Dagmar, Matias & Kwin
Choosing a simpler life on the road
“Simplicity, minimalism, nature, freedom.”
That’s how Dagmar describes van life.
Together with her husband Matias and their dog Kwin, she left behind a more traditional life in the Netherlands. Their home, their office jobs, and the routine that came with it.
They moved into a van. Full-time.
Not for a short trip. Not for a break.
But to build a different way of living.
Leaving the 9–5 behind
For Dagmar and Matias, van life started with a decision many people think about, but few actually take.
They quit their rent.
They quit their office jobs.
And they left.
Today, they live full-time on the road.
“It’s the freedom to go wherever, whenever you want,” Dagmar says.
“But also the simplicity. You realise how little you actually need.”
For them, van life is not just about travel. It is also a way to step away from the traditional 9–5, while still working, saving money, and actually living.
Work on the road
Like many in the vanlife community, their lifestyle is closely tied to remote work.
Matias works remotely for an American startup, creating YouTube content.
Dagmar is building her own online audience while working part-time as a freelance content marketer.
Their van is not just their home. It is also their office.
A place where work and life blend into one.
Their current setup (and what’s next)
Right now, they travel in a Fiat Ducato L2H2 from 2014. A solid, simple setup that supports their full-time life on the road.
But change is already coming.
Soon they will be moving into a Renault Master box truck from 2021, taking their setup to the next level and continuing to shape their home around the way they want to live.
The beauty and the reality
What Dagmar loves most about van life is clear.
Freedom.
Nature.
Simplicity.
But there is another side too.
“Van life changes you,” she says.
And sometimes that also means feeling misunderstood.
It is not always easy to stay connected with people who live a more traditional life. Relationships shift. Some become stronger, others fade.
“Don’t get me wrong,” she says, “I have beautiful friends who understand me or live this life too. But it can be difficult.”
It is one of those parts of van life that does not often show up on social media.
A place that feels like home
Ask her about a favourite place, and the answer comes quickly.
The north of Spain.
“I love it there. The nature is so diverse and beautiful, and it is very easy to live van life.”
Ocean, mountains, green landscapes, all within reach.
For many vanlifers, it is a place they return to again and again.
Life with a dog (and clean seats)
Travelling with a dog means the van gets used. Properly.
Mud, sand, wet paws. It is all part of daily life.
Dagmar uses Indi Blue front seat covers from Cult Surfing, mainly for one simple reason:
“Our dog sits on the seats next to us. Sometimes he is dirty after a walk, but it does not matter.”
The seats stay protected, even with daily use.
“I also love the design and the feel,” she adds.
After a lot of time on the road, they are still holding up perfectly.
“They still look like new. The quality is really good.”
A different way of living
For Dagmar, van life is not about escaping something.
It is about choosing something else.
A slower rhythm.
Less stuff.
More time outside.
And the freedom to decide what your day looks like.
Not once.
But every single day.
