At a time when many are itching to get away, the fully off-grid Opperland camper is an enticing proposition. It’s the latest in a line of sustainably built structures from Dutch company Haaks—and in under 100 square feet, it seriously upgrades the outdoor experience.
“We felt that camping could be made different,” says Jules Luijpen, who cofounded Haaks in 2017 with partner Pim Gijsbers. They’d both trialed and exhausted a wide range of car camping options—a caravan, a folding trailer, a tent—and were in search of something more refined. “A camper should feel like nature—not like a plastic box.”
The all-wood Opperland is the newest all-season structure on offer from Dutch company Haaks. The company started by challenging what the outdoor experience can be—and it later transitioned to tiny homes. In less than 100 square feet, their smallest design embodies both the spirit of the outdoors and the functionality of a compact home.
The interiors are accesed via a hatch at the back. Inside you’ll find precision-milled Accoya wood built-ins, a kitchenette with a stove, a mini-fridge, a bathroom, and a shower. Double-glazed windows allow for ample light while providing insulation. The upstairs bedroom expands by lifting the handles at the rear.
Accoya shiplap siding lines the exterior, and one-and-a-half-inch-thick insulation staves off severe weather.
After a series of sketches and drawings, they arrived at their first camper design, which became a template for the rest. With off-grid capabilities and portability came versatility. “We were getting a lot of questions from people about putting them on their land as tiny houses,” says Jules, “so we started drawing those.”
Their new Opperland camper can be plopped down anywhere roads can take you—and it can operate even where they can’t. When fully charged, a rooftop solar system provides power enough to camp under clouded skies for two full days. They panels power dimmable, energy-efficient LED lighting, a mini-fridge, an induction stove top, and a heating and cooling system. Insulation one-and-a-half-inches thick and double-glazed windows regulate the internal temperature for camping in any climate.
After the Opperland is placed on-site, its roof easily expands to reveal a bedroom. A window facing the rear lets in natural light, and at night solar-powered LED lighting illuminates the space.
The kitchenette features a solar-powered induction stove. Optional smart tech lets you control it with an app.
The Opperland can be purchased with or without the truck. It is currently available in the Netherlands, and will soon be available in the United States.
In warmer months, the back hatch flips open to expose the interior to the outdoors. Milled Accoya wood makes up the curvy built-ins and seamless exterior shiplap. “These are crafted with computer-controlled precision,” says Jules. Toward the front, a toilet and shower sit across from a staircase that leads to a hidden pop-up bedroom. It’s revealed by simply lifting the handles at the rear of the camper.
To assure you won’t be sleeping at an odd angle, four smartphone-controlled hydraulic legs lift the Opperland off of the truck bed and level its perch. (Other smart tech features can also be integrated.) The truck and camper are bundled at around $100,000—steep, for those disposed to tent camping—but they can be purchased separately. The tiny home is estimated to endure 50 years, which makes the price tag a bit more palatable.
Opperland camper floor plan