From under the blanket, I look at the clear starry sky. There are more stars shining in the sky than I can count. I am lying on the mezzanine of Tinyhouse De Bosbes in Mantinge in Drenthe. My double bed almost seems to float above the kitchen. Half a floor higher than where my sister sleeps next to the stove. After a two-hour drive, we have arrived in Drenthe for a weekend of nothing at all. That starts well with a view as soothing as this one.
Tinyhouse de Bosbes was built by Martin with the support of a small team. Together with his wife Manilde, they are the faces behind Tralaluna, a creative venture with self-built tinyhouses, camper vans, caravans and composite road trips. "Tralaluna stands for a feeling that comes with a successful holiday and fine living," say the duo.
The Blueberry of Tralaluna - Spending the night in a Tinyhouse
Tinyhouse de Bosbes is the fourth house Martin built. Small but nice and still room for 4-5 people. Upstairs the loft with a double bed and downstairs two single sofas that provide sleeping space at night. The Blueberry is a perfect tinyhouse for a family. A fold-out baby/toddler bed has even been thought of above one of the beds.
There is no bathroom in this Tinyhouse, but you don't have to walk far for a hot outdoor shower because next to De Bosbes is a quirky private bathhouse. The bathhouse has a toilet, shower and outdoor kitchen. Although I liked that hot outdoor shower, we were kindly asked to use the campsite sanitary facilities. As it froze considerably during the nights, the bathhouse was locked to be on the safe side.
Tinyhouses with quirky charm - Nature campsite the Voscheheugte
Tinyhouse de Bosbes is located at the Voscheheugte nature campsite. A quiet campsite in an area where the diversity of nature in Drenthe comes together. On this site, you will find a few other Tralaluna cottages. All with their own unique charm. That's because first the materials are there, before any design is made. Old skylights, unusual doors and wooden beams from a village down the road form the basis around which the rest of the tinyhouse is built. All with second-hand and local materials. This makes the houses not only special, but also sustainable.
If you meet Martin during your stay, be sure to ask him about it. He will tell you the story behind the - sometimes unrecognisable - materials. Like, for instance, the iron bedframes in the Blueberry, where cows used to sleep.
6x what to do during a stay in the Blueberry - Exploring the surroundings
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What to do while staying at Tinyhouse de Bosbes? Nothing. Or at least, as little as possible. As far as I'm concerned, a Tinyhouse is the perfect place to hang out on the couch with a book. Light the stove and, above all, take the time to let the creativity of the cottage take effect on you and peer at life around you through the many windows.
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Feel like going out for something to eat after a day of doing nothing? At Camping de Voscheheugte, in a former chicken shed, you will find eatery De Voscheheugte. In a cosy atmosphere, they serve delicious food here. Vegetarians and vegans are also catered for.
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Discover nature reserve Mantingeveld. Mantingeveld borders the campsite, so you can roll out of bed in no time and then walk the 5 or 10 kilometre route. It is a nature reserve where juniper bushes, pine trees, heathland, sand drifts and deciduous forest come together. Never before have I seen this varied combination of nature so close together in the Netherlands. Highly recommended!
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Visit Camp Westerbork. Half an hour's drive away, you have the memory centre Kamp Westerbork. A place where through stories, a museum and the free-to-visit park grounds, the lives of many Dutch Jews, Sinti and Roma are remembered and honoured. Honeyguide Laura visited this place during a summer road trip.
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Walk the Milky Way trail and learn more about our universe. That same Milky Way you can see so beautifully from the Blueberry after dark. From the car park, it is a three-kilometre walk to Kamp Westerbork,l along the Milky Way path. Every step you take on this path equals 5.5 million kilometres in the universe. Along the way, you will find signs full of information about all the planets.
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Who says Drenthe, says hunnebeden. Did you know that there are 53 dolmens in Drenthe? Hunnebeds are impressive burial chambers. The large boulders they are made of were brought to Drenthe in the Ice Age. When you visit one of these monuments, dwell on the art of how they used to be built. You will find a few near Kamp Westerbork, but you can also visit the Hunnebed Centre where the largest hunnebed is located.
The tinyhouses of Tralaluna - Take a break from the hustle and bustle
More tips on adventures in Drenthe? Honeyguide Adriënne stayed in Tralaluna' s Pioniershuisje earlier this year and enjoyed a unique experience.
This weekend at Tralaluna was wonderful. Because it was so cold, we locked ourselves up nice and warm in Tinyhouse De Bosbes to recover from some busy weeks. It looks like a lovely place to come back to in summer to enjoy the warm summer evenings around a fire and explore the nature of Drenthe on a more active note.
Can you see yourself sleeping in the Blueberry?
Love,
Discover Drenthe - Unique hidden gems
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Sleeping in the Pioneer House
Honeyguide Adriënne spent the night in the Pioniershuisje of Tralaluna. A unique accommodation in the Fruithof in the Drenthe village of Frederiksoord.
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Roadtripping through Drenthe
Honeyguide Laura went on a road trip through Drenthe and discovered a unique part of the Netherlands. Spending the night in the Netherlands' best-kept piece of wilderness and exploring along the Hunebed Highway.
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Stay overnight at Landgoed Mariahoeve
Spending the night in one of the sleeping accommodations at Landgoed Mariahoeve in Drenthe is an experience that completely calms you down. Enjoy the wooded surroundings and the beautiful view over the lake.