Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Flip

Original poster

Camping in Belguim & Netherlands

24 replies

Timeformeplease · 13/02/2010 22:31

We want to camp somewhere in south Belguim this year (that's the distance we want to drive from the ferry) and have found a few campites which seem ok in Ardenne-Gaumme area. Has anyone been to that area?
We are looking for a site that is not too big but with a pool, dcs are 3, 6 and 9.

We are also planning to stay near Amsterdam for a few days so we can do some sightseeing and have picked out Koninghof - anyone been there?

First time abroad with tent so trying to make sure we get the campsites "right" !

OP posts:

saggyhairyarse · 14/02/2010 21:03

I did a Sun Holiday to Roche en Ardenne a while back. We stayed at a site called Petit Suisse with Vacans Soleil.

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=8181

It was a small quiet site. It had a pool, park, restaurant and small shop that had fresh bread/pastries and you could camp there.

It was a beautiful area with stunning scenery, rolling hills and forests. Roche was lovely, a small town on the Ardenne with lovely restaurants and shops and a medievel castle that towered over it. There was a small fun fair there and a little park, was lovely.

We also went to Parc Chlorohyll while we were there. Was a forest walk that had rustic play stuff for the kids as you went round and a really great play area at the beginning. We had one of the nicest family meals in their restaurant as they were so helpful and accomodating.

Not been to the park in Holland though we are going to Duinrell in April.

Millimat · 16/02/2010 08:32

Timeformeplease - where have you picked out? We are looking at that region too but haven't got a clue where to start! Planning on a ferry from Hull to Zebrugge, and I don't mind where we go; DH weants to see all the WW1 stuff but I just want somewhere not too busy that will keep DD(6) and DS(3) happy!

PortofinoLovesPancakes · 16/02/2010 08:54

I have these places bookmarked:

Petit Suisse

De Haan

Manoir

Original poster

Timeformeplease · 16/02/2010 10:44

Thanks for the suggestions everyone ! Gives me some confidence that I am looking in the right area!

Petite Suisse was on our list, also Bertrix and Colline de Rabais perhaps. Also looked at Spa d'Or but think we will go for one of the others as they are further south - dd esp likes the idea of being able to go to France and Germany for day trips so she can say she's been to lots of countries! Will have a look at De Haan and Manoir too...

I wonder how many hours I have spent so far looking at sites & ferry routes??? Glad we have booked ferry now so at least there is some focus...

Parc Chlorohyll looks great, will def take a note of it.

OP posts:

Millimat · 16/02/2010 16:38

Did you get a good ferry deal?

Original poster

Timeformeplease · 17/02/2010 23:14

Millimat - not sure about a good deal, but was the best we could do for the peak time! The Newcastle to Amsterdam was costing much the same as the Hull to Zeebrugge, depending on which day we sailed, but Newcastle is closer.

We did notice prices creeping up, I guess as more people booked, so you might want to keep an eye on it if you are going in summer holidays? We joined camping and caravanning club and did save more than the joining fee so it was worth it for us.

OP posts:

Millimat · 18/02/2010 20:25

We have booked our ferry crossing today (hull - Zebrugge) as the dates we wanted were all running out so bit of a mad panic to get the crossing we wanted. We are going to stay in Bruges for 3 nights but not sure where to go after that. I am tempted more by France as I hope think that further south may be a bit warmer?
We are taking our own caravan but have yet to find a site that fulfills my wish list for a pool (maybe one indoor and one out?) & childrens play area but not a massive kids club etc. Am I being too picky?

Original poster

Timeformeplease · 21/02/2010 20:34

Millimat - No, we are just as picky and have a similar list! Haven't had any time to look at sites this week , too many other things going on. Hopefully will get back to it soon and make some decisions!

OP posts:

Millimat · 26/02/2010 22:08

OK so just had a shock - looked at Petit Suisse in Belgium but then found out it would be 495 euros for 10 nights. Is that expensive or do I just not have a clue about the cost of sites abroad?!!

saggyhairyarse · 28/02/2010 19:10

When are you going?

saggyhairyarse · 28/02/2010 19:15

I was looking on Vacans Soleil site and the highest price is 25E a night (plus kids) so 250E plus kids.

saggyhairyarse · 28/02/2010 19:16

Minus discount if applicable and probably cheaper if you book direct.

Millimat · 28/02/2010 20:51

That price for Petit Suisse was direct from the site. Going in Aug so obviously the highest possible time to go! Its 34 euros per night, plus electricity, cancellation charge, reservations fee (17E) and tourist tax (40E)!!!! It all mounts up!
Not decided yet on a site for definite - any recommedations gratefully accepted

saggyhairyarse · 28/02/2010 21:31

Check out the Vacans Soleil site then because their pric eincludes electricity etc and appears cheaper!

Millimat · 09/03/2010 21:24

Timeformeplease - did you book anywhere?

Original poster

Timeformeplease · 13/03/2010 20:34

Millimat - not yet! Had a few major things going on here so no energy to think about it (or Mumsnet!) and can't even remember which sites I had narrowed it down to... I'll let you know when we decide! I think Petit Suisse and Bertrix were amongst our favourites tho.

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 15/03/2010 16:52

I have never ever booked - just got there and camped for however many nights. TBH I doubt this is ever a problem in northern eu.

It saves having to move on if you don't want to, and it means you can if the site isn't what you thought it would be.

Even in northern spain and coming up through the center of france I didn't book and had tent and two dd's with me - it was never a problem and I never was turned away form a site.

There are some great sites in Belguim and going across toward germany. Arhnem (sp) is a beautiful city on route to amsterdam, there are city sites there where you can just catch the train into the city.

You can book at the train station in amsterdam to see Ann franks house - otherwise it is a long que to get into the house, whereas you just walk straight in after 5pm with a pre booked ticket.

Millimat · 15/03/2010 22:13

I'm not brave enough to turn up without a booking

Ivykaty44 · 16/03/2010 21:43

see I am not brave enough to book and then not like the site or want to move on early Or like the site and not want to move on so soon - yet have to as another site booked... i like to be free to travel as and when - tied to routine all year and holidays I like a bit of freedom

each to there own bravery stakes though

MrIC · 19/03/2010 13:00

when DW and I were touring around in our campervan we only ever booked ahead once - for Amsterdam. We were glad we did as we witnessed several people getting turned away from the same campsite. Otherwise we just turned up - Bruges was the only place we ever struggled to find a campsite with free spaces, but we found another within a short bus journey. This was all in August 2008.

Original poster

Timeformeplease · 26/03/2010 23:22

Finally booked!!!! But decided to go for Netherlands, near german border, a site called de Twee Bruggen for the full 2 weeks. Saves packing up the tent half way through or otherwise stressing about making it back to the ferry on time. Anticipating there might be some stress as this is our first time camping for more than 4 nights and also abroad...

Millimat - this campsite seems to be a good bit cheaper than many that are further south which is an added bonus. Also we found Vacansoleil about £60 cheaper than booking direct.

Thanks for all the advice. Will be starting to shop for stuff we don't need now

OP posts:

Millimat · 29/03/2010 15:50

Evantually decided on a site, in Luxembourg so days out to Belgium, Germany and France too! Its a 5* site but much cheaper than others as it is only small

Millimat · 29/03/2010 15:54

TFMP just looked at that site you are going to. Very nice! Now wondering if we have made the right decision...

lottaluvin · 13/04/2010 14:10

Hi,

We spent the Easter hols in Brugges at Camping Memling, it's a city campsite, but great if you just want to do a tour of the beautiful city. There is an adventure course and indoor pool behind the campsite and acroos the road is a huge carrefour ( we bbq'd chateaubriand at 2 euros a piece wow!!!), Delhaize, Aldi and Lidl, and although we don't tend to go to MacDonald's we visited a Quick Bruger that had a play area and was also walking distance.

Very friendly site, with a curfew on noise after 10.30pm so great for kids.

Frituur up the road called Carlo's was fab.Boat trip around the canals was fun too!

96 Euros for 3 of us in an 8 man tent with electric hook up. Showers free and immaculate.

Loved Belgium, loved the people, the style etc. Took us 11/2 hours from the Eurotunnel - £44 each way!

Flip