I just don’t know where to start, it’s finally happening! Tomorrow Marloes’ Tiny House, the tiny suitcase house, will come to the site. We’ve finally met all conditions and she has permission to come! It was a daunting task, I can tell you that. But it’s all worth it, Tiny House Village Alkmaar can finally start!
This afternoon we signed the loan agreement for the land and received the environmental permit, signed by our housing cooperative Tiny House Alkmaar and municipality Alkmaar. I would like to say a big thank you to all the officials who made this possible: Alderman Anjo van de Ven, Alderman Jan Nagengast, officials Maarten Noordman, Robbert Olthof, Katrijn Pronk, Wies Thesingh-van Eijk and Bart Oskamp and, last but not least, GroenLinks chairman Christian Braak. I know you’ve put so much time and effort in making this project possible, these past two years. Even during the very busy election period you just went through. Thank you so much for all your efforts!
Last Sunday Marja, Marloes, Lan and I set out the plots with rope and sticks, based on the map we got from the municipality. We had so much fun, excited about what’s to come! My future neighbors can’t wait for the moment they can actually live here. And I can’t wait either, it’s going to be so much fun! Marja’s Tiny House will arrive around the beginning of April, it’s being finished at this moment. After that, builder Ties Bosman will start working on Lan’s house. At this point we can’t say anything about the 5th spot. We’ve got a permit for 5 years (3+1+1, with evaluative moments) for five Tiny Houses.
Are we completely certain we can go through with the pilot? No, there’s still a fair chance the Waterboard Hollands Noorderkwartier will object again. We sincerely hope they won’t and that they are willing to let us have this temporary experimental living project, but we bear in mind that a new objection will follow. We’re following through anyway for now; we’re willing to take the risk. Why? Because it’s our desire to live in a different way, with a smaller ecological footprint, less stuff and more freedom, in a small community that shares, with more nature around us. We believe in it so much, and need it so much, that we are willing to accept all risks and insecurities. Just to show the world how great it is to live in a Tiny House village.
And that’s what we’re going to do! We’re going to share our experiences, invite people to come see our village and have research done on this way of living. On www.tinyhousealkmaar.nl you can already find loads of useful information and we’ll continue to add more information. Today we’ll be receiving the preliminary sketches from Buro Ruiter, one of our partners in making this plot on the Helderseweg a beauty. A landscape design with respect for both humans and nature. I’m curious to see what they’ve come up with, using our input!
But first things first: tomorrow the ‘Suitcase house’ will be transported here with a flatbed trailer. Marloes’ gorgeous house is designed by Min2 Bouw-Kunst from Bergen and built by contractor NH Bouw Groep. Such an exciting day, finally a second Tiny House on the terrain! If you want to come and take a look, please do so during the open house on Saturday the 7th of April. My house will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., and you can check out Marloes’ house from the outside. That way Marloes will have the time and space to get settled in. A few things still need to be done and as you can imagine, this has been a very hectic and stressful time for her. Feel welcome on the 7th of April! But be sure to check the website before you come, because the open house will be canceled in case of bad weather.
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