NL
Nature campsites and glamping sites offer families the ideal combination of relaxation, green surroundings and space to play. Children can burn off their energy in safe, easy-to-oversee settings. These places are often small-scale and located in wooded areas. You will often find play equipment, swimming ponds and activities such as building dens or catching tadpoles. These sites are frequently located on dead-end lanes and are partly car-free. This increases safety for young children. Curious which campsites offer the best mix of nature, play facilities and comfort?
Why choose a nature campsite with children?
A nature holiday with children is all about space, freedom and discovery. Children can play outside, climb trees or go treasure hunting with GPS. Parents enjoy peace and a good overview. These campsites focus on eco-friendly camping. They offer environmentally conscious facilities and a relaxed atmosphere. Many sites have sandpits, water pumps and gnome trails. There is also play equipment especially for young children. For anyone planning a complete nature holiday with children, these locations are an excellent choice.
The grounds are laid out with safety in mind. They have easy-to-navigate layouts, dead-end paths and car-free zones. Children can play independently without constant supervision. In addition, many campsites offer entertainment in the high season, toddler pools by the swimming pools and educational elements such as farm animals or nature trails.
Top nature campsites for holidays with children in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has several nature campsites that focus on families. Below you will find a selection of the best options, spread over different provinces and each with its own character and facilities.
Huttopia de Roos in Ommen
This campsite lies on the river Vecht in Overijssel and combines a wooded setting with playful accommodation such as chalets and cahutes. Children use nature as their playground. They invent their own activities in the woods or by the river. The campsite offers both camping pitches and luxury furnished accommodation with private sanitary facilities.
De Lemeler Esch in Lemele
This campsite in Overijssel has a heated swimming pool with toddler pool, a picking garden and spacious fields. The site is partly car-free, which gives young children the freedom to play safely. The campsite is popular with families looking for both water fun and nature experiences.
Lolotte in Neede
In the wooded surroundings of Gelderland you will find Lolotte, a campsite with play equipment and a water-and-sand play area. This campsite is ideal for children who love playing outdoors. The campsite combines a small scale with sufficient facilities.
Het Goeie Leven in North Brabant
This campsite offers a swimming pond, swimming pool, play equipment and a beach-bar atmosphere. This creates a relaxed holiday feeling. The friendly Brabant vibe and the focus on outdoor activities make it a popular choice for families with young children.
Hartje Groen
Campers praise Hartje Groen for the little beach in the woods and the super-clean sanitary facilities. You can also stay in a forest hut here. The campsite fills up quickly, especially in high season, so booking early is recommended. Families appreciate the natural play opportunities and the tranquil atmosphere.
Other recommended campsites
- De Dassenburcht: known for its badger-burrow themed play area where children can entertain themselves for hours
- Hoeve Krekelberg: has a playground on the children’s field
- Landgoed De Barendonk: offers sandpits, a gnome trail and GPS treasure hunts
- Geversduin in Heemskerk: close to the dunes and designed with children in mind
- Jena in the Achterhoek: camping with an authentic farm feel
Glamping options surrounded by nature for families
Glamping gives you a stay in nature while also offering extra comfort. You sleep in furnished safari tents, chalets or cahutes. You do not need to bring your own camping gear. These types of accommodation often have comfortable beds, kitchenettes and sometimes even private sanitary facilities.
Huttopia locations such as the previously mentioned Huttopia de Roos offer glamping accommodation with all facilities. Camping Boomgaard in Utrecht is also an option for families looking for woodland charm without having to sleep in a tent. This way of camping suits families who appreciate a bit more comfort. It is also ideal as a first introduction to camping. You do not need to invest in equipment.
Advantages of glamping with children
- No need for your own camping gear, which cuts down on preparation
- More comfort in changeable weather, with solid shelter
- Often located in the most attractive spots on the campsite
- Suitable for families hesitating between a hotel and a campsite
Affordable child-friendly campsites on the Veluwe and near the dunes
The Veluwe and the coastal areas with dunes are ideal for nature holidays. You can walk, cycle and spot wildlife there. On the Veluwe you will find campsites such as De Helfterkamp in Vaassen, which is quietly located with family-friendly fields. The wooded character makes the Veluwe a favourite destination for families. You can walk, cycle and spot wildlife there.
Near the dunes, for example at Geversduin in Heemskerk, you combine a nature experience with a trip to the beach. Children can climb and play in the dunes and also go to the beach for a day by the sea. These campsites are often a little more affordable than larger holiday parks, yet still offer enough facilities for a comfortable stay.
‘ A nature holiday calls for preparation. ’
Practical tips for a successful nature holiday
A nature holiday calls for preparation. Think about booking, packing and checking the facilities. Below you will find concrete tips to help your stay go as smoothly as possible.
Book in good time
Popular campsites such as Hartje Groen and De Lemeler Esch are in high demand. They fill up quickly. So book well in advance, especially if you want to stay during the high season. This increases the chance of getting a pitch with enough space and shade.
Choose a campsite that suits your children’s ages
Young children up to about six benefit most from open fields and playgrounds. Toddler pools are ideal too. Older children between seven and twelve appreciate swimming ponds and nature trails. Activities such as GPS treasure hunting or climbing equipment are also favourites. Base your choice on what your children enjoy.
Bring the right gear
Waterproofs are essential on nature campsites. Insect repellent is also a must. Think as well of outdoor toys such as a ball or kites. Small nets are useful out in nature. Many campsites offer a bread service or a restaurant; check this in advance so you avoid disappointment.
Check seasonal activities
Many campsites only organise entertainment and activities in the high season. Plan your stay between July and August if you want to make use of these. Outside the high season it is quieter and often cheaper, but there are fewer organised activities.
Pay attention to car-free zones
Campsites with car-free zones are safer for playing children. Children can move around more freely. You do not have to be constantly on the lookout for moving vehicles. Many campers mention this as an important advantage when choosing a campsite.
Experiences of families on nature campsites
Families value the relaxed atmosphere on these campsites. The chance to really connect with nature is also a big draw. Children can amuse themselves for hours on play equipment such as the badger-burrow playground. They also discover new spots in the woods by themselves. Parents enjoy the peace. Children can play independently in a safe environment.
Small-scale sites mean it is less crowded. The layout is also easy to oversee. Parents can camp in a relaxed way while children still have plenty of stimulation and places to play. These campsites combine eco-friendly camping with environmentally conscious facilities. Heated sanitary blocks are often available. This makes them suitable for families who want to combine comfort with nature.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find much more information about routes, destinations and practical tips for your self-planned holiday. Which nature areas suit your family best? What activities can you do? How do you prepare for your trip? Read on and find the journey that fits you.
Frequently asked questions
On the campsite there are often natural play areas, play equipment, sand and water play zones and sometimes a toddler pool or swimming pool, allowing young children to let off steam safely. For older children there are often nature trails or gnome trails, building dens in the woods, catching tadpoles at a stream or swimming pond and sometimes GPS treasure hunts. Some nature campsites also offer educational nature activities or small farm animals to look after and cuddle. In the immediate area there are often woods, dunes, rivers or picking gardens where families can walk, cycle and explore nature together.
For families with children these nature campsites and glamping sites often offer car-free or partly car-free grounds with easy-to-oversee, safe play areas such as playgrounds, sand and water play zones, gnome trails and swimming or play ponds. Many locations have heated, child-friendly sanitary blocks with family showers and baby facilities, and on or near the site you will find bistros, a bread service or a restaurant geared towards children. In high season there is often children’s entertainment or organised activities (such as GPS treasure hunts, feeding animals or nature trails), giving parents some time to themselves. Dedicated babysitting services are not mentioned as standard and differ per campsite, but informal babysitting options sometimes arise via entertainment teams or other families.
Yes, the glamping accommodations at these nature campsites are generally suitable and comfortable for families with young children. They offer comfortable beds, often a small kitchen and sometimes private sanitary facilities, combined with easy-to-oversee, partly car-free grounds for extra safety. Play facilities, toddler pools and natural play areas provide entertainment close to the accommodation. It is still worth checking per location which specific facilities (such as cots or enclosed pitches) are available.
Most child-friendly nature campsites in the Netherlands are easy to reach by car and are often located a short distance from motorways, but the last few kilometres are often along narrower, quiet (dead-end) lanes through woodland or countryside. By train you usually travel to a nearby town or village and then take a bus or taxi; check the nearest stop and timetable in advance, especially outside the high season. For an efficient road trip with children it is useful to drive for a maximum of two to three hours at a stretch, plan a stop at a playground or in the woods along the way and pack enough snacks, audiobooks and games. Ideally, choose a campsite with (partly) car-free fields, so the car can stay put after arrival and children can run around safely.
You will often find the best balance between price, comfort, nature experience and child-friendliness at small-scale nature campsites such as Huttopia de Roos, De Lemeler Esch, Camping Lolotte, Geversduin, Het Goeie Leven and Hartje Groen. These campsites combine spacious, green pitches (often partly car-free) with clean, comfortable sanitary facilities and sometimes glamping accommodation such as safari tents or chalets. For children there are natural play areas, swimming ponds or pools, gnome trails and activities such as GPS treasure hunts. If you plan smartly, you book outside the absolute peak season and choose a not-too-large campsite with basic entertainment instead of an expensive holiday park, for the best value for money.
