Anyone been to Dunreill? How does it work?

[MsJaneAusten]

I’m considering booking a trip to Dunreill for me and DC (DS1 will be 11 when we’d go and DS2 will be 8). I’m a single parent and have taken them in holiday, camping etc in the UK multiple times but not been abroad with them on my own. Duinrell looks great, but I can’t quite figure out how it works. I book accommodation, then what…?

Is it like Haven / Bluestone where you book activities via an app or online? Is it free (unlimited?) access to water park and theme park?

We’d be flying to Amsterdam then a friend would meet us and drive us to Dunreill so I wouldn’t have a car for the week. Terrible idea, or doable? Is there a decent (food) shop on site?

I’d really appreciate any insight as the park looks great but I can’t work out the details!

(Any other suggestions for active 8/11 year olds and a slightly lazier mum also appreciated!)

Thank you!

Bumping for you. I’ve heard great things about Dunreill but haven’t been.

We've been and going again. You get unlimited access to the amusement park (rollercoasters etc) and then a number of two hour slots for the big indoor pool (Tikibad). There's also an outdoor pool with slides etc that you can use any time. You should be fine without a car - there's an (expensive) supermarket on site but you can walk into Wassenaar in about 10 mins and there's a big Jumbo supermarket there along with other shops. Wassenaar is lovely to potter about in. You can hire bikes from Duinrell or in Wassenaar and ours about a 20 min bike ride through the dunes to the beach. There's also a bus stop at Duinrell if you wanted to venture into The Hague or to a station for other day trips. Public transport is good in holland and it's also easy to cycle everywhere as you'd expect.

Thank you! This is really useful. How old are your kids @gubbinsy? Did they do any of the organised activities? Did they make friends on site? I actually studied in the Netherlands so I know most adults speak at least some English. Did the kids find it easy to communicate too?

We stayed with Eurocamp. You can't select where your accommodation is situated as it's allocated on arrival. Some properties allow parking right next to them and others are in a car park nearby. We preferred staying on 'the island' as it was close to the play park where the kids liked playing in the evening.
You are going to need to take photos (passport-type photos) at one of the booths all around the park – at €4, per person here is a money saving tip: Take a photo copy of your passport, cut out the photo – DONE! At check in, they’ll give you small paper cards and plastic clear stickers to put over the photo – you’ll need those to enter and exit the park and Tiki Bad.
Entry to the theme park is includedin the cost of your stay, so you don’t need to pay anything additional to get in when you are there. Also the theme park is about a 5 minute walkfrom most of the holiday homes – you just come and go as you please. On-site guests have a separate entrance so there’s no queuing.
There are two really large playgrounds (with sandy floors) at the start of the park which feature slides, climbing frames, swings and roundabouts. These playgrounds areopen all the time– even when the rides are closed. So at the crack of dawn, you can bring little ones there for a play or alternatively right before bed to burn off any spare energy they may still have.
Entry to the waterpark is discounted if you’re staying on the site to €5 per person (adult or child) for 2 hours and children under 12 years of age will only be allowed entry, if accompanied by an adult.
You can rent a bike, go-kart or trailer through the Duinrell reception. All hired items are offered on a ‘seven for six’ basis: hire them for seven days and pay for six.

As I recall all the organized kids activities in the central plaza were in Dutch. There is so much else to do as above I don't really think it is a problem.

This is really useful- we've just booked to go in the summer. We're staying on the Duinrell site. Thank you for the tips about the supermarket and the bus. Can't wait!

Last time we went ours were 3 and 6 I think so quite young. I also lived in Holland as child so still remember some basic Dutch but most people have some English, including kids! Ours were a bit young to be off on their own last time - they'll be 6 and 8 next time we go so have to see how that goes! They just loved the pool so much - they've been asking to go back ever since. We camped in our own tent last time which is also an option!

If you book direct via Duinrell you can choose your spot depending on what type of accommodation you book.

It would be worth going into the Hague (public transport) to see the massive model village:
www.madurodam.nl/en. (currently closed for covid)

The summer parade of beach restaurants at Scheveningen are a wonder to be seen (if covid hasn't put paid to them.) You dine/drink coffee while kids romp safely on the beach inches away.

You’ve all totally reassured me AND I’ve discovered Eurostar to Amsterdam isn’t as expensive as I expected so we can add that to the excitement.

Walking into the town of Wassenaar from Duinrell is so easy. It's just across the road and a couple of minutes away. It's an absolutely gorgeous town and we visited every day for one reason or another. There are lovely independent shops, butchers, grocery stores, a big Jumbo supermarket and a huge cheese store.
You're spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants in Wassenaar. Our favourite meal was in Pops American Diner - the staff and food were lovely and the fajitas I had here were just the best. There are a few takeaways dotted about too and one evening we ordered a few Dominos pizzas online to collect and enjoyed them by the canal which was a lovely, inexpensive way to spend an evening.
Hiring bikes would be great as you can cycle to the beach using well-signposted cycle lanes. Most children on-site had some sort of wheels. We took scooters and the kids loved scooting into town and around the park in the evening.
After a few days we felt comfortable enough letting my 10 and 12-year-old niece and nephew walk around unsupervised. Quite often, DSis and I would sit in one 'area' with a coffee and let all our kids go on the rides in that section at their free will.
The on-site shop is more expensive than the Jumbo supermarket in town but it had everything we needed for breakfast/snacks.

If you book direct swimming is included (used to be daily but it’s restricted currently due to covid and you get so many slots a week). If you book with eurocamp, canvas etc you pay for swimming and it’s gone up massively to €10 per person per two hour session. However booking with a third party operator is often cheaper.

There are several off site supermarkets within walking/cycling distance including Jumbo, Dirk, Albert Heijn, and either. Lidl or an Aldi.

Have been here three times over the years. Always stayed via eurocamp like one of the other pps. It is a lovely place and my children absolutely rave about it! Now 10
and 7 we have had such great holidays here. It is worth getting the best accommodation in your budget as some of the older chalets were feeling a bit tired when we last visited pre covid.

If you can take bikes it is the best way to get around. You will have a great time

We went in 2017 and were meant to be returning in 2020. Hopefully making it back this year! There isn’t much in the way of organised but you don’t need them. The amusement park and are plenty enough that occupy you. It’s lovely walking to the big play park in the middle of the amusement park after the day visitors have gone and letting the kids play. Definitely hire bikes and cycle to the beach. Don’t do what we need and hire one of the big family go carts and peddle to the beach. The hill from Duinrell to the beach is big and we were exhausted, caused much amusement to the cyclists whizzing past us.

It's a long time ago since we were there but we always liked this pancake house just outside the entrance to Duinrell Park: www.hetpannenkoekenhuis.nl/
It still gets good Trip Advisor reviews.

I haven’t been but I’ve often browsed it after reading a post from a local family blogger who went there, so it might be useful to you:

www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2019/06/guide-to-staying-at-duinrell-eurocamp.html?m=1

it's definitely doable. We used to go a lot with Keycamp/ Canvas/ Eurocamp. There's an onsite shop but you can easily walk into Wasanaar to the Jumbo supermarket and other shops and restaurants. The waterpark is superb and there's a bar onsite with bowling and entertainment. We always drove but buses are good if you fancy a day out to Schevenengen, Delft or Leiden

Wow, lots of great insight on this thread!
What would you say is the oldest age that DC would enjoy it?

We went in 2018 in our campervan (during the beast from the east - absolutely Baltic!) and had a brilliant time. We didn’t use any of the kids activities but loved the pool (we booked directly so was included) and the theme park (although felt like there was quite a relaxed approach to safety compared to other theme parks I’ve been to).

We also took our bikes and did loads of cycling, loved the cycle lanes, went to the beach in The Hague and the pier. We went to Amsterdam for the day too and had fun on the trams and walking around.

We thoroughly enjoyed it and we talk about going again soon. Our kids were 6 and 8 when we went.

We have been going since boys were 10 and 8.. they still love going and are 18 and 16.. the water park is fab for older teens as well as younger kids.. we go with friends and all the teens have great freedom.. the local town is lovely and has a good selection of restaurants.. easy to hire bikes and explore..it ticks so many boxes for a family holiday

@holidayfun22

It's a long time ago since we were there but we always liked this pancake house just outside the entrance to Duinrell Park: www.hetpannenkoekenhuis.nl/ It still gets good Trip Advisor reviews.

I second this!

Aldo, a really specific recommendation but chalet cabin E41 keycamp is a really sunny cabin with sun on the decking area in the evening if you’re going in the summer.

I also agree about Wassanar. Lovely town very close by.

Madurodam is a miniature version of Holland that is very close by. If you want a real seaside town try Schreveningen which is also nearby.

Have a lovely time. I’m sure you will. My friend up kids still speak about duinrell now!

Grown up kids fgs!

Hire bikes and cycle everywhere. The cycle paths are excellent. The local each is brilliant. Lovely bars along the beach with glass verandas. The local village has a great Ice cream shop that the locals will queue outside.

The site can be noisy - the Dutch know how to party.

We went and really enjoyed it. Second going shopping at the Jumbo in Wassner. It’s a beautiful little town and the ice cream shop is a must, just be prepared to queue!
We took public transport from Duinrell to Amsterdam and to Linden (bus stop is just outside main entrance).
The beach is so beautiful with lovely bars etc, definitely worth the cycle ride from the park.

Here’s my only photo from the beach- think I had a drink in my hand

We went a few years back and had an absolute ball - my DC were quite young but still talk about it and I'd like to take them back.. I didn't realise there was Eurostar to Amsterdam!

I'm also a single parent and the Single Parent Travel Club on Facebook do an annual trip to Duinrell so you could always try and join them to ensure plenty of company for your children.

Oh - would just live to return now mine are a bit older and more independent!