9 best campsites in the Netherlands

Still not decided how you want to spend your summer? Why not try holidaying the Dutch way and go camping! Better yet, avoid waiting around at the airport by planning a staycation and spending some time right here at a campsite in the Netherlands.

Camping in the Netherlands

Camping in the Netherlands can be a real joy, especially if you are planning a trip as a family. Getting out into nature can help you relax away from work and enjoy some peace and quiet outside of the city. Because lots of Dutchies love to spend their summers camping or driving their caravans and motorhomes, the country is home to hundreds of wonderful campsites that can cater to everyone's needs. 

Wild camping in the Netherlands

Unfortunately, it is not possible to wild camp in the Netherlands and if you are caught you could be fined up to 500 euros per person. For this reason, it is recommended to search for a campsite instead, as camping on private land is also not permitted under Dutch law.

Dutch campsites and holiday parks perfect for your next family holiday

You don’t need to travel far in order to enjoy a nice little break from your day-to-day life. Here are our picks for the best and most beautiful campsites in the Netherlands, all of which make for a great getaway over the summer holidays when you’re fed up with the hustle and bustle that goes hand in hand with living in a city.

Beerze Bulten (Overijssel)

Located near the small town of Beerze (about a 35-minute drive from Zwolle), Beerze Bulten proudly claims that it is more than just a holiday park. This is the ideal destination for families or anyone planning a holiday with children, as the park comes decked out with a number of kid-friendly activities and facilities - everything from a bowling alley to both indoor and outdoor swimming pools! Don’t worry, there are also plenty of things to keep adults entertained too, as the park has an on-site gym and wellness centre, and you can hire canoes or bikes if you’re looking for a fun way to spend the day. 

As far as the holiday park’s accommodation is concerned, there really is something for everyone. Of course, you can book a pitch at the campsite, or for those not quite willing to spend a whole holiday in a caravan, you can book one of the park’s many different holiday rentals, bungalows or chalets!

Video: YouTube / Vakantiepark Beerze Bulten

Ackersate (Gelderland)

This holiday park is perfect for anyone hoping to reconnect with nature on their holidays, as it’s got one of the Netherlands’ national parks right on its doorstep: the Veluwe. From the campsite, you and your friends or family can hop on a bicycle (one you’ve brought from home or rented from the park) and explore the various trails and routes throughout the Veluwe. Alternatively, spend your day enjoying the park's many facilities, including a swimming pool, trampoline park, and animal farm.  

Ackersate has a number of spacious camping pitches, some of which come with their own private sanitary facilities. Alternatively, try renting one of the park’s holiday homes, the largest of which accommodates up to six people. There are even ones that come with a sauna, or that will also happily accommodate your family pet!

Video: YouTube / Vakantiepark Ackersate

Camping de Norgerberg (Drenthe) 

Camping de Norgerberg is an ideal base for anyone looking to explore more of the most northern parts of the Netherlands, as it's only a 35-minute drive outside of Groningen, just over the border in the northern region of the province of Drenthe. Like the parks already mentioned on this list, de Norgerberg has both a campsite and a range of holiday homes available to buy or rent, and various indoor and outdoor facilities, including a restaurant, swimming pool and playground.

Perhaps something holding you back from booking a camping holiday in the Netherlands is the notoriously unpredictable Dutch weather. If this is you, then de Norgerberg offers just the thing to put your mind at ease: a good weather guarantee! If the weather makes a turn for the worse when you’re trying to enjoy your stay at their campsite, you’ll be able to rebook your trip for other dates later in the same year.

Video: YouTube / Camping Norgerberg

Vakantiepark Mölke (Overijssel)

Just down the road from Beerze Bulten, you’ll find another great campsite and holiday park in the province of Overijssel: Vakantiepark Mölke. This destination has a number of Dutch cities and towns on its doorstep, as well as another of the Netherlands’ national parks (Sallandse Heuvelrug). But if you’re looking for a more relaxing getaway and aren’t too fussed about exploring the local area, then there’s also plenty to keep you occupied without ever having to leave its grounds. 

Go bowling or swimming as a family, or engage in some fun watersports by renting some of the park's equipment. Go fishing on the Regge River, or give standup paddleboarding a go. And, if you choose to book a rental instead of a pitch at the campsite, maybe you’ll be interested in one of the properties that come with their very own hot tub? There are also rental properties that sleep up to 30 people, so you can bring all your family and friends along too!

Video: YouTube / Vakantiepark & Partycentrum Mölke

EuroParcs Gulperberg (Limburg)

If you’re someone who’d rather go south instead of north, then Gulperberg is probably the campsite for you! It’s located in the southernmost part of Limburg, right in between Maastricht and the German city of Aachen. Not only is the local scenery gorgeous, but the area also tends to enjoy better weather than the rest of the Netherlands and is known for its vineyards, making it the perfect destination for any wine lovers.

The park doesn’t have quite as many facilities or activities as some of the other campsites featured on this list, but it remains a great pick for anyone travelling with or without children. Book a pitch on the campsite, or rent one of the park’s chalets or lodges (most of which sleep up to four people) and enjoy a day lounging at the pool or enjoying the romantic views.

Video: YouTube / Suncampholidays

Molecaten Park Waterbos (Zuid Holland) 

For anyone living in Rotterdam, Molecaten Park Waterbos is probably the most easily accessible campsite on this list, as takes just 45 minutes to get there by car. It’s not quite in Zeeland, but at the southern tip of the province of Zuid Holland, this park is a stone’s throw away from the coast, and the nearest beach is just a 15-minute way (or five-minute cycle ride) away. 

Explore the dunes or spend your day sunning yourself on the sand - this is the perfect summer getaway for families with children, but also offers more peaceful surroundings for those planning a holiday in the spring or autumn. Park Waterbos’ selling point really is its location, but it also offers a variety of camping and accommodation options for holidaymakers, and boasts a range of indoor and outdoor facilities to keep the little ones entertained.

It Wiid (Friesland) 

Moving back up north, It Wiid in Friesland is a large campsite and holiday park perfect for anyone who’s not too fussed about being near the sea, but is still looking for a holiday on the water. Located in the middle of De Alde Feanen National Park and on the shores of a lake, the site offers plenty in the way of watersports, with various boats, canoes, and paddleboards available to rent. Alternatively, spend the day lounging at the park’s pool.

It Wiid offers both short and long-term pitches for campers, and their accommodations sleep up to eight people. Pets are also welcome, and if you’re planning to explore Friesland by water, you can throw a boat rental deal in with your booking.

Video: YouTube / Info | Camping "It Wild"

RCN Vakantiepark het Grote Bos (Utrecht) 

It’s a bit of a mouthful, but situated as it is just a 30-minute drive outside of Utrecht, RCN het Grote Bos is the most centrally located destination on this list. There’s plenty to keep young and old occupied, as the park comes equipped with various playgrounds and sports fields, as well as mini-golf, bowling alleys, an outdoor swimming pool, and much, much more! 

Book a stay at one of the park’s holiday homes - the largest of which accommodates up to eight people - or reserve a pitch at the park’s campsite. RCN het Grote Bos also has pitches specifically for those travelling by bike instead of by car, and you can choose between a pitch on the camping field or a more tranquil spot in the woodland area.

Video: YouTube / RCN Vakantieparken

Roompot Beach Resort (Zeeland) 

Last but certainly not least is Roompot Beach Resort which, as its name suggests, offers the perfect base in Zeeland for anyone lusting after a beach holiday. Anyone staying in one of the park’s holiday homes or at the campsite will enjoy having a beach right on their doorstep, meaning they won’t have to travel at all if they want to make the most of any nice weather. Really want to make the most of the location? Rent a beach house and wake up every morning to the sound of the crashing waves!

If you get bored of the beach, you can always make the most of the park’s numerous onsite facilities, including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, various sports fields, tennis and squash courts, bowling alleys, trampolines and mini-golf.

Video: YouTube / Eurocamp

Celebrate your summer holiday the Dutch way with some camping!

Perhaps you're used to looking a little further afield when planning a summer holiday for you and your family, but the Netherlands also has plenty to offer! Whether you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint by flying less, or just want an opportunity to explore more of this small country, camping is certainly a fun and sustainable way to get away as a family.