Where is it? Travelling by P&O Ferry from Dover to Calais on a one- hour crossing, then drive the 210 miles to Duinrell in three and a half hours through France and Belgium. You can also travel from Harwich to Hook of Holland (26 miles) or Zebrugge (139 miles) or do fly-drive to Amsterdam ( 22 miles away).
A two-bedroom Eurocamp mobile home cost £571 for a seven-night stay at Whitsun week, for two adults and up to four children, including the Dover to Calais ferry crossings. Prices range from £260 for a tent at the beginning of May to over £1,017 for a week in a mobile home in peak July/ August weeks.
Where? Netherlands
Staying in a Eurocamp mobile home, which was comfy and well-equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. The pitch was wider than other sites with a broad deck, which meant loads of room for the kids to ride their bikes.
The Duinrell site has so much there on tap, you’ll find the kids will be exhausted and sleep like logs – and you may even get a lie-in!
The adjoining theme park had everything from non-scary rides suitable for toddlers to heart-stopping white-knuckle water plunge rides and roller coasters for adrenaline-seeking teenagers (and adults). Think Alton Towers or Chessington without the huge queues and mortgage-your-home entry fee.
The queues aren’t as long as at UK theme parks and the beauty of the free entry was that you can go back as many times as you wanted. It is more suitable for older children and teenagers entertainment, but there is a high buggy count in the theme park.
Favourite spot for toddlers and parents is the indoor carousel ride (free!), which is surrounded by tables where coffees and ice creams are served.
The site has a well-stocked supermarket with reasonably priced food if you wanted to eat in.
The indoor Tiki Water Park (with some of the longest rides in the world are good for wet days; you get up to two hours free to ride the Lazy River, flumes and plunging slides. There’s even a sauna if Mum or Dad want to sneak off.
The campsite has 1,500 pitches and a mixture of Dutch/ British and German visitors, with English widely spoken. It is adjoined by a nature reserve that provides a welcome escape.
Cycle rides to Wassenaar beach, a clean and spacious stretch of sand with bars and cafes, is one of the highlights of the trip.
Amsterdam is only 22 miles away, you can drive to a Park and Ride site just outside the city, and pay five Euros to park all day (this bargain price included two return train tickets to central Amsterdam). Children’s fares were a very reasonable two Euros each.
Conclusion:
A great place to go even if it rains you don’t have to sit in the caravan listening to the rain drumming on the roof – non-stop children’s entertainment is right on site.
