We have been camping for a few years now and are considering going abroad to Holland - probably as late in August as the school dates will let us (ours have to be back mid-week after the bank holiday).
I am still trying to decide between staying in a ready-set up tent, or taking our own. Has anyone got any advice on which might be best? Also any advice on good sites would be appreciated.
I am also trying to look at ways of keeping the costs of travel and booking down - have looked at Camping Cheques, Touring Cheques and also booking through a company -Vacances Soleil - who seem to have good prices. Any other suggestions?
By the way there will be 4 of us - 2 adults and 2 children (11 and 6).
Many thanks!
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It would be cheapest to take your own tent, late Aug campsites should be quieter as most Dutch families take their hols as soon as schools finish which is between early & mid Jul depending on region.
Theres plenty of campsites in Holland with all facilities, indoor pools etc but they aint that cheap. Campsite guide here Good thing about Holland tho is English is widely spoken so you can phone the campsite receptions direct & ask questions.
We went to Beekse Bergen with Vacansoleil last August (a last minute booking) and it cost us about £540 for 10 nights including the ferry from Harwich, which I think was reasonable and was so much easier than stuffing the car full of our own gear and trying to squeeze the kids in too! If I had booked that ferry crossing last minute it would have added up to quite a lot on its own. The good thing about Beekse Bergen is that the price of the campsite includes entrance to the Safari park, the playland with rides and waterslides, a whizzy indoor pool not so far away, plus there's an indoor pool on site and the usual playgrounds, nice walks, a boat across the lake and a little train thingy. Even though the weather was mixed we didn't spend a penny on entertainment, and our kids who were 10, 8 and 6 at the time absolutely loved it.
Beekse bergen is fab if you are an animal lover or have kids.
We went their last August and it was great but...
Be warned, there is a very loud rave music festival there for a few days and being on that campsite at that time was not amusing !
Luckily we were leaving the say after the hooligans arrived. Never heard such loud music coming from a tent even at glastonbury!
So make sure you avoid that period.
It is not a peaceful, sit back and relax site. Lots of kids entertainment etc.
But sometimes in August they do 7 nights for the price of 5.
Vacansoleil had their own tents at Beekse bergen and they looked like a row of matchboxes. Wouldnt recommend staying in one of those. Also, their tents are pitched round the football/playing fields. Not an ideal location for canvas!
What area of Holland do you want to visit?
When I come across good deals I can post them here for you if that helps
Angie
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Thanks for all your suggestions so far. We hadn't got a specific area of Holland in mind - I guess I was thinking coastal rather than inland (as we live in the Midlands and don't see the sea very often), but that doesn't mean we have to be right next to the beach!
It would be useful if you could indicate when the music festival is - then we can see if we can avoid it (we live in Castle Donington and have to undergo 3 nights of Download at Donington Park every year - so we don't really want to go on holiday with it as well!).
Is there a specific reason why late August prices in Europe get cheaper does anyone know?? - i.e. is the weather bad or some other reason??? As our schools finish earlier than most we usually nip off whilst it is still relatively quiet in this country - so we don't normally camp in August. (I have always assumed that time of year would be really busy).
Late August is not quiet but quieter than the rest of the summer. The kids finish school at the beginning of July in this part of the country (it differs as you go further south) and go back at the beginning of September so most families get their holidays done in July or the beginning of August.
Actually, DS finishes school next Friday !
I will find out about that dreadful noise they call a music festival and let you know the dates so you can avoid it if you are interested in Beekse Bergen.
There is a special offer at the moment where you get 3 weeks for the price of 2. See here
Later there will probably be a 7 nights for the price of 5
The kids would love Beekse Bergen. You get free passes into the Safari park (you can see the park on foot, on a boat, by bus or with your own car). a tropical swimming pool with cool slides etc around 30 mins drive and playland with a fab huge slide that goes into the water on a sledge type thing, play areas, peddle boats, trampolines, miniture golf, peddle boats etc.
There is also a pool on site and a road train that takes you to the safari park.
If you want coast then Zeeland is nice and also south so not too far from Rotterdam or if you are driving from Calais then obviously less time than going to North Holland.
Angie
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We stayed in Duinrell near Den Haag last easter and are going back for the last 2 weeks in August. Used a static rather than tent but it's a very good site.
You have free entry to the onsite themepark (fairly small & low key - it's not Alton Towers) and the huge indoor swimming pool place (free for 2 hours a day). When the themepark and rides are closed you can stil go into the huge, sandy playground that has proper, oldfashioned roundabouts, swings and high slides.
We had a wander round looking at the camping facilities and were very impressed. They included shower cubicles that were raised by 3 ft so that you can scrub your children without bending over too much and a pay per use dishwasher Although it was low season for camping (snow on the ground still in places) everything was spotlessly clean.
We cycled to the local beach and dunes in around 15 mins. The town of Wassenar is just outside the campsite gates with plenty of shops, restaurants and a couple of small supermarkets. It really was a lovely site, I can't wait to go back in August.
Festival is 15th August this year. Back to the Vacansoleil tents at Beekse Bergen, they're not actually round a football/sport pitch - they are all in nice straight rows with a reasonable amount of space around them. Just much easier than carting your own stuff if there isn't much of a price difference, and of course the come with a fridge. Can't comment about other vacansoleil sites but would definitely use the company again.
Quote: Originally posted by sezzamac on 23/6/2009
Festival is 15th August this year. Back to the Vacansoleil tents at Beekse Bergen, they're not actually round a football/sport pitch - they are all in nice straight rows with a reasonable amount of space around them. Just much easier than carting your own stuff if there isn't much of a price difference, and of course the come with a fridge. Can't comment about other vacansoleil sites but would definitely use the company again.
Ok so not around the football area but next to it.
They are darn ugly things though.
I wouldnt stay in one and certainly wouldnt recommend one to anyone else either
If you want a pre-erected tent then staying on the Safari park (close to the actual safari) would be a better option because then you get to stay in a fully kitted out De Waard.
Instead of getting the train to the safari, you get it the other way to the swimming pool :)
This is all really helpful, thanks to everyone who has replied. The bad news is that hubby's workplace have just started talking about redundancies, so this trip might have to be put on hold for a short while. But I am sure we will get there in the end!
Many thanks
Jackie
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A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Camping in Holland - August
Although it was low season for camping (snow on the ground still in places) everything was spotlessly clean.
