We are off to Holland for the last week of August. We've never driven in Europe (at least not in our car) before.
We are staying at Camping Warnsborn (found it on here it seemed to have good reviews) near Arnhem. No reviews lately though so if anyone has been there recently it would be good to hear from you.
I have so far arranged, European Health cards for us all, Euro breakdown cover, travel insurance, I think I need to phone the car insurance company for a green card, is this correct? I've got us a GB sticker too as well as spare bulbs, warning triangle and I believe we have to take our 'log book' as well?
The ferry has been paid for by Tesco clubcard vouchers which is great!
We've got a list of places to visit and I've heard that the people are very friendly too.
Any hints and tips for Holland greatly appreciated (we are travelling from Harwich to the Hook of Holland on the fast ferry).
I'm not too worried about driving on the 'other' side of the road, as I've driven in Spain etc (although obviously in a hire car which has the steering wheel on the 'correct' side) I hope Dutch drivers are nice!
It'd be great to hear from anyone who has camped in Holland and has any tips.
Cheers
------------- MM
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I can only help you with the green card question. This is now obsolete for anywhere in europe but you do need to inform your insurance company that you are driving abroad so that they can extend your cover, otherwise you will only have 3rd party. Norwich union charged me £12 so you are not talking mega bucks. I hope you have a good trip. I have only been to Amsterdam in Holland but I found the people very friendly.
Don't worry, you'll soon get used to driving on the other side of the road, even in a RHD vehicle. We often used to nip over to Holland for the day when we stayed in Belgium. The people are very friendly, welcoming and helpful in both countries. Many speak betterer English than wot we does.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hi :-) We are off to France for our first camping abroad trip mid August too, very excited!! Just a few thing I've thought of that you haven't mentioned:
driving licences -need to take them
flourescent vests -not a legal requirement YET AFAIK, but highly recommended that you have one per person in case of accident, I have heard that Euro police expect people to have them for walking down the sides of motorways in event of breakdowns. Lidl are doing them for £2.99 at the mo.
fire extinguishers are recommended too, although again not a legal requirement. You can buy little ones for cars for about a tenner.
beam benders, headlight diverters, you know the things. Legal requirement in all Euro countries. I bought some on Ebay for £5.99 free postage, do a search for "beam benders"
That's about all I can think of, except maybe having a word with anyone you know who is Dutch and finding out about good shopping experiences in Holland......don't suppose you are into sewing? Great fabric markets over there........
Great to hear you will be visiting our country and I hope you will like it here! You have chosen region Arnhem for your "certre of gravity" to tour Holland. Good choice! It is convenient (A12 and A50) placed to take you North-South as well as East West quick. Some pointers?
1. When on the ferrie, get a cushioned seat, I suffered a severe case of numbbum when I reach Hoek van Holland from our trip to the UK last june. Then, just follow the signs to "Rotterdam" and the A20. From then you have some choices and a good roadmap will shurely get you there.
2. Don't be alarmed by Dutch drivers as they tend to be driving like "Drivers from Hell", not like I've encountered in the UK so far (M25 excluded). I drive about 70.000 miles a year for my work so I have seen it all. Just adjust your mirrors to right hand side driving and you'll be okay. Remember, Holland is a small country and you'll have crossed it in two hours ánd we have to share it with all 16 million of us, so sometimes it is a bit crowded.
3. If you're a member of AA, get in touch with the ANWB it's Dutch sister organisation. They can help in case of breakdown or other panicscenario's. There are yellow speaking terminals every odd mile or so allong all motorways in holland. If broken down, walk to one of those, press teh button and help will come your way.
4. Do bring your green card. it is a confirmation about the coveradge of the insurance.
5. there is about 60 P to the Euro so don't be alarmed by the prices. They should compare with prices in the UK.
6. Don't try to get the nice cupp of tea you're familiar to; it just isn't available in Holland. Instead, you'll get a glass of steaming hot water with a "tea tampon" to soak for yourself. Only place I know of in every town is HEMA, a dep.store with a diner where you get a good mug of tea at a very nice price. Also good for lunch or snack. Hema can be found in Hig streets in every bigger town.
I hope you will have a real great time in Holland. Any questions? Don't hessitate to ask or E-mail me from the button in this post.
PS: Ask for marketdays in Amsterdam and make sure you'll have a whole day to spare over one of them. Arnhem has a nice market at the foot of St. Stephens Church.
PPS: http://www.campingwarnsborn.nl/ is the site you mentioned. Click it for some pre-fun and anticipation. Also great fun to try to pronounce it and learn Dutch...
Post last edited on 08/07/2006 15:25:38
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hope you have fun. Arnhem is a good region and from there you can also reach several very nice town and places.
Landscape speaks for itself. Easy to go a bit to the North along the IJssel and visit the old cities along that river like Zutphen, Deventer, Hattem (village, old little tow) but als Doesburg off that river. Soutward Nijmegen also has a beautiful are (ask Freebird).
Another very nice old town to visit southward on one of the rivers there is 'Heusden' an old fortified town.
Of course a tour along the dykes of the 'Maas' or 'Lek' can be very nice too. It will lead you through old towns like 'Ravenstein' (on the Maas-river) and 'Zaltbommel'.
Have fun.
Oh and as to the market days in Amsterdam that Freebird mentioned. Several markets are daymarkets, i.e. daily, always there, incl saturday, but not sunday.
This is only valid of course if you would choose to go to Amsterdam too. In my view that is to far from Arnhem just for an outing, and there are so many nice places overthere but just in case:
Markets like the Albert Cuypstraat, near the city centre. Or Plein 40-45 in the west of the town, ot Bos en Lommerplein. The latter are in outward parts of the town, but the Albert Cuyp is a famous one in the centre of Amsterdam. from there you can easily walk towards the 'Weteringcircuit'and from direction towards the station (follow the tramlines) and than after 100 mtrs or so choose parallel streets to walk alongside the canals and streets crossing the canals.
Parking in Amsterdam is difficult. Choose a garage, or stay in the outskirts. I park free for example in 'Sloten/Osdorp'. I pick a street near the end station of tramline 2. That one goes straight to the city centre, Central Station, through 'Leidseplein', 'Leidse Straat' etc, just get out of the tram there or later wherever you like and start wandering around.
Thank you so much for the replies! :) We are considering a day in Amsterdam but we were thinking of getting the train rather than driving. I'd like very much to visit Amsterdam.
Thank you again, some great info there! :)
I have stayed at this campsite and posted a review on these boards.
The place is great. Plonked right in the middle of forest. Some brilliant walk/cycle ways through the trees.
The whole of Arnhem and Oosterbeek is steeped in history, buy a town guide book that shows the locations of individual battles that took place through the streets in world war two. (Sorry that's my interest DOH!)
The Dutch people are very friendly, they all speaka da lingo, and they appear to like us Brits what more could you want?
Have a great time, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy,
------------- Snowmen fall to earth in kit form........
Every day is a gift..That's why it's called the present.
Have a great trip, Gelderland is one of my favourite places. You must do the sites of the Airlandings at Oosterbeek..... there is a nice camp site there too! There is also a really nice walk along the Rhine banks with some lovely cafes for a coffee or lunch while you watch the ships going bye.Try an Uitsmeiter for a lunch - you wont regret it!
Re the van, dont forget your bright yellow reflective overjacket, warning triangle. You get a fine in France if you don t have the yellow jackets, if you are passing that way.
Watch out for Beligum. worst main roads I have ever experienced, and tricky to tow on. At Antwerp make sure you dont get diverted to that new tunnel. Keep flowing to the east to get to holland in the direction of Kennedy Tunnel.
And a radio. Skyradio is on 100FM and is the best music station I have ever heard, esp at night.
The people are friendly and helpful if you get stuck, and speak better English than some Brits I have met....
Take a visa card for petrol but you wont find visa is used in shops very much. You will need to have some cash, which you can get from a hole in the wall bank machine. You do pay a charge each time you do this, so just use it to put some Euros in your wallet.
The road system is much better organised than most of Europe, but watch out for the bike lanes. these are an extra set of small roads alongside the main carriageway. They even have their own traffic lights on em too. When turing right take a second to have an extra check for bikes beofre turning in. You often find the bikes come in from your blind spot over your right shoulder, and roundabouts are a nightmare in towns becuase of these. Thankfully not very often encountered. The motorist is usually found at fault in the event of an accident with a bike, so the bikes are totally fearless and seem to come out of nowhere.
Im sure you will have a great trip.
Geoff
------------- Veni Vidi Velcro.... I came, I saw, I stuck around!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Cant wait to go to Holland!
what more could you want?
