Summer vacations in the Netherlands

Summer vacation is already in full swing in some parts of our country! Are you staying in the Netherlands? Then we have tips and inspiration for you. You can read all about it in this blog. Because whether you are going on vacation or going out for the day, Holland has a lot to offer!

Enjoy Dutch nature

Despite the fact that the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world (#16 according to www.alletop10lijstjes.nl), you will also find a lot of nature in the Netherlands. In fact, our country is home to 21 National Parks.

Veluwe

Celebrate your summer vacation at the Hoge Veluwe for example. At Landgoed Groot Warnsborn you will not only find yourself right on the edge of this beautiful National Park, but you can also enjoy the beautiful nature and surroundings on their own property. Are you looking for an accommodation where you can cook for yourself? Then Droompark De Zading is a must. Here you can book a chalet, villa or tiny house in Otterlo, which is surrounded on three sides by the Veluwe nature. A perfect base for cycling, hiking or other fun outings.

Drents-Friese Wold

Would you like to spend your vacation a little higher up in the country? Then discover the Drents-Friese Wold National Park. You can stay at vacation park Het Drentse Wold, but you can also book a cozy hotel in one of the surrounding villages such as Appelscha, Elsloo, Zuidhorn or Doldersum. But also Assen is a short distance from this nature reserve and is a great base not only to enjoy the nature in this region, but also to go shopping or visit the famous TT-Circuit.

Onlanden

Even higher up you will find the Onlanden nature reserve. We have already had the opportunity to take beautiful walks here during a visit to our friends in Eelderwolde. Then we discovered the Scandinavian Village, located at the Paterswoldsemeer. Here you can stay overnight in original Finnish log cabins and enjoy nature and space. Take a nice walk or relax by the water. The Scandinavian Village is a perfect base to enjoy nature during your vacation, but also the cosiness and city life of the city of Groningen.

Dutch nature

But even outside the National Parks, you can enjoy Dutch nature in many more places.

For example, enjoy the Limburg hills. There is plenty to do here. Go hiking, biking or visit one of our own Dutch vineyards. One of my own favorite locations to stay overnight is the Overste hof in Landgraaf. An old farmhouse that is rustic but modern for overnight accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located near the Wilhelminaberg, this hotel is perfectly situated for both seeking nature and the hills, as well as the atmosphere of beautiful Maastricht and its surrounding villages.

But you can also go boating in the province of Leeuwarden. If you own a boat, you may have already sailed through the Frisian waters, but even without your own boat there are plenty of possibilities. Through Friesland Travel you can book sailing vacations, sloop tours, motorboat arrangements and cruises.

Are you looking for an accommodation in a natural environment, for example in the woods? Then take a look at Natuurhuisjes.nl or Buitenlevenvakanties.nl. There is plenty of special accommodation here.

Vacations on the Wadden Islands

Are you an island fan? Then a vacation on one of the Dutch Wadden Islands is the place to be! Whichever island you choose, you can enjoy plenty of hiking, cycling or water sports everywhere. But you can also go horseback riding or play golf. Or, for example, go out with a forest ranger or take a cruise around the island. You can also look for animals. Go bird watching or admire the seals along the coastline. Once you have done everything, you can always go shopping!

But which islands are there again and which one would you prefer to vacation on? Texel and Terschelling are best known as Wadden Islands to spend the summer vacations on. These islands are fully equipped and adjusted to the high season to make it as pleasant as possible for their visitors. Do you want to enjoy sun, sea and shopping and be pampered? Then these are certainly suitable islands.

Vlieland, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog are certainly not inferior to their bigger brothers in their splendor. You are more likely to choose one of these three islands if you are looking less for big tourism and more for peace, space and nature. On all islands there are plenty of accommodation options from campsites, bungalow parks and hotels to villas and beach houses.

Summer vacations with children

Are you going on summer vacation in the Netherlands with small children? Then it’s always a balancing act between what they like and what you need. Most children prefer to hang out all day in a pool, playground or amusement park. While you prefer a day out to explore the area, go shopping or visit some nice terraces. So for your summer vacation in the Netherlands, choose a base from which you all feel comfortable, but from which you can also combine various activities.

The Netherlands is full of campsites and bungalow parks with entertainment for children throughout the vacation. When your children are a little older, you can leave them with the entertainment team while you take your moment to visit that one nice place or go for a nice walk. Are your kids a little younger? Even then there are often a lot of activities to do. You stay close by, of course, but have the opportunity to fantasize away with a good book.

Does the idea of camping or a bungalow park make your neck water? No problem! Book a cottage or hotel in the middle of nature. Because even here there is plenty for the kids to do. For example, look in an area where there is a center of Natuurmonumenten. From here various scavenger hunts and tours are organized throughout the year that are fun for young and old!

Beach vacations

Whether you go on vacation with the whole family or just the two of you, a beach vacation is always wonderful. The province of Zeeland has the most coastline in the country and is also full of cozy beach resorts. And the range of hotels, campsites and bungalow parks on the beach is also large. For example, Roompot has several vacation parks on the Zeeland coast, but you can also choose Droompark Schoneveld near Breskens. Do you really want to stay on the beach? Then choose a beach house from, for example, Strandweelde beach houses near Nieuwvliet or Strandhuisjes Nollestrand in Vlissingen.

But also outside Zeeland there are several beautiful places to spend your vacation at the beach. In Kijkduin near The Hague you will find Vakantiepark Kijkduin and Strandhuisjes Kijkduin. Do you prefer to celebrate your beach vacation from a hotel? In Noordwijk and Zandvoort you will find several beautiful hotels right on the boulevard, such as the Beachhouse hotel in Zandvoort and of course Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk. Here you will experience your ultimate summer vacation in the Netherlands!

City trips

Are you a real city person? Then how fun is it to explore other cities in the Netherlands than just the city where you are from? The team of OpstapmetLisa regularly goes exploring throughout the country and we write about it. On our page Op stap met….. you can read which places we have already visited and what to do there.

Photos: www.canva.com