The NCC- going Dutch

We met another couple from the Caravan Club on a site this year. Not unusual, you may think. But this was the first time we had come across anyone else from the UK in over eight years of visiting Nederlandse Caravan Club sites. 

This is strange because the UKCC has a reciprocal agreement with the Dutch Caravan Club, the NCC, an agreement of which we have made frequent use in our visits to Holland. The NCC sites are in the most beautiful areas near to woods, dunes, or water- and there’s plenty of all three inHolland.  Interesting towns and villages are easily within range, with lovely pancake restaurants and cafes. 

Since I was eight years old I’ve always loved cycling; not a lycra wearing super fit racer type but trousers tucked in socks sort - using my bike to get about the village and just generally as a form of transport.  My wife on the other hand isn’t that keen to get on her bike because where we live there are hills! 

However,Holland, famous for its windmills is also famous for its level cycle tracks, so was the obvious choice, and since we live in West Yorkshire, the Hull to Rotterdam Europoort ferry was practically on our doorstep.  Car, caravan and bikes, with overnight cabin, so you drive off next morning refreshed and on the right hand side of the road. The start to an ideal holiday. 

With just 21 sites the NCC is nowhere near as big an organisation as the UKCC, but what is lacks in size it makes up in friendliness. We have stayed on most of the NCC club sites. At every site we have been welcomed not just by the warden (beheerder) and his wife but also by fellow caravanners. And they almost all speak English, which is a help because my Dutch is limited to Goedemorgen and Tot ziens! The beheerder often organises a weekly informal get-together where we meet everyone else and drink wine or coffee and eat tasty snacks.  Other activities are often organised to which we are invited: boules, short walks, guided bicycle rides, barbeques. 

The NCC sites are very varied, smaller than UKCC sites but much bigger than CLs. All have the essential water and waste disposal, toilet facilities, free hot showers, a washing machine, and FREE Wi-Fi.  (UKCC please note!) 

    Note from the wife: 

The best thing aboutHolland is the cycle tracks. They have a wonderful system of signing so you can around on a proper cycle track which is separated from the traffic.  The countryside is interesting, there is lots of water which means lots of water birds, and there are cuckoos which seem to have abandoned our part of theUK. We often see hares and rabbits; in fact Holland has a surprising amount of wildlife and is much more than bulb-fields, green-houses and Amsterdam.  In rural and suburban areas many homes have a paddock alongside with a few deer, goats, sheep, lamas or horses, and because we’re meandering along on bicycles we have time to stop and stare. 

    Back to husband:

We have found NCC sites comfortable and affordable. Affordable, as management and maintenance are provided by club members. The price of a pitch in low season is €8.50, and in high season €10 to 13.50, (2013) with metered electricity at €0.40 per kwh. To book a pitch you can email the site or phone the beheerder between (usually) 1700 to 1800 hrs. Best thing to do is look at www.ncc.nl and if you have Google translate you can read it all in English. Tot ziens!