A yurt-like tiny cottage in the woods

Tucked away among trees in the Netherlands is a tiny vacation dwelling appropriately named the “Forest House”. Sitting on the moss-covered banks of a natural pond and surrounded by the stillness of the woods, the Forest House feels secluded. But being in the densely-populated Netherlands, urban centers are not far away. A few minutes by bike gets you to the nearby historic town of Amersfoort while the city of Utrecht is perhaps an hour away, or less than half that by car.

The Forest House is in some ways reminiscent of a yurt. It is octagonal rather than round but does have a low-pitched roof with the rafters radiating out from the center and no supporting columns to interrupt the floor plan. Like most small yurts, it has a one-room studio floor plan with only the bathroom walled off. Large windows offer forest views in all directions, with French doors opening to a pond-side patio.

Although used as a vacation getaway, the tiny cottage has everything needed for full-time living. The kitchenette is outfitted with a gas cooktop and an under-counter fridge, and there is a clothes washer in the bathroom. It is kept comfortable on cool days by an in-floor heating system.

Click a thumbnail to view a larger photo, then click on the photo to advance to the next one.

Photographs courtesy of Airbnb.

Text copyright 2015 SmallHouseBliss. All Rights Reserved.