Worldly Chatter

Camping, I’ve done it on several occasions in my life. I have slept in a tent, having it flooded while I slept, and I have slept soundly and dry in a caravan. The Dutch are big on their camping. People love to go out camping for a week or six weeks. There are those die hard campers who have grounds that they call their summer home year after year. Yet for the Dutch, it isn’t with a tent. Let me introduce you to the world of Dutch caravans!
Camping Jachthaven Uitdam is fifteen kilometers outside Amsterdam and has tons to offer. Walking, cycling or boating and the grounds come fully equipped for your caravan, grocery store and a place for the kiddies to go! Now, the caravan is particularly important to the camping life here in the Netherlands. Each park that has a lot for your caravan, big or fold-up, and a means for you to power it up and have gas and plumbing is a winner to the Dutch, they aren’t big on tents you see. Another park is Gaasperpark on the Gaasperplas (Gaasper Lake). Twenty minutes from Amsterdam it has similar features to the other park but with one rule to go by. No powerboats or motorbikes. This is strictly for cycling, rowing, sailing and anything that doesn’t require an engine on the trails and waters. My point, the outdoors is a great way to spend your time in Holland! But before you start clicking on links and planning let me teach you about the caravans you could rent, or buy if you live here.
Vouwcaravan; they are very popular for the light traveler or the person with not a lot of space. It literally means folding caravan. First time I saw it I was a tad puzzled, what was this box I thought! Then I remembered the vouwfiets, folding bikes, and laughed a little; with a country so densely populated that so small they find a way to fold just about anything! It has enough space for a small family and when you’re done fold it back up and hitch it to the back of your car and go.
You also have the tourcaravan and stacaravan! Stacaravan is literally stay caravan. Dutchies, who are big on camping yearly will by a massive stacaravan, rent or buy land on camp grounds here in Holland and make that their home away from home! Dutchie told me of a family member of hers who did this. They went up in size until they ended up with a massive stacaravan and now is fully furnished for their get-a-ways! Grounds to put your put your home away from home can be found all over Holland! You can also find a stacaravan on campgrounds that have them permanently on site for those who don’t own or rent but just want a place to vacation. I wouldn’t argue doing this!
Then you have the tourcaravan. Tour caravans, travel caravan, either translation with do just fine. You guessed it; these caravans go where you go! These are particularly popular to rent or buy for the Dutchie, tourists who love to travel Europe! Dutchies love these to go to Austria, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. You can easily search on the web to rent one and get great package deals. Skiing packages, mountain climbing packages and more! But you cannot forget to pack!
The Dutch rarely go anywhere without a caravan full of Dutch goodies. Hagelslag (sandwich sprinkles), pindakaas (Dutch peanut butter) and Dutch kaas (cheese) are a must! (You can see they love their sandwich stuff!) Never forget the coffee! Just like the English have tea time, the Dutch have koffietijd (coffee time)! You can usually count on a community of campers either here in Holland or elsewhere getting together for koffietijd and a party in the evening to have some fun! So rent a tourcaravan, grab the hagelslag and koffee and travel! It’s better than sleeping in a tent that floods when the Dutch rain comes!

camping, caravans, stacaravan, vouwcarava, tourcaravan, campers, Netherlands, Europe, Holland campgrounds, Europe campgrounds, Camping Jachthaven Uitdam, Gaasperpark, Gaasperplas (Gaasper Lake), Tourist activities