Going tiny living or embracing full-time vanlife may seem downright easy or utterly difficult unless you actually do it. Till that moment, you will always wonder and be prejudiced about the idea. As for me, tiny homes on wheels have always appealed to my lifestyle, but camper vans were never something I could envision myself living in. Let alone doing that with kids and pets. Then I came across a Dutch couple who have been leading this life for years.
Meet Diede Bolsius and Joachim Erkelens, who lived in a Renault Master converted into a camper van. Then they switched to a tiny house on wheels, which is more of a small truck (Mercedes Atego to be precise) turned into a beautiful micro-dwelling. This Mercedes Atego tiny house has a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, a wood stove, and even a unique built-in bed for their baby.
When I first saw Diede and Joa’s story on Instagram, it fueled me with curiosity, a desire to embrace the downsizing lifestyle, and a profound respect for people who are boldly living this adventurous life. So I reached out to the couple and got in touch with Diede to know more about their story.
Diede shares, “Living in the camper was amazing, but with a little one, it started to feel a bit cramped. That’s why, three years ago, we planned ahead and sold the camper to buy a truck. This one has three seats in the front, so the baby car seat fits snugly between us while driving—it’s super cozy!”
The couple lives full-time in this truck-turned-tiny home with their boy, Jippe, who is about eight months old, and two dogs named Joep and Tommy (who they rescued from Spain two years ago). There is even a small makeshift workstation that fits on the steering wheel so that the couple can work on their startup, Studio Walrus, creating content for businesses, mainly animation videos.
She further tells me, “Joa is very handy, and thanks to our experience with the Renault Master, we already knew how to make the most of a small space. We did everything ourselves, except for the electrical work. We got help with that, which was great because it needed to be safe and well done… Now we generate our own electricity with solar panels and can cook electrically. We have hot water, heating, and even a kettle—pretty much everything a regular house has, except for a dishwasher.”
Diede shares that while there are a few challenges with the campervan and tiny house lifestyle – such as they would love a separate office which is difficult right now and soon the baby would require a bigger space – the rewards outweigh the difficulties. The freedom to live on their own terms, they get to travel most of the times, interact with new people and see new places, without having to rent to stay.
Here is what she says about this lifestyle, “To us, it feels like freedom. Our truck is basically a big backpack with everything in it. We always have everything with us and travel all over Europe. Sure, sometimes we end up parked on an unappealing asphalt lot, but more often, we find spots by the beach—or even on the beach. Then, we lower the tailgate and suddenly have our own terrace with a sea view. We have lunch there almost every day, soaking in the surroundings…We mostly chase warm climates. It’s incredible to be sitting on the tailgate in February, wearing shorts in 20-degree weather. That sense of freedom is priceless! Owning a detached house with an ocean view is literally unaffordable—but for us, suddenly, it isn’t.”
Upon asking how the couple manages with a baby and two pets in such a compact space, Diede answers that the truck’s front cabin has been turned into an office so the workflow doesn’t get disrupted. Although a separate office is on the vision board, the front cabin offers a comfortable spot with panoramic views.
She adds, “Our home doesn’t feel small because we spend so much time outdoors. Luckily, the climates we travel to allow for that.”
Diede further tells that they regularly declutter to keep things open and spacious. The couple doesn’t keep their kid’s outgrown clothes, instead they donate them to the needy or sell them. “We’ve realized we actually need very little. Jippe often prefers playing with a wooden spoon from the kitchen over his toy cars!… One thing we did make extra space for: (story)books. That’s important to us, so we prioritize it. It’s all about setting priorities.”
The couple sometimes does miss their family and friends back at their village in the Netherlands, and sometimes long for a permanent place where they can build something long-term, “but for now, that doesn’t outweigh the freedom of traveling.”
Also Read: How Electric Camper Vans are Returning Serene Silence of Nature to Campgrounds
Diede shares, “We have all sorts of dreams, but at the same time, we don’t want to change a thing. This way of life suits us perfectly… However, the reality is that in four years, Jippe will be subject to compulsory education. I was a teacher myself, so I know a lot about the education system. I see both the pros and cons. While we want to teach him about the world through real-life experiences (rather than just from books) and distance learning seems appealing, we also find it important for him to go to school and build long-term friendships.”
Diede says that they will see how Jippe grows up. If he doesn’t enjoy the vanlife, moving to new places often, the couple will settle down in one place. However if “he thrives—loving the travel, surfing, reading on the tailgate, being outdoors, and speaking English with new friends at campgrounds—then we might continue this lifestyle for years. The next few years will help us figure it all out.”
I am amazed at the determination with which the couple navigates the downsized lifestyle in their converted Mercedes Atego with their sweet boy and two furry friends. This story is an eye-opener to me; all my apprehensions and prejudices about van and downsized lifestyle are cleared, and I feel confident that I can lead this life with freedom and happiness in tow.
It is such an inspiration to all those people like me who are still on edge about making the switch. To that, my friends, I say, “Go right ahead. Leap.” If you are also curious about the future journey of the coupleyou can follow their adventures on their Instagram handle @joa.and.diede.
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