Northern European holiday inspiration

[WhereAreWeNow]

We usually head to France or Spain for summer holidays but the last couple of years have been uncomfortably hot. I'm wondering if we should try a holiday in northern Europe. Germany or maybe Scandinavia. But I only think of those countries in terms of city breaks and culture.
Can anyone recommend any relaxing summer holiday ideas that won't break the bank? Maybe a lake or river?
We're travelling with older teens who are pretty laid back and don't need lots of activities or entertainment.

The romantic road through southern Germany is an amazing route. So much fabulous scenery. One of our best touring holidays.

Landal parks are good in Belgium.

We’ve also done several center parcs in Germany and The Netherlands which were great. Like how you would imagine center parcs in the uk in the 50’s would be. Same principle but way more chilled and less health and safety conscious which better tbh. Very cheap too.

Duinrell is also great. Take the overnight Stena ferry to the Hook of Holland and the day ferry back. You can use club card vouchers.

Do you have any specific Stockholm island recommendations? We are visiting later this year.

We had a fantastic holiday in the Netherlands last year and are going back this year. We have also been to Sweden recently and the Netherlands was vastly better value for money.

@6pence Centre Parc in Germany are only cheap if you are outside the state's holiday.

We priced the one up in Lüneburger Heide one October and it was bang in their Autumn break = hugely expensive.

But during England May half-term a lot better.

We've been to the Netherlands three times during the summer. Fantastic country. Stayed at Duinrell twice and last time also went to Efteling and stayed for a week in Gelderland: www.detweebruggen.com

Ironically we're looking at Spain this year as it was pretty wet in the Netherlands last year!

Sylt is extremely posh and expensive. For German Islands, I'd rather look at Rügen, or Langenook/North Frisian Islands. Also the Schleswig Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern regions as a whole (Flensburg?)

Lake Constance is lovely but can get very hot in July/August, as can the more landlocked area around Berlin.

NL - plenty of great vacation areas in Zeeland. North and South Holland are more urban so depends what you're looking for. Summers are quite temperate and usually good weather. Bergen by the way contrary to a pp isn't in Holland but the West coast of Norway - but it's absolutely gorgeous and you have good access to the fjords from there. Does get quite rainy though.

I'd also look at the Polish coastal areas. Gdansk is certainly worth a daytrip, and there's a well known beach resort just next door (Zopot.) Or even further east. You could even spend a few days there, then take the overnight car ferry to Stockholm.

Last option, Helsinki is stunning architecturally, has the White Nights in June/July and you can do great day trips over to Estonia. Or even just tour the three Baltic countries by car for a week or two?

There is also a Bergen in the Netherlands, and a Bergen aan Zee.

I've been to Brgen - ‘contrary’ to your knowledge.

Definitely in The Netherlands (too)
https://amsterdamian.com/see/photos/bergen-a-beautiful-small-town-in-noord-holland/

@boatyardblues I'm sorry, I don't. I was staying in Stockholm with friends and was taken on one of the public boats which go to the islands. The one I remember was only partially inhabited, as in mainly in the summer. I'd look up island trips from Stockholm. Ystad , an hour or so from Malmo, is a nice small town in southern Sweden worth a visit

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ystad

@GrumpyPanda I find Sylt depends on what you want. Friends go every Summer and I wouldn‘t call them posh. Yes, it‘s a celebrity island but it‘s also a lot more.
I prefer the North Sea coast to the Baltic one personally.

Bodensee - yes, it‘s suppose to be warmer but we had 17 degrees and rain.

But I find German summer easier to deal with, the houses are better equipped to stay cool with proper outside blinds and in general better insulated. I am German and never had problems with heat like I have here in SE London.

I agree with Zeeland, a great area for a holiday.

Funny to see Duinrell mentioned - my student ds worked there as a student and absolutely loved it. So chilled out. He has convinced us all to go to the Netherlands this summer.

Sylt is the northern-most German island in the Wadden Sea / North Sea. North of there the chain of islands become Danish, starting with Rømø which is reached by a causeway from Jutland. Fanø is the next holiday island in the chain, accessed by ferry from Esbjerg. A good base for the area would either be Tønder or Ribe - both charming historical Danish towns.

Over on the other side of Southern Denmark is Sønderborg which has a castle, beaches and a vibrant town centre, and which is also a good starting point for the whole of southern Denmark and the Flensburg/Glücksburg area of northern Germany.

I've narrowed it down. I'm looking at a Copenhagen and then a train to either Ystad or Lund in Sweden. Does anyone know this area? I'd welcome views on which is nicer. I'm looking for pretty, chilled, easy access to nature/sea.
@marmaladeandpeanutbutter @TizerorFizz

Lund is prettier, but is not on the coast (OK- it's only a short drive to the coast) whereas Ystad is a harbour town. Watch a few episodes of Wallender (the original, Swedish episodes if possible) to get a feel of the place.

Just to throw in another pretty place with access to the sea and to nature - from Ystad you can take a ferry across to Bornholm, which is a very chilled Danish island off the coast of Sweden. There are white sandy beaches on the south side of the island, and rocky cliffs on the east and north side - and loads of "nature" in between.

I went to Sandhamn last year. It was gorgeous, and easy to get to; either a direct but very slow ferry from Central Stockholm, or 1 hour by bus then 1 hour by ferry from Slussen. Islands round there are lovely, Runmaro for example

Ystad is pretty. Small market town type vibe, on the coast. Long beaches and very cold sea, but memorable. I can't recall Lund. I think Malmo is worth a day or so on the way back to Copenhagen. You have to pass through it anyway, if you're on the train. Then 45 minutes into Copenhagen.

Lund is a great day out. Old uni city with outdoor museum and a fab church. Malmo has a bit more to see but a Swedish friend recommended Lund. Not sure about beaches but again there are some south and north of Malmo.

Thanks. Sounds like both could be good bases.