Humans of Wikkelhouse # 3

Who: Paul Stork (62) & Michiel van Erp (61)
When 2024
Where: Kinselmeer, Amsterdam
What: Weekend home

Paul: “This more or less started around 1960. People used to wild camp here first, and then slowly cabins were put up. Back then without permits. Later they were legalised. The association pays leasehold to the municipality of Amsterdam, and we scrape that together through membership fees. It’s a friendly community with thirty-two cabins.”

Paul: “Everyone does their part. There is always something to do. The water pipes are never not leaking, there is an old shed that needs replacing, the canteen needs painting, the willows need pruning. Before you know it, the cabin has disappeared into a little jungle. And spider season is just around the corner, so no, we never get bored.”

Michiel: “Here, work slows down. This is where we unwind. We can open documents on our computers and read email, but that is about it. Video calls are impossible because the wifi is too weak. We do not do much here that has to do with work. Less internet, a bit of calm, taking it easy.

When we are in our cabin, we are away from the city, away from the rush and from friends, except for our cycle-hungry friends. When they hear we are here, they drop by.”

Michiel: “Some people love gardening. That is what we do here. Mowing the grass, cutting back reeds. Just pottering around the cabin. This is where the art of doing nothing starts.

We live right in the centre of Amsterdam, this is our escape. With this place, we get back a little bit of space. We have a nice home in the city, and it is very convenient that our other home is close by. When there is a party in the city, we can still hear the bass from here.”

Paul: “I had seen Wikkelhouse on Pinterest and thought it was really great. I fell for the design. It is how a child would draw a house. Another good thing is: everything is in it. The kitchen, the little stove, the bathroom, it all fits together. You do not have to think about it anymore. I like the details. For example those funny round light switches. Every detail has been considered in a pleasant way. What I also like about the cabin is that it is very clear and compact, you never have to walk more than a few meters.”