July- euro camp style holidays, 6,4,2 year old

[getmeout12]

We went to the Vendee last year and it was nice. My only two complaints are (a) no air con in the chalet and (b) I despised constant food making, supermarket trips, cleaning up.

I think wherever we go I'm going to need to suck up (b) and probably next time eat out more.

We're going for a week so ideally nowhere >3-4 hours drive from the port.

Any recommendations!

We do Eurocamp and have done since DCs were 3yo and 11mo. The only campsite we've visited near a port was Domaine des Ormes (we usually do the long drive south), which had lots to do on site. It felt less French and a bit more Brits Abroad than others we've stayed at, but this might not bother you. The chalets did have air con 👍🏻

We manage the food thing by having a huge continental breakfast each day so lunch can be a very light (almost always junky) snack.
We tend to buy chips to share for lunch or crêpes, although if we've gone back to the chalet it might be crisps and olives. I keep a pack of Deli Pockets in the freezer in case something marginally more substantial is needed. If out for the day and wanting to keep costs down, it's very easy to make up a couple of sandwiches when all the breakfast stuff is out.
Dinner is always something bought, and often pre-marinaded, chucked on the BBQ (kebabs, chicken, sausages, burgers), a selection of bought salads (carrots, beetroot, celeriac etc) and individual salad veg that has minimal prep. Carbs are either boiled potatoes with a vinaigrette or garlic butter, or pasta with garlic butter. Sometimes I overdo the quantity of potatoes so I can saute them the next day or make potato salad and we often have a tub of tabbouleh on the go too. The aim is minimal prep that can be done in the time it takes the meat to BBQ.
Two meals where most of the effort is opening then re-wrapping stuff doesn't feel too onerous, and if you can stretch to the odd meal out it's even better. We do one big supermarket shop then get all the fresh bread/croissants and anything else from the onsite shop. It isn't as healthy as we'd eat at home, but there is always plenty of fruit at breakfast and lots of veg with dinner, so is fine for a week or two.

Which port?

Duinrell in the Netherlands- 45 minute drive from Hook of Holland. We did the overnight ferry. You’re right next to Wassenaar which has lots of restaurants and cafes - 5 minute walk. Whoever you book with you get free access to the theme park, swimming is free direct or discounted with Eurocamp. You are also close to the beach, The Hague, Leiden and Amsterdam is only 50 minute drive.