Expedition Netherlands: Emmen resident Robert Bast lives off-grid in a bicycle caravan

38-year-old Emmen resident Robert Bast is forced to live in a bicycle caravan in the Jansen family’s garden. For years he has had a different way of life, partly off-grid.

Reporter Ineke Kemper visits him for Expeditie Nederland. Robert shows her how he lives in a self-built caravan of only a few square meters. But everything is there. Like a bed, a table and all his stuff. There is even room for a guitar. He can also cook in his caravan, but he now uses the Jansen family’s kitchen. He can also use their bathroom and toilet.

Bast’s story starts in 2004. He lived near Hoogeveen. He is not happy with his education and things are not going well at home either. In 2005 he therefore left for Emmen and joined a squatting movement. In 2017 he took over a squat from friends. He lived there until last year. Then the municipality of Emmen decides that the building will be given a different destination. They cannot agree on alternative housing and Bast decides to build his bicycle caravan. He places it in a forest near Emmen.

A year ago, RTV Drenthe visited the Emmen resident. At that time he had just been discovered by the forest ranger and had to leave within a week. “After the broadcast, I received offers from several people to come live with them,” says Bast. Ultimately he talks to the Jansen family. “They contacted me because they had a large garden and I could stay there with my caravan.”

Of course we also speak with Sjoert Jansen, the father of the family with young children. Because why do you offer someone a place in your own garden?

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