Netherlands with kids recommendations- August

[Dobbingtonio]

Now the vans (mostly) done, family and I are planning first trip to the continent over the school holidays.

Have a 4 and 2 year old so for first trip aiming to keep distances small, thinking 2x weeks in at Calais then out at hook of Holland for a bit of a loop.

Any recommendations for campsites/ things to do? We plan a day or two in Bruges and Amsterdam and at least one stop in a good family site near the coast.

 

[jimc91]

We have stayed at Camping Chateau du Gandspette, 30 minutes from Calais. Very nice site, might be a good choice for your first night. Fascinating V1&V2 rocket museum near by

 

[DXX]

2 hours in the Van Gogh Museum if they misbehave, what a depressing place that is.

 

[Sladie07]

May be a bit far out of the way, and I don’t know about day tickets, but we’re off to Efteling in the summer holiday which seems really well geared towards kids (ours are 11/9/9). Might be worth a look if you’re passing by? Can’t remember about camping as we’re staying in a lodge onsite…feel like there’s a site not too far away?

 

[Drive Wayne]

Now the vans (mostly) done, family and I are planning first trip to the continent over the school holidays.

Have a 4 and 2 year old so for first trip aiming to keep distances small, thinking 2x weeks in at Calais then out at hook of Holland for a bit of a loop.

Any recommendations for campsites/ things to do? We plan a day or two in Bruges and Amsterdam and at least one stop in a good family site near the coast.

Camping Gentele in Bruges was a superb site, A bus ride from Bruges central which picks up right by the sites entrance. (Go easy on the EHU, 10A 5Kw max)
Camping Vliegenbos in Amsterdam was a metro ride away from all the 'action'! Fab site.
Camping Sollasi, Noordwijkerhout, was great for its closeness to an excellent beach, so many beaches on the west of the Netherlands.
The only disappointing sites we stayed on were both in France, no recommendations for those!
Urban Gardens in Ypres (Belgium) was a good midpoint stopover site, more fascinating WW1 stuff for the kids!

 

[Bigsidavies]

We were recently in the Netherlands and after 4 nights in Amsterdam we drove up to the North West coast. We ended up at a place called Callantsoog for a couple of nights. There are plenty of sites in a little area within walking distance of the little resort of Callantsoog and the beach was lovely - 3 beach bars/ restaurants too. The whole of that coast has lovely beaches from what we saw.
We then drove down the coast to the Zeeland area which was stunning and also had beautiful beaches. We didn't stay there, but there is a seperate beach road, Brouersdam, where you can park the van at the edge of the beach all day. We had an hour there. People had their awnings up and chairs out and it looked great. There doesn't seem to be much in the area other than campsites though. Depends what you want I suppose.

 

[Dobbingtonio]

Some great suggestions in here- thanks all

Rough shape of a route taking shape.

Stay near calais , probably Gandspette as loads of recs for that. Up to Bruges via Dunkirk. Few days in Zeeland. Loop up to Amsterdam and back with a beach stop and a more “family fun” park like efterling or beekes Bergen (which looks to be a campsite on a safari park)