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Book your holiday with your dog well in advance and use filters to quickly find what you need: a holiday home with a fenced garden, a B&B with dog blankets or a park where you are both welcome. The best places fill up quickly, especially in popular areas such as the Veluwe or the Wadden Islands. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a relaxing break where your dog feels just as at home as you do. Read on for concrete tips to help you find the ideal accommodation.
Use filters and check the details
Start your search on booking platforms using a pet filter. Almost all major booking sites offer this option, but not every place that allows dogs is equally suitable. Always mention in the comments field that you are travelling with a dog. Some hotels have special dog rooms, while other rooms are not suitable because of a lack of outdoor space or strict house rules.
Where possible, choose accommodation with direct access to walking trails, woods or beaches. For a driving holiday with your dog, these locations are ideal: you step out of the car and can set off straight away. Specialised platforms for dog-friendly accommodation sometimes offer more than 250,000 options, including last-minute trips and group trips.
Be aware that popular accommodation is quickly fully booked in high season. Reserve dog rooms explicitly and confirm this reservation by phone or email. This way you avoid surprises on arrival.
Create a checklist for facilities and surroundings
A good checklist helps you make the right choice. Focus on four elements: facilities, surroundings, costs and rules.
- Facilities: Ask about dog beds, food bowls and fenced gardens. Some accommodation even has dog walking areas or walking routes that start right outside the door.
- Surroundings: Choose places near dunes, forests or beaches where dogs are allowed off the lead. Areas such as Voorne-Putten or the Vechtdal are perfect for this.
- Costs and rules: Check whether there is a surcharge for pets and whether there are restrictions based on breed or size. Some accommodation only accepts small dogs.
- Extras: Think of firework-free options, tiny houses or hotels with personal service for dogs, such as special packages with walking or cycling routes.
Book well in advance if you are travelling in a popular period. Dog-friendly rooms are limited and are often the first to be reserved.
Read reviews from other dog owners
Reviews are essential when choosing accommodation. Look at reviews from guests who stayed with their dog and pay attention to specific details about cleanliness, attitude towards dogs and facilities. Accommodation with a high score of 9.4 or higher often indicates that dogs are genuinely welcome.
In reviews, search for keywords such as ‘dog’, ‘fence’ or ‘walking’. Some guests describe, for example, that there is a dog beach 400 metres away or that the room is specially designed for four-legged friends. Avoid places without fencing if your dog is playful or curious.
Popular types of accommodation include B&Bs for personal attention, Van der Valk locations with extensive facilities and tiny cabins with peace and space. Choose what suits your way of travelling.
What to look out for in holiday homes and parks
Holiday homes often offer more freedom than hotels. Look for houses with a private garden, preferably fenced. This gives your dog space to play and relax without you having to watch them constantly. Check whether the garden is accessible from the house and whether there are any gaps in the fencing.
Holiday parks are a good choice if you are looking for convenience. Many parks have special walking routes, dog play areas and even dog beaches nearby. Do note that not all parks allow dogs in every season. Call ahead to confirm this.
Opt for accommodation that is clean and robustly furnished. Some owners apply strict rules about dogs on furniture or in certain rooms. Ask about this in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
‘ These kinds of hotels are ideal if you want to combine comfort with good service. ’
Hotels that welcome dogs
Not every hotel accepts dogs, but more and more hotels are offering special dog rooms or packages. Book using the ‘pets allowed’ filter and then confirm by phone that your dog is welcome. Immediately ask about the facilities: are there dog baskets, food bowls or a separate entrance?
Some hotel chains have developed a policy for dogs. They may offer a welcome package with treats, a blanket and information about walking routes in the area. These kinds of hotels are ideal if you want to combine comfort with good service.
Watch out for any restrictions. Some hotels only accept small dogs or have a maximum number of pets per room. Check this beforehand to avoid disappointment.
Avoid common mistakes when booking
Do not book blindly based on a filter alone. Always check recent experiences from other travellers and look at photos of the surroundings. Accommodation that allows dogs is not automatically dog-friendly.
Always ask about unclear conditions. If, for example, it says that dogs are allowed ‘on request’, contact the property for confirmation. This prevents surprises on arrival.
Plan with the season in mind. In high season, dog-friendly accommodation is scarce. Reserve well in advance and make it clear that you are travelling with a dog. Do not forget to provide details such as breed, size and behaviour if requested.
The best areas for a holiday with your dog
The Netherlands has beautiful areas where dogs are welcome. The Veluwe offers vast forests and heathland where dogs can roam freely. The Wadden Islands have dog beaches and expansive dune areas. The Vechtdal and Voorne-Putten are also popular with dog owners.
Choose an area that suits your style of travel. Do you want peace and nature? Then go for the Veluwe or the Achterhoek. Do you want to combine it with beach and sea? Then choose the coast or one of the Wadden Islands. Always check whether dogs are welcome on beaches and in nature reserves, as rules may differ by season.
These areas are easy to reach by car. You can stop, walk and continue your journey flexibly without relying on public transport.
‘ Last-minutes do not mean that the rules are any more relaxed. ’
Flexibility and last-minutes
Sometimes you do not book months in advance, but opt for a spontaneous trip. Last-minutes are then ideal. Many platforms offer discounts on dog-friendly accommodation that is still available. Do bear in mind that the choice is more limited than when booking early.
Choose accommodation near your route if you are on a road trip. That way you can stop and stay overnight spontaneously without major detours. Tiny houses and B&Bs are often more flexible than large hotels and are more likely to accept last-minute bookings with a dog.
Always check the conditions here as well. Last-minutes do not mean that the rules are any more relaxed. Confirm that your dog is welcome and ask about any surcharges.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find much more information about travelling with your dog, from the best routes to practical regulations and tips for on the road. Discover more articles and plan your next trip with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
In a truly dog-friendly accommodation you can expect facilities such as a dog basket or bed, food and water bowls, and often a fenced garden or special dog walking area right by the property. There are usually walking routes, woods or a beach within walking distance and sometimes even dog showers or washing stations. Additional services can include welcome treats for your dog, information about off-lead areas and possibly dog-sitting or dog-walking services. For yourself, you can count on normal comforts plus extra peace of mind, because the location and rules are clearly tailored to guests with dogs.
Accommodation providers often charge a fixed supplement per night or per stay for a dog and may ask for extra cleaning fees or a deposit. There are usually rules such as a maximum number of dogs, sometimes a weight or breed restriction, no dogs on the bed/sofa and no dogs in certain areas (such as the restaurant or spa). Check this in advance by reading the pet policy on the booking site, filtering reviews for ‘dog’ and always contacting the accommodation directly (email/phone) for confirmation. Explicitly ask about all additional costs and about what is and is not allowed.
When searching, use filters such as ‘pets allowed’ and read reviews that specifically mention dogs so you can see how dog-friendly the place really is in practice. Choose accommodation along or close to your travel route, for example near motorways or planned stops, so that your travel time and detours remain limited. Pay attention to the surroundings: nature, beach, forest or walking paths within walking distance, and preferably a fenced garden or dog walking area right by the accommodation. Confirm the house rules, extra costs and availability of dog-friendly rooms by phone or email to avoid surprises on the way.
Read recent reviews and specifically filter for words such as “dog”, “pet” and “fenced garden” to see the experiences of other dog owners. Check the facilities (e.g. fenced garden, walking area, dog basket/food bowl) and the rules regarding dogs (allowed size/breeds, surcharges, number of dogs). Use the map to check whether the accommodation is directly by a forest, beach or walking area where dogs are welcome. Call or email the accommodation in advance to confirm the details and avoid surprises on arrival.
