Last stop in the Netherlands - Resort de Arendshorst

This was our last campsite on our tour of five countries in five weeks. We crossed the border into the Netherlands and stayed in the lovely river-side Resort de Arendshorst. It is not far from the town of Ommen, in a part of the Netherlands that is not often visited by tourists - which is a shame really because it has so much to offer. Since teaming up with the Caravan Club though the site receives more English visitors and we were one of a few there at the time. We had a thoroughly relaxing time at the site. The owner (fluent / bilingual English speaker) and his family and staff were all so friendly, welcoming and helpful.

 

Resort de Arendshorst is a large site; a site of two halves. One half provides pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents and the other half accommodates 'bungavans'  which are luxurious chalets nestled amongst the woodland. Both border the meandering river Vecht that passes  the site and carries on to Ommen. The area for pitches consists of two large open fields, bordered by trees, bushes and the river. Unlike other sites, all of the pitches are on the outskirts of the field; this means that the site has very spacious feel and, of course, there's plenty of room to play games in the middle! The pitches are flat and on grass; some overlook the river - we were lucky enough to get one of these. We pitched up with door facing outwards and had a beautiful view over the water.

 

The toilet block is a short walk away in the woods. The block has outdoor toilets and a couple of showers which are activated by a card (payable). At reception there is a small shop selling a selection of non-perishable foods as well as fresh bread and croissants that need to be ordered the previous evening. There is also a restaurant / bar that serves hot and cold food and drinks. This was a popular area and many guests would come for meals in the evening or stop for a coffee or beer. There is also a take away menu so you can buy a pizza and eat it back on your pitch. The kitchen is open in the evenings between 5 - 7pm, although these times vary in high season. 

 

The reception, the main hub for information, offers leaflets on places to visit and hires out bikes (€9 per day or €36 per week), canoes (€20 for a whole day or €15 for half a day) and gas BBQs (€10 for 3 hours plus €10 deposit). 

 

The site is popular with couples and families. For children, there are a couple of playgrounds on the site, a paddling pool (for toddlers and youngsters) and a small petting farm with goats, fluffy, white chickens, ducks and geese. Ella loved this!

 

Whilst there is no swimming pool on site, there is the river! In hot sunshine, it is great to jump in and have a refreshing swim. We did this a couple of times. Beware of the passing boats though; it is a popular river for boats (big and small - some available for hire further up the river)

 

Fishing is a popular sport with many of the people staying. There is a small tackle shop on site but most seem to bring their own equipment and enjoy sitting on the banks of the river, waiting for a catch. 

 

Getting about on bike is the best way to see the local area. There is a cycle path that runs directly outside the site into Ommen, about 5km away, and Vilsteren/ Dalfsten. If you don't have your own bikes, then they can always be hired from the site. Ommen, a typical Dutch town, lies on the river and offers a range of shops and a couple of windmills. 

We used the site bikes to visit Ommen (Ella on the back of one of them). The cycle path is smooth and not surprisingly flat. It follows the river for most of the way and you get the opportunity to spot the Stork's nest and them in it if you're lucky!

 

There are many different routes that take you into moorland, heaths, sand dunes and pine forests. Not far from the site, there are walking trails that take you into the nearby woodland. You can walk to the Heath, in Lemele, which is one the highest points of Overijssel and offers stunning scenery and views.  

 

Vecht is the meandering river that passes the site and travels through the landscape of Overijsssel. It passes through picturesque villages, estates, forests and heaths. Various boats pass the site throughout the day and it is tempting to join them by hiring a canoe and paddling down the river to get a different view of the area.

 

Zwolle has been inhabited since the bronze age but the modern city was founded around 800AD by Frisian merchants. Its name is dervied from the word Suolle which means hill. Modern day Zwolle is surrounded by a moat and still has many historic buildings and churches to visit.

 

This village was first started in the 13th century by monks. What makes it quite unique is that it is seven miles long; this is because all of the farms in the village were built along the long road through the bog area. The farms are traditional low Saxon type structures and have green doors and window shutters. 

Staphorst is famous for people wearing traditional dress. It is one of the most religious towns in the Netherlands; a large proportion of the poopulation have fundamentalist Christian (Calvinist) beliefs and oppose technologies like TV. 

 

Giethoorn is an idyllic village with no roads and is only accessible by water, over the many beautiful canals, or by food over its wooden arch bridges. The locals use punters to get around and cars have to remain outside the village. Giethoorn has 4 miles of canals and farmhouses with thatched roods dating back to the 18th century. It's no surprise Giethoorn is a popular tourist attraction and has been given the nickname the Venice of the Netherlands. Cycling and sailing as well as a guided tour are some of the many ways to discover its rustic charm. 

 

Other nearby attractions:

Deventer (26 miles) - medieval town -  one of the oldest in the Netherlands.

Elburg (30 miles) - medieval town.

De Hoge Veluwe National park and Kroller-Muller Museum (52 miles away) - largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh paintings.

Huis Doorn (63 miles) - pocket-sized imperial court that was the last residence of the last German kaiser, fled after war 2. now a museum 63 miles away

Paleis Het Loo restored former royal palace (38 miles)

Fortress Bourtange near border with Germany (60 miles)

Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery (60 miles)

Amsterdam (80 miles)

Keukenhof Holland (100 miles) - Garden of Europe - largest flower garden

 

Gardens:

Milen Ruys - Dedemvaart (11 miles)

Nunspeet (31 miles)