Tucked behind a single-family home in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, this colorful backyard tiny house makes surprisingly good use of its roughly 300-square-foot footprint.
We stayed here for two nights while exploring Apeldoorn and really enjoyed the slower pace compared with busier Amsterdam. The cottage has its own entrance, parking space, and small private terrace, while still sitting close enough to walk or bike into the city center and nearby forest areas.
Inside, the layout combines a bright living and dining area, full kitchen, separate toilet, spacious bathroom with laundry, and an upstairs sleeping loft. At the end of the article, there is a video walkthrough tour of this beautiful tiny home, as well as booking information!
Main Features 🏡
- 📐 Approximately 300-sqft
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🛏️ Upstairs loft bedroom
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🛋️ Open living + dining area
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🍳 Kitchen with induction cooktop
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🧺 In-unit washing machine
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🚿 Full bathroom with tiled rain shower
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🚽 Separate toilet room
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🌿 Private outdoor terrace
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🌤️ Large glass doors + plenty of natural light
- 📍 Walkable to central Apeldoorn + nearby forests
Private Terrace 🌿
The cottage sits behind the hosts' main home but still feels surprisingly private.
A small terrace and garden area sit directly outside the entrance, with enough room for a table where you can have coffee or a meal outdoors.
Large glass doors connect this terrace directly to the living room, making the exterior feel like an extension of the interior when the weather is nice.
Living + Dining Area 🛋️
The main floor measures roughly 12' x 20' and starts with an open living and dining space.
There’s a compact sitting area with colorful furniture, a dining table for three, and large windows and glass doors bringing natural light into the room.
The current listing also notes that the cottage is fully insulated and has its own central heating, which makes the space much more practical year-round in the Dutch climate.
Full Kitchen 🍳
For a tiny rental, the kitchen is surprisingly complete.
There’s an apartment-size refrigerator, two-burner induction cooktop, deep apron-front sink, coffee setup, open shelving, and large drawers for cookware and dishes.
Compared with the simple kitchenettes we see in many tiny-house Airbnbs, this setup is much better suited to actually preparing meals during a longer stay.
Separate Toilet + Full Bathroom 🚿
One unusual feature is that the toilet and shower are located in separate rooms.
The toilet room sits near the entrance, while the larger bathroom includes a wood vanity, washing machine, towel warmer, and tiled walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead.
The bathroom was one of our favorite parts of the home and feels surprisingly spacious relative to the overall footprint.
Loft Bedroom 🛏️
Upstairs, the entire second floor functions as the bedroom.
The pitched roof limits standing room around the edges, but there’s enough space for the bed along with a few built-in drawers for storage.
The Airbnb currently lists the sleeping area with two single beds configured together as a double, which can also be separated upon request. The host notes that the stairs and limited upstairs headroom may not be ideal for guests with mobility concerns.
Exploring Apeldoorn 🇳🇱
One of the best things about staying here is the location.
The cottage is within walking distance of both Apeldoorn’s city center and nearby forest areas, while attractions such as Paleis Het Loo, Apenheul, Radio Kootwijk, and the Kröller-Müller Museum are all within the broader region.
For us, it was a peaceful change of pace after spending time in larger European cities.
Final Thoughts
At roughly 300 square feet, this tiny home strikes a nice balance between compact living and everyday comfort.
The full kitchen, separate toilet, generous bathroom, laundry, private terrace, and upstairs bedroom give each part of the home a distinct purpose without making the main floor feel overly divided.
For a short stay, it felt especially comfortable for two people. With a bit more long-term storage, we could also see a similar layout working well as a small backyard home or guest cottage.
Would you live in a two-story tiny house like this—or would you prefer everything on one level?
Book Now: $120+ per night!
📍 Location: Apeldoorn, Netherlands
📐 Size: Approximately 300-sqft / 28 m²
🛏️ Layout: 1 Loft Bedroom | 1.5 Bathrooms
🏡 Type: Detached Backyard Tiny Home
🌿 Highlight: Private terrace + full kitchen + laundry
▶️ Watch a walkthrough tour:
Follow @dreambiglivetiny for more tiny house tours, cozy cottage inspiration, and off-grid escapes around the U.S. & the rest of the world 🏡🌎
Images courtesy of ©Airbnb.
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+Hi There!
My name is Alan—founder at Dream Big Live Tiny Co! A few years ago, I quit my consulting job to pursue a life full of adventure. After traveling around the world for a year, I sold most of my stuff and moved into an 160-sqft tiny house. Now I spend most of my time showcasing incredible people living with less in pursuit of more freedom, as well as incredible tiny houses around the world!