Center parcs Netherlands - any recommendations?

[Twerking9to5]

Visiting friends in Amsterdam in Feb half term and thinking about tying in with a midweek CP break. I’m going round in circles looking for which one to go for (if any) and would love a recommendation!

Thanks

We’ve been to de Kempervennen five times and highly recommend it. It’s worth paying for the VIP cottages. It’s closer to Eindhoven though, rather than Amsterdam.

Thanks so much-that’s the one I keep coming back to. Good to know it’s worth paying for VIP. Is the swimming pool good (kids are 6 and 4)?

Erpeheide was lovely.

Kempervennen is great if you fancy the indoor ski area. The swimming pool.etc were ok but on the small side, and accommodation rather tired when we visited about 3 years ago. Have recommended it highly to friends wanting a taster of skiing on real snow with the addition of CP.

When we went to Amsterdam, we combined with a stay in the VIP apartments at De Eemhof. Really liked the location - you can escape on bikes onto real forest trails that go on for miles. There's also a boat you can take over to a village on the other side of the lake with shops, cafes and a working windmill 😊

In general we found the continental CP to be smaller and less shiny than the UK ones but much better value for money.

Kempervennen is great.

Alternatively/as well look into Efteling. It's a fantastic theme park, magical rather than Disney. You can stay for a few days in beautiful self-catering cottages, and it's absolutely perfect for those ages.

Ooh now I really want to go to Efteling!! It looks superb although another €200 Euro more than centre parcs (for 2 nights less). Looks worth it though, just not sure we can swing the cost!

Zandvoort was fab and a dead easy trip into Amsterdam

Het Meerdal was good, but the basic cottages were very dated indeed and no way on a par with basic ones in the U.K. I’d definitely upgrade to VIP.

You absolutely have to go to Efteling OP. It’s the best place ever. You’ll probably get addicted like us, our 4th trip there is already booked!

Could you have say 3 nights at CP and 2 days at Efteling?

The Efteling hotel is brilliant and if you spend 1 night there you get 2 day’s entry into the park included. Plus free car parking and an easy 5 min walk to Efteling. We’ve stayed there 3 times. Message me if you’d like more info, we’ve holidayed in Holland quite a few times now.

Zandvoort fan here. Only a 30 min train journey from Amsterdam and 10 mins in train to Haarlem (or a pleasant cycle). Great beach, though the town itself is a bit concret-ey. There are two nature reserves nearby and the chalets have recently had a bit of a makeover. Swimming pool nice and clean, on-site food options a bit rubbish, but it’s less than a 10 minute walk to town with restaurants and supermarkets.

The Efteling is fabulous! I can recommend it.
I like the Jungle Dome in Het Heidebos too. DS has been more times than I can count as it's local to us and popular as a venue for birthday parties. I've never been in a villa but the rest of the park and the pool seem nice, and there's loads to do off-site. It's only a fifteen minute drive to Kleve in Germany, which was the home of Ann of Cleves. There's biking trails through the forests and inland dunes on the Dutch side, and plenty of history ranging from the Romans to the Operation Market Garden landing sites. Nijmegen is worth a visit and there's various museums around and about.
Half term locally will be 24 - 28 February to coincide with Carnival. The north of the country doesn't celebrate Carnival and so may have different dates.