If you are looking for a unique place to stay near Amsterdam, Happy Island in Oude Meer is where you want to go. This private island has an old oil boiler that has been converted into a comfortable and colorful holiday home. Although you are close to Schiphol Airport and can even see the control tower in the distance, Happy Island will make you feel far away from the busy city life, as soon you leave the mainland and row your boat to your island house. We were invited to stay for two nights, so we can tell you all about this unique place to stay in the Netherlands.
A private island near Amsterdam
Oude Meer is a small village near Amsterdam and it’s home to one of the more unique places to stay in the Netherlands: a private island with a special island cabin. We park our car at the mainland and give the hosts Michel and Daisy a call, after which they pick us up with their private ferry and bring us to their island. They actually live on the island themselves. Next to their house was an old oil boiler, previously used to heat the greenhouses on the island, and they decided to convert this boiler into the island cabin where we are staying for two nights.
The colorful island with a spacious garden – unfortunately it is snowing and raining this week in April – has an equally colorful oil boiler. Inside you hardly notice that this was once a kettle. It’s purely the round shape that reminds you of its old usage. You would think that it would be difficult to set up and organize the interior of such a round building, but it is very well done and the tiny house feels quite spacious.
Our island cabin has two floors. The ground floor has a gas heater, small kitchen, (sleeping) sofa and round dining table. The interior is beautifully decorated with warm yellow details. The kitchen is a small one with only a small fridge, but it’s just enough to prepare our own food for two days.
Climbing up the staircase brings you to the bedroom. The colors of the garden are reduced to a bridal suite kind of bedroom with only whites. This floor has the same round shape which works very well with the big comfortable bed and the spacious, open bathroom right next to it.
The Happy Island near Amsterdam
The special shape and former usage of the holiday home and its location on a private island, make our stay at Happy Island a unique experience. As soon as you leave the mainland, you’ll forget about your daily life and worries. We have our own rowing boat during out stay, and there are canoes available as well, creating the possibility to explore the nature reserve around the island from the water.
Daisy created a so-called ‘Geluksroute’ to row with your boat. This route brings you around the nature reserve through narrow waterways and to large pools, while an audio tour gives you information about the area and stimulates you to reflect on happiness and living in the moment. It’s a fun and original way to go around the nature reserve!
And is the water your favorite place to be? Then you might want to book the brand new camping raft at Happy Island, allowing you to camp and travel around the water.
