Must See/Do/good Aires in The Netherlands? (1 Viewer)

[The Nomad]

OK - next tour staring on Sunday takes us off "oop North" (for us, as we live on the Costa Blanca in Spain).
We'll be nipping fairly quickly up through France, Belgium and then planning to spend quite a few weeks exploring the Netherlands.

We've been to Holland before but only briefly, and then we focused on Amsterdam and the very south of the country.
But this time, with nearly 9 weeks to play with, we'd like to spend (weather permitting), perhaps 3 or 4 weeks drifting around all of the good bits in the Netherlands, before retreating back south towards the Med as Autumn weather closes in.

So, recommendations please for any must-do or must-see locations in the Netherlands, and also for good Aires..........we almost exclusively use Aires or wildcamp on our travels nowadays, rather than "proper" campsites.

Our usual habit is often to stay somewhere for 2 or 3 nights and use our fold-up bicycles or our 125cc scooter to explore around that locality; before moving the "Mother Ship" on 50/100kms to repeat the process.

We like:- lakes, rivers, cycling along canals or other flattish bimbling-along-type cycle paths, fishing, woods, pretty villages and towns, architecture, castles, markets, car boot sales, countryside.

We don't like:- Cathedrals, Churches, museums (most are no-dogs, and we have a couple of rescue dogs and we don't like to leave them when visiting/out and about), great big cities.



We'd really appreciate ideas from you guys for places to see and/or Aires/wildcamps to stay, with pics and/or sat nav co-ordinates if possible.
Many thanks.

 

[Terry242]

https://www.campercontact.com/en/be...torhome-parking-kade-sluis-scheepslift-4.aspx

Might not be on your route but if passing, you could easily have a couple of nights here. It's at the junction of an old canal and a new much larger one, the 10,000 ton lift is an amazing piece of engineering. No facilities but you park right on the side of the canal and can cycle off in both directions.

Terry

 

[Riverbankannie]

We had an overnight stop at Doesburg. A lovely small town. Set amongst a lot of waterways along which you can of course cycle. We stayed at an ACSI site on the bank of the river IJssel.
It's one of the old Hanseatic towns.

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[funflair]

Gouda, lovely cycling around the polders or whatever they call them, nice town centre about 200 metres from the parking/aire.

Martin

 

[SIFTA SAM]

Camperplaats de Haamstede, Giethoorn N52* 43' 49"
E6* 4' 35"
Not to be missed!

 

[Snowbird]

Almera Haven has a lovely aire right on the harbour with bars and restaurants all round the harbour. The shopping centre is a 5 minute walk away and cycle routes in all directions.

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[magicsurfbus]

Among the bulb fields and not far from the Keukenhof Gardens is a long straight lane called Zuider Leidsevaart where you can wildcamp on the verge in a MH for free.

Only catch is the bulbs tend to bloom in spring so there may not be much colour around at this time of the year, in the fields or the gardens. It's still free though

If you want to see what Amsterdam would be like without all the sleaze and the tourists, try Delft.

It's a bit late in the year now, but on Koningsdag (King's Day) the entire Netherlands turns into a huge Car Boot sale for the morning, then they all spend the rest of the day and night partying whilst dressed in orange. Worth noting for future reference?

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Hoorn aire in the marina.
Ablassadam handy for Kinderdyck windmills (unesco site), Rotterdam and Dordrecht all by boat bus.

 

[Enword]

Dog's could be a prob, but its a great place terrific atmosphere if you like bikes that is
29 SEPTEMBER - 01 OKTOBER

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[Paul and Kate]

We had an overnight stop at Doesburg. A lovely small town. Set amongst a lot of waterways along which you can of course cycle. We stayed at an ACSI site on the bank of the river IJssel.
It's one of the old Hanseatic towns.
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@Riverbankannie
You wouldn't possibly have any more photos or info on Doesburg it looks lovely and we fancy going that way next year

 

[The Nomad]

@Riverbankannie
You wouldn't possibly have any more photos or info on Doesburg it looks lovely and we fancy going that way next year

We stayed at the aire in the tiny boat marina at Doesburg just last night.
Very pretty little town. Aire is a part of the car park. Very quiet. No dump/refill facilities.
Officially about 7 euos per night according to Camperstop Europe guide (which is superperb for aire/wildcamp parking spots all across Europe) but in practice it's free as there was mo one to pay, no digns there sauing there was a cost and no ome came round any of the 8 or so mh there yesterday to take any money. There is EHU if you want it, at 1 euro per 2kw used...pay at the ehu posts themselves by card.

Good for an overnight stop, and the village centre is only 5 mins stroll. Village only takes an hour or so to fully explore including little side alleys etc, but all very pretty and neat and twee.
Marina aire sat nav:
N52,01109 E6.13368

Now at aire in Kampen a little further north, again another lovely town, quite a bit bigger with a very nice high street and riverfront too. This for us is better than Doesburg as it has a lot more shops, waterfront and parks, lakes, archtecture and things to see. Aire is a dedicated part of big car park, 7.80 euros per 24 hours pay at meter, grey water dump but no fill facilities, 2 mins stroll via park in to old town centre. Really quiet at night, recommended.

 

[Mel]

The last time we where in the Netherlands with the motorhome.
We where unable to find a place to fillup with water.
We stopped at a volvo truck dealer and asked for a few lts.
They let us fill up.
Very friendly people a lot are caravaners so they will always help

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[Riverbankannie]

@Riverbankannie
You wouldn't possibly have any more photos or info on Doesburg it looks lovely and we fancy going that way next year

I'm sorry, I don't have anymore. We arrived at campsite quite late and just went for a drink. Sat on the pavement of the corner bar watching the world go by. Just thought it was a nice place but we didn't stop anywhere else in Holland so not favouring it over anywhere else.
I am sure you could get more info on Trip Advisor.

 

[macscrooge]

We stopped at Doesburg on Thursday night - nice little town. Giethoorn looked OK but it pi**ed it down all the time we were there. Currently at Den Helder which is very busy but nice.

 

[mitzimad]

dont zoom through belgium the coast between dunkirk and ostend is very flat and ideal for cycling and some nice resorts along there

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[canopus]

Theres a nice Aire at Elburg and the town surrounded by a moat is only a short walk from the Aire. Can confirm Alblasserdam is ideal for the Kinderdijk. The Aire at Tolkamer on the Rhine is fascinating for watching the ships and barges go past.

https://www.kinderdijk.com

https://www.campercontact.com/en/ne...04/motorhome-parking-europakade-tolkamer.aspx

We've also stayed at Jachthaven Eldorado in Plasmolen and Camping Vessem near Eindhoven, both of which were excellent.

https://www.eldorado-mook.nl

https://www.eurocampingvessem.nl

 

[rickwiggans]

Middelburg in Zeeland is worth a stop