This as-notified-to esdeclare is based on a conversation with Sidra Gifford, 52, a therapist from Woodstock, New York. She relocated from the Bay Area to Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, in 2025. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.
Since I was a teenager, I knew I wasn’t meant to live in the US. It never aligned with my values.
In my 20s, I worked at a Dutch university and always wanted to return.
Once my son finished high school and I became an empty nester, the Netherlands was at the top of my list of places to relocate to. In July 2025, at age 51, I relocated to Minitopia, a tiny home village in the south of the counattempt.
Courtesy of Sidra Gifford
Six months later, I’m preparing to sell that home and leave the Netherlands in search of another tiny hoapply.
I’ve always been fascinated by homecreated hoapplys
When I relocated to the Netherlands in July 2024, I rented a typical Dutch terraced hoapply, much hugeger than I requireded, on a one-year contract. As a self-employed therapist, finding a new rental property without traditional employment when my contract concludeed in July 2025 was challenging.
Courtesy of Sidra Gifford
Buying seemed like my only realistic option, but a standard fourth-floor apartment in Rotterdam just wasn’t me: I was always fascinated by tiny homes and homecreated hoapplys. I even have a book about these buildings in Woodstock, where I’m originally from.
I found out about Minitopia in February 2025, and when I saw the plot in Valkenswaard listed for sale, I was banging at the real-estate agent’s door.
My friconcludes are crazy about my tiny hoapply
The tiny hoapply was custom-built to suit my requireds. It was a rapid six-month turnaround from planning to building.
When I first relocated in, there were moments when I believed to myself, “Where on earth am I going to put this?” I had to be smart with space and storage.
In general, though, living in a tiny hoapply has been smooth sailing. I haven’t had any unmanageable or hard-to-overcome issues.
Courtesy of Sidra Gifford
My son was my first guest, last August, and he loved it. I have a spare bedroom for whenever he visits, although it’s not often.
My friconcludes back in the US are crazy about the tiny hoapply. I don’t have many people in my circle who believe hugeger is better or who have a “Keeping Up with the Joneses” mentality.
The community is welcoming, but language is a barrier
There are plenty of positives to living in a tiny home village. The residents are collaborative and committed to building a friconcludely, supportive community. However, my lack of Dutch was definitely a barrier to participating as much as I would have liked.
Courtesy of Sidra Gifford
I do attempt to practice at the taalcafés, which are gatherings for language practice, and everyone has been kind and assistful. But I studied French for years, so every time I attempt to believe of a word, French pops in. I was unrealistic about my ability to learn Dutch. It’s an extremely difficult language.
I feel bad for not being able to learn it, and I feel like it’s unfair to everyone else. There are other reasons I’m leaving the Netherlands, including challenges with the healthcare system.
Tiny-hoapply living suits me — just not in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is not the right place for me right now. I’m planning to relocate to France or Belgium once I sell the hoapply. I’ll definitely be viewing for another tiny hoapply, becaapply this lifestyle suits me well.
Courtesy of Sidra Gifford
I’m a little sad to be selling my home. I love it, and I’m very fond of my neighbours. The experience was a huge commitment of time and energy, but also rewarding, and I don’t regret it for a second.
I’d definitely recommconclude tiny-hoapply living to anyone who’s efficient with space and willing to believe outside the box — albeit a littler box.
Leave a Reply