Netherlands holiday planning help! August, tweens.

[HippyKayYay]

We're going to the Netherlands for about 10 days this August. Kids 9 & 12. I've already planned the beginning (3-4 days staying in Haarlem, with day trips to Amsterdam and the beach. Then the last 3ish days in Efteling.

For the middle bit, I'd like to be somewhere picturesque, more rural, where we can go on gentle cycle rides, explore, maybe a castle or sculpture park, maybe a pretty town, windmills! Staying somewhere with a pool (probably indoor) for the kids. ChatGPT has thrown up various suggestions, but none of them are grabbing me. Any ideas or places you've been and loved?

Kids are at that awkward in between age where they're too old for playgrounds, but too young (at least mine are) for super adventurous activities (they're both quite anxious and cautious - so don't like stuff like zip-lines or caves). They do love swimming.

I also realise that the weather might not be brilliant, so need somewhere that has indoor and outdoor options.

Have a look at De Kleine Wolf. It’s got loads to do and has a large heated indoor pool.

Have you considered a center parcs? I can’t recommend any, as haven’t been yet, but we are off to the De Kempervennen Center Parcs in August. Apparently there are nice places nearby to cycle to, and I am sure some of the other things on your potential wishlist could also be ticked off if you are planning to have a car while you’re away?

We went to De Kempervennen last year with a 14 and 12 year old. We really enjoyed it. We had a ski lesson which was good and we also hired bikes and did a cycle ride around the little towns, stopping for ice cream etc. We did Efteling one day - are you planning 3 days in the park? I wouldn’t say there’s enough to do for that long.

@BoysRule - no, one full day in Efteling and possibly an additional half day depending on when we arrive/ leave.

Have you considered Duinrell? Hood as a base for exploring tge surrounding areas, gorgeous beaches, cycle routes, Amsterdam etc.

I also second the Dutch centre parks.

The Netherlands has several good zoos if your children like animals. One has pandas which my daughter was desperate to see. We also enjoyed de holge veluwe national park. There are 1800 white bikes which are free for you to use. Within the park there are Kms and Kms of cycle paths to explore. Plus there is a art museum if that's your thing. We also visited the Netherlands open air museum. There is absolutely loads to see here including windmills!

Den Haag has a coastal part which fits your description.

We stayed in this landal park 2 years ago after a few nights at Efteling. Holiday park De Reeuwijkse Plassen.
There was an indoor pool and you could also hire bikes and cycle round the large lake. We also cycled to Gouda one day and took the car to the Kinderdjik windmills, which was a great day out.

Yes I’ve been considering Duinrell. I just wasn’t sure if it was overkill with Efteling too.

veluwe Was one of ChatGPT’s suggestions! I just can’t decide though… Is it beautiful! I’d like some beautiful landscape!

Sounds good!

What about North Holland- the area north of Amsterdam - pretty Dutch towns like Marken, Edam, Volendam, cycling through polders. There is an open air museum with working windmills at Zaandam called Zaanse schans.

further north I hear good things about texel island though not been myself.

It was pretty. There was quite a lot of heather out when we went so that made it pink in patches. It's a good way to spend a day if you like cycling and you appreciate it being flat and car free. We also stayed near Efteling and hired bikes there to explore the dunes.

We went to Duinrell last year and loved it (kids aged 4 and 8 at the time). I think it would be perfect for tweens but make sure you read and understand the swimming pool access arrangements if swimming is important (you have to book a slot and get vouchers for a certain number of free swims if you book direct, vouchers for discounted swims if through Eurocamp, but basically you can’t swim every day).

There are loads of things to do apart from swim, though - rides, mini golf, bikes, all sorts, and it’s a good location for day trips to The Hague, Gouda, Leiden, loads of places. We didn’t go to Efteling but my understanding is they’re very different.

Zaanse Schans was good but a major tourist trap! It's pretty with lots of windmills and touristy shops. If you want to have your photo in a giant clog it's the place to go! We enjoyed it but it's busy and there are a lot of people being bused in.

Bungalow parks like Center parks, Landal & Roompot are really popular in the Netherlands & many have swimming pools & other stuff like crazy golf.

As well as places mentioned earlier, the coast north & south of Haarlem has a nature reserve of dunes, which are pretty & have cycling routes. The island of Texel has lots of cycle paths through fields & some attractions - it feels wilder than the mainland. Giethoorn on the other side of the Ijisselmeer to Amsterdam is a stunning village & you can cycle through the surrounding water lands. If you are staying near Amsterdam / Haarlem, the Zaanse Schans (an open air museum with lots of windmills) might be worth cycling to.

Cycling in the Netherlands with DC is just wonderful as there are so many safe routes.