stayed

If you have $2,850 to spend, you could buy a Prada Re-Edition Saffiano purse, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, or an Hermès Bearn mini wallet.Or, if you prefer spending your money on experiences rather than products, you could book yourself a balcony cabin on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the 3,565-guest…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Matthijs van der Ham, 44, an architect and woodworker. For seven years, he and his 13-year-old son have lived in Minitopia,’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. This piece has been edited for length and clarity.Seven years ago, when our landlord told me the apartment…