the sister of a fellow resident is helping her with a sustainable garden design. “I hope that by next spring I’ll really be sitting among the flowers and the bees,” she says.
Hurdles and perseverance
The road to realization was not without obstacles. Objections from neighbors delayed the process, and over the years, about 25 interested people dropped out. Yet Renske kept her faith. “Sometimes it was tough, but looking back I mainly see the positive things. Now we have a fantastic group.”
Finances were also a challenge. Because the permit is temporary, banks could not easily provide mortgages. Triodos Bank was willing to think along, but the agricultural zoning of the land turned out to be a stumbling block. Fortunately, this did not prove to be a barrier for most participants. The residents pay a monthly leasehold fee, including the costs of preparing the land for construction, which will be paid off over ten years.
Finally: living in a Tiny House
Despite the long run-up, Renske is now thoroughly enjoying her new home. “Everything is within reach, tidying up goes so much faster. It feels manageable and cozy.” She currently shares the site with one other Tiny House resident; the third and fourth houses will arrive in September. She is looking forward to the seasons ahead: “I can’t wait for autumn: closing the curtains, cocooning with a blanket, and the cat on my lap.”
Tips for other initiators
From her experience, Renske draws three valuable pieces of advice for anyone wanting to start a Tiny House project:
- Be patient and flexible. “Things always turn out differently than you expect. Go with the flow.”
- Invest in the group process. “Don’t just do practical things, also plan fun activities together.”
- Involve banks early on. “Then there’s often more possible than you think.”
A future in Friesland
TinySinneblom is an inspiring example of how residents and a municipality can realize a dream together. It shows that perseverance and collaboration pay off. As Renske puts it: “Even though Tiny Houses aren’t exactly cheap, I would a hundred times rather live here than in an average home.”
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