Planning for the Netherlands in Spring (1 Viewer)

[Conal]

We are planning to visit the Netherlands for the first time this spring and Hilary has put together the following itinerary after researching online, and reading posts in Motorhomefun.

We would be grateful for any comments on whether this looks okay or if we are missing opportunities. I can only take three weeks off work and this probably won't be our last visit to the Netherlands.

Days 1 and 2 - April 16/17
Calais to Broken Link Removed near Leiden where we are meeting up with a friend who lives in Leiden on day 2. We can't change this date.

Days 3 and 4 - April 18/19
Camperpark den Haag to visit The Hague and Delft

Day 5 - April 20
Stay at Camperplaats Het Groene Hart in Abbenes and cycle from there to the Keukenhof Gardens.

Days 6, 7 and 8 - April 21/22/23
The annual Flower Parade is taking place between April 18 and 22, so we plan to stay at Camperpark N205 near Haarlem and watch the Flower Parade arriving in the town on Saturday evening, then have a look at the floats on display there the next morning. After that we plan to move on to Budget Camping Utrecht to explore Utrecht.

Days 9 and 10 - April 24/25
Head north again to have a look around Amsterdam and Weesp, staying at Camping Amsterdam Gaasper.

Days 11 and 12 - April 26/27
Head further north, visiting the Zaanse Schans centre en route to Broken Link Removed on Thursday night to visit the famous cheese market which takes place on Friday mornings. In addition, Friday April 27th is Broken Link Removed so we want to be in a town to see how the Dutch celebrate it.

Days 13, 14 and 15 - April 28/29/30
Travel south to Jachthaven Westergoot near the Biesbosch National Park to explore the park and nearby Dordrecht, and take the water bus into Rotterdam.

Days 16 and 17 - May 1/2
Travel to Maastricht, stay at Camping Oosterdriessen and visit the city.

Days 18, 19, 20 and 21 - May 3/4/5/6
Drive through Belgium, visiting Ghent (Broken Link Removed) and Ieper (Camping Jeugdstadion) before heading to Calais and home.

As April and May is peak tourist season in the Netherlands we will try and book as many of the campsites as possible in advance, and get to aires early where we can't book.

 

[funflair]

Wow that's organised, we did Keukenhoff last year and really enjoyed it we stayed at Het Groene Hart so for that bit.

If you are into cars the Louwman museum just outside The Hague is fantastic and you can park a camper there during the day.

It's worth climbing the church tower in Delft and Gouda is worth a visit if you get chance and nice cycling around there as well.

Martin

 

[Conal]

Thanks Martin. We considered Gouda and still might squeeze it in on your recommendation.

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[EX51SSS]

We are planning to visit the Netherlands for the first time this spring and Hilary has put together the following itinerary after researching online, and reading posts in Motorhomefun.

We would be grateful for any comments on whether this looks okay or if we are missing opportunities. I can only take three weeks off work and this probably won't be our last visit to the Netherlands.

Days 1 and 2 - April 16/17
Calais to Broken Link Removed near Leiden where we are meeting up with a friend who lives in Leiden on day 2. We can't change this date.

Days 3 and 4 - April 18/19
Camperpark den Haag to visit The Hague and Delft

Day 5 - April 20
Stay at Camperplaats Het Groene Hart in Abbenes and cycle from there to the Keukenhof Gardens.

Days 6, 7 and 8 - April 21/22/23
The annual Flower Parade is taking place between April 18 and 22, so we plan to stay at Camperpark N205 near Haarlem and watch the Flower Parade arriving in the town on Saturday evening, then have a look at the floats on display there the next morning. After that we plan to move on to Budget Camping Utrecht to explore Utrecht.

Days 9 and 10 - April 24/25
Head north again to have a look around Amsterdam and Weesp, staying at Camping Amsterdam Gaasper.

Days 11 and 12 - April 26/27
Head further north, visiting the Zaanse Schans centre en route to Broken Link Removed on Thursday night to visit the famous cheese market which takes place on Friday mornings. In addition, Friday April 27th is Broken Link Removed so we want to be in a town to see how the Dutch celebrate it.

Days 13, 14 and 15 - April 28/29/30
Travel south to Jachthaven Westergoot near the Biesbosch National Park to explore the park and nearby Dordrecht, and take the water bus into Rotterdam.

Days 16 and 17 - May 1/2
Travel to Maastricht, stay at Camping Oosterdriessen and visit the city.

Days 18, 19, 20 and 21 - May 3/4/5/6
Drive through Belgium, visiting Ghent (Broken Link Removed) and Ieper (Camping Jeugdstadion) before heading to Calais and home.

As April and May is peak tourist season in the Netherlands we will try and book as many of the campsites as possible in advance, and get to aires early where we can't book.

When we stayed in Maastrict, we visited Valkenberg and it is a lovely place. We went to Maastrict to see Andre Rieu.

 

[Conal]

When we stayed in Maastrict, we visited Valkenberg and it is a lovely place. We went to Maastrict to see Andre Rieu.

Thanks for the tip. I have just Googled it, wonderful pictures, so we may well adapt our schedule to fit in Valkenberg as well.

 

[Allan & Loren]

We visited Maastricht last year for Andre Rieu and stayed at Maastricht Marina which was a lovely spot. Fabulously clean toilets/showers, secured electric gates, hardstanding with grass areas and EHU, lovely views over the river and Marina, supermarket about .5km away and an easy cycle into the city about 1.5/2km.

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[Conal]

We visited Maastricht last year for Andre Rieu and stayed at Maastricht Marina which was a lovely spot. Fabulously clean toilets/showers, secured electric gates, hardstanding with grass areas and EHU, lovely views over the river and Marina, supermarket about .5km away and an easy cycle into the city about 1.5/2km.

Thanks for the suggestion for a campsite at Maastricht, sounds great and we will definitely look into that one rather than the one we thought of using.

 

[EX51SSS]

Thanks for the tip. I have just Googled it, wonderful pictures, so we may well adapt our schedule to fit in Valkenberg as well.

It's a short bus ride away. Don't do like us and let 2 buses go because they're doors are on the wrong side. Doh!!!!! !!!

 

[Koppersbeat]

Looks a good itinerary.I personally wouldn’t do Camperpark Den Haag as it looks like a big field with motorway noise.At almost 24€ per night with hook up.
If you have joined ACSI then I recommend Vakantiepark Delftse Hout located in a nature reserve walking distance of Delft,or better still easy by bike.The first low period of tariff this year is 24 March to 19 April so you would get all inclusive for 19€.
I met up with friends there last year and we stayed longer than planned as there was so much to do and see.

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[Conal]

Looks a good itinerary.I personally wouldn’t do Camperpark Den Haag as it looks like a big field with motorway noise.At almost 24€ per night with hook up.
If you have joined ACSI then I recommend Vakantiepark Delftse Hout located in a nature reserve walking distance of Delft,or better still easy by bike.The first low period of tariff this year is 24 March to 19 April so you would get all inclusive for 19€.
I met up with friends there last year and we stayed longer than planned as there was so much to do and see.

Thanks very much for the recommendation, it will certainly be good to avoid the motorway noise so will investigate that one instead.

 

[Tony50]

we use to go to the Netherlands , to Nijmegen near to the German border, where my son worked, first time we were going his advice was don't hit a cyclist because even if it was not your fault you will get the blame , in saying that great place for cycling apart from being flat they cater properly for cyclists, if you do cycling I would take them, a bit confusing when in some towns, at junctions you may get traffic lights for vehicles , cyclists, and pedestrians !!
Tony A

 

[Sue]

We visited Maastricht last year for Andre Rieu and stayed at Maastricht Marina which was a lovely spot. Fabulously clean toilets/showers, secured electric gates, hardstanding with grass areas and EHU, lovely views over the river and Marina, supermarket about .5km away and an easy cycle into the city about 1.5/2km.

Brilliant! We have booked there early April.

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[Koppersbeat]

Great reviews for the Maastricht Marina.I must go there sometime.

When we went to the Andre Rieu Concert in 2012 we stayed in a campsite which was a 20min taxi drive south of the city.It was a real pain getting in at evening rush hour with loads of roadworks as well.