Holiday Park in Holland - what do you think of this?

[MadameCastafiore]

And has anyone got any wise words about holiday in the Netherlands?

Will it be clean?

WIll I get totally fed up with having to do stuff constantly as it looks as though there is loads to do?

Kids are 8 and 4 by the way.

Will we be able to get by as neither of us speak Dutch - we only cover French, SPanish and Italian (trying to get across that we are not wallies who are going but wouldn't make an effort) but I used to work for a Dutch Bank and tried learning but it was so bloody hard!

It will cost us about £850 for a week at the end of the summer holidays and will be easy to get to as we can get a ferry not far from where we live.

I think it looks great - not sure about the caravan (er hmm Mobile Home) living but as there is loads to do I doubt we would spend lots of time in it.

here you go

This is to get some general info but also some ideas of how to convince DH - he is all for leaving it and getting something last minute but I don't want to end up in a grotty hotel in Playa De Americas as have done that before and had the worst hoilday of my life! And I want something for the DCs to be able to do rather than sit around a pool and them get grouchy!

We have been to Duinrell but booked direct and it's lovely. If you book direct you get a chalet rather than a mobile home. I know someone who has gone every easter for about 10 yrs.They have had the mobile homes and said they were excellent all brand new if the last couple of year.
We had the brochure through this week and my dc's were asking to go back.
The theme park isn't huge but it's nice to be able to come and go as you please. Local town very pleasant and the pancake restaurant next door is very good.
The Dutch are very helpful and efficient and language doesn't matter.
If you want a bit more luxery try the Centerparcs in the Netherlands, far cheaper than the uk even with the current euro.
Laast time we went we did a 5 days at a centerparcs followed by a week at Duinrell.

We have done the Kempervennen Centre Parcs about 4 times now and we LOVE it - if you book direct and early you get all sorts of discounts (they have an indoor ski slope)

Anyways.....
It is no issue whatsoever to get around - everyone seems to speak english. We found the drive quite easy (well, especially me, as I sat the whole way )

Everybody speaks English and is happy to speak English (unlike a cetain European country), and your kids are the perfect age to go to Eftling a fantastic theme park for primary age kids.

Have been to Center Parcs in Holland twice now had great holidays both times. Imagine a Cener parcs that is reasonably priced with staff that are prepared to fall over backwards to make sure you have a good stay (probably a bit harsh on the UK CP staff - but if you have been there you know what I mean).

Dutch kids go back to school in mid-August so you should find that the prices go down and things are not as crowded at the end of August.

I've not been on holiday in Holland, but I live here and it is indeed true that everyone speaks English.

This year the first of the Dutch pripary schools go back on the 16th of August, the second batch on the 23rd August and the last of them 6th of September.

Oh, just re-read, are you thinking of going to Duinrell? That's practically on my doorstep!

The Efteling is definitely well worth a visit but it's about a 1 - 1 1/2 hour drive away. Blijdorp (the zoo in Rotterdam) is excellent and also well worth a visit (about 1/2 an hours drive).

I forgot to say the Tikkipool at Duinrell can get a bit crowded and we much prefer the centerparcs pools which are open from 10am to 10pm. I think the tikkipool free timeis only for 4 hours and you can use it for 2 hours a day, you can pay to use it at other times.
The advantage of Duinrell over Centerparcs is that it actually in the town so you can walk to restaurants shops, whereas all the centerparcs we have been to are in the middle of nowhere and you need to use the car.There are shops and usually 4 or 5 restaurants on site.
I would recommend either as a family holiday.Kids clubs at centerparcs are excellant and at one time they were free.

It is a very clean site. No problem with not speaking Dutch - most speak English.

There is a supermarket in the small village/town which is much cheaper than the onsite supermarket. Also some good pancake houses around and about and a beach which is easy to cycle to even with small children.

Other good restaurants around but pricey as it is a very very expensive area to live in - the houses fromthe site into Dan Hague are massive and set in acres of land along the street.

Weather not wonderful the last two years - much the same as here in the uk. But there is the swimming which is only free if you book particular static vans - other wise you pay a small charge each time you swim and it is limited to two hours (they do fine you if you go over your two hours and that inclused getting changed - so just get the children in there dressing gowns and whip them out) Take with you passport photograph of all 4 of you - even all four of you in one booth is fine - that way you have the passport photo ready to get into the swimming.

The main ordenery pool last year - which is open air was never opened.

My dd was 9 and meet up with a boy who she had actually played with in Southwold on holiday! They just went of and tryed all the rides and had a ball after breakfast each day.

We stayed there 5 nights and then moved on, that was enough. We then toured to other campsites.

Thanks everyone - that is great advice.

I think we will give the Cebter Parcs a go - cheaper than the other place and I think DH would like to get the DCs skiing so that I think is going to convince him.

Thanks for all your help!

we went to cp in holland (eemhoff) - which was excellent value for money and very good with it.

We had a VIP lodge for about £750 for 7 days in August 2 years ago.

They delivered fresh bread to our villa every morning and also gave a 25 euro voucher to spend in the shop along with a free newspaper voucher everyday. Like I said very good value for money.

We've been to Duinrell (courtesy of the Sun ) and to 2 of the Dutch CP. The first year we went to De Eemhoff, which was lovely. Went late August and it wasn't too busy (didn't realise that Dutch school holidays were different to ours). Last year went in June, which of course was full of school kids. Went to Het Heijderbos, which is over by the German border.

Both me and DS2 (18) experienced some racism/ bullying by Dutch teens in the Park. I was on my own in the pool and got targeted by a group of Young people who were downright nasty. DS was on his own elsewhere. In both cases they thought we were German. I've no idea why. I can only assume that in that area Not Dutch= German? The Dutch tend to be big and blond, while we are short and dark haired/ eyed. DS stood up to them and said in English that he was English not German. They apologised and backed off. His happened after mine so I didn't think to do that.

We used to visit Holland regularly when I was growing up and I have never experienced this before, but it is something worth bearing in mind.

Wow thanks Catweazle - that is something to bear in mond as we are all dark - me through a bit of mediteranian blood and DH looks Jewish! We are all over the national average on the height front other than weeny DD but she will be 9 by then and hopefully no one would be mean to her!

Have been to Het Heidjebos and Het Meerdal (which is close by) twice. Both DS and I are very mediterranean looking and DH is dark haired as well but we have never had any problems

We've been to a few C-parcs in Holland and Belgium - all lovely! It doesn't matter too much which one you stay at because if you're staying at one it's part of the deal that you can get in free to all the others, and many are only a half hour drive from each other.
If you have young children I would really recommend staying at one with a 'baluba' (huge indoor soft play dome - free to use!) De Edelheide (sp?) has a great one. With that and the pool you really will not need anything else to occupy your children!

We have been to Centerparcs in the Netherlands and it was very good. There were nno language problems - they never expect anyone to speak Dutch.

The only place we found it a 'problem' was on road signs (excarbated by the fact that we forgot to pack a map).