NL
Budget-friendly nature holidays for families are within reach. Green campsites, free treasure hunts and high-value day passes ensure a successful holiday without emptying your wallet. The Netherlands offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy forests, sand dunes and beaches with children. You plan wisely and make targeted choices. Discover how to make the most of what nature has to offer, even on a limited budget.
Affordable accommodation for families
A holiday with children does not have to be expensive. The choice of where you stay largely determines your budget. By choosing smartly, you create room for other fun things during your trip.
Glamping on farms
FarmCamps offers fully furnished glamping tents in the middle of nature from around 300 euros for a weekend. The tents are located on working farms. Children can feed the animals and play freely. You do not pay extra for entertainment or expensive activities. Many locations are dog-friendly and close to the beach. This type of stay combines comfort with experiencing nature and saves you money on attractions.
Small-scale green campsites
Platforms such as 30pluskids focus on child-friendly accommodation in natural surroundings. These campsites often have a playground, petting zoo or swimming pool, meaning you do not have to pay for commercial attractions. Choose small-scale places outside the high season and you will pay significantly less.
‘ With a bit of preparation you can fill your days with fun without putting a strain on your budget. ’
Free nature activities with children
The Netherlands has a wealth of free or almost free activities in nature. With a bit of preparation you can fill your days with fun without putting a strain on your budget.
Children’s walks and treasure hunts
Many nature reserves offer free walking routes especially for children. Think of gnome treasure hunts in the forest or animal walks along quiet areas. These routes are often well signposted and match the attention span of young children. Geocaching is another option that only requires a GPS. You search for hidden treasures in nature, which keeps children entertained for hours at no extra cost.
Visiting petting zoos
Petting zoos are almost always free or ask for a small voluntary contribution. Children learn about animals and sometimes help with feeding or care. It is an ideal budget activity for families who want to enjoy a day out without spending much.
OERRR nature playgrounds
Natuurmonumenten manages 22 OERRR nature playgrounds spread across the Netherlands. These places invite children to climb, get messy and explore in nature. Admission is free or low-cost, depending on the location. All you need is old clothes and some towels.
Experience barefoot paths
Barefoot paths offer a free and unique experience. Children walk over different surfaces such as grass, mud and water, which provides lots of fun. Take old clothes and towels with you and you have a whole morning of entertainment at no cost.
Affordable nature areas by region
Some regions offer particularly rich nature for little money. Choose your destination carefully. This increases your chances of an affordable holiday.
The Veluwe as a paradise for nature lovers
The Veluwe combines vast forests, sand drifts and wildlife. You can walk or cycle free of charge through natural landscapes. A visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park requires a day pass, but this also gives you access to the Kröller-Müller Museum and bicycle hire. Glamping sites and holiday homes in the middle of greenery are widely available and often affordable outside the high season.
Eastern Netherlands for peace seekers
The east of the Netherlands offers tranquillity and greenery at low cost. You can walk along winding streams and historic farms. There are play forests and petting zoos with free admission. Farm lodges and small glamping sites here are often cheaper than on the coast.
Zeeland for beach and nature
Family park Strandpark De Zeeuwse Kust is 250 metres from Renesse beach. Here you can combine a beach visit with nature activities. Many beaches in Zeeland are freely accessible, so you can easily fill a whole day with a picnic.
Het Groene Woud in Brabant
Het Groene Woud National Landscape between Den Bosch, Eindhoven and Tilburg is enchanting. Dense forests, fens and river valleys offer free walking routes. The area is suitable for young children and has plenty of small campsites.
Walking holidays as an affordable option
Short walking holidays of two to five days keep your transport costs low. The Netherlands is the cheapest destination because you do not need to book flights. Walking is free and offers a slower travel pace that suits families with children.
Multi-day routes for beginners
The Netherlands has numerous multi-day walking routes. Examples include the Marskramerpad, Pelgrimspad and Trekvogelpad. These routes pass through bird-rich areas and nature reserves. They are well signposted and have stopovers with affordable accommodation. Ideal for families who want to get into walking without a big investment.
‘ You enjoy more and pay less. ’
Practical budget tips for your nature holiday
With conscious choices you can get more out of your holiday budget. You plan in a way that keeps costs down without sacrificing enjoyment.
Avoid expensive holiday parks
Opt for glamping, nature cottages or small family campsites instead of large holiday parks. The latter often charge high prices for entertainment and facilities you might not even need. At small-scale spots you decide for yourself how to fill your day.
Focus on free and low-cost activities
Make a list of free options before you leave. Prioritising nature walks, geocaching, petting zoos and nature playgrounds saves you hundreds of euros in attraction costs. Plan at least one activity a day that costs nothing.
Choose smart travel times
Book outside school holidays and the high season. Accommodation prices drop sharply then and nature areas are less crowded. You enjoy more and pay less.
Bring your own food
Restaurants and snack bars quickly eat into your holiday budget. A cool box with sandwiches, fruit and drinks keeps everyone full at low cost. Many campsites have cooking facilities where you can easily prepare simple meals yourself.
Discover even more on Traveler Tips
A budget-friendly nature holiday takes some preparation, but is absolutely achievable. Choose your accommodation wisely and plan free activities. Travel outside the peak season. That way you create memories without financial worries. On the Traveler Tips website you will find much more information about travelling with children, campsites, routes and practical tips for your next trip. Discover which other destinations and activities suit your way of travelling.
Frequently asked questions
You can find budget-friendly nature holidays for families for example on the Veluwe, in the east of the Netherlands (Achterhoek/Twente) and in Het Groene Woud National Landscape in North Brabant. Glamping on farms (such as FarmCamps), small family campsites and nature cottages offer affordable stays with plenty of play space and animals for young children. In these regions you can offer variety for all ages with walking, cycling, geocaching, nature playgrounds (such as OERRR playgrounds) and barefoot paths. The Zeeland coast also combines beach, simple campsites and child-friendly parks close to nature for an affordable family holiday.
Plan your trip outside the high season and choose low-cost accommodation such as small family campsites, farm glamping or simple nature cottages instead of holiday parks or hotels. Deliberately choose places with plenty of free facilities (playground, petting zoo, swimming pool or nature playground), so you spend less on expensive outings. Draw up a weekly menu in advance and cook as much as possible yourself; bring basic supplies, reusable water bottles and picnic gear to avoid pricey food and drink outlets. Plan your days around free or low-cost activities such as nature walks, OERRR play nature, barefoot paths and geocaching, so that your main expense remains your accommodation.
Plan enough breaks with playgrounds, OERRR nature playgrounds or petting zoos along the way, so that children can burn off energy and the journey is broken up. Prepare snacks, drinks and simple car games or printed bingo cards at home instead of making expensive purchases on the road. Opt for easily accessible nature areas in the Netherlands such as the Veluwe or Het Groene Woud to limit travel time and fuel costs. Travel outside rush hour or the high season and combine your journey with free activities such as short nature walks or geocaching on arrival.
Families can explore nature for free or at low cost with children’s walks, geocaching and visits to petting zoos. OERRR nature playgrounds and barefoot paths offer tough, adventurous play opportunities without high costs. In regions such as the Veluwe, the east of the Netherlands and Het Groene Woud you can walk, cycle and play in the forest endlessly. By choosing small-scale campsites, farm lodges or glamping in the middle of nature, the outdoor experience itself becomes the highlight of the holiday.
Pack light and with multi-purpose items: layered clothing, good walking shoes, waterproof jackets and quick-drying items that you can wash and reuse. Bring your own basic products (toiletries, first-aid kit, reusable water bottles, snacks) to avoid expensive purchases on site. Choose accommodation where a lot is already provided, such as glamping tents or farm lodges with bedding, cooking utensils and children’s toys. Plan activities that cost little or nothing (nature walks, geocaching, nature playgrounds, petting zoos) so you do not have to pack or pay for expensive outings.
