Looking for a classic Dutch vacation to get outdoors and truly get away from it all? In the heart of Friesland, you will get the chance to experience the traditional Dutch-style camping holiday. Stay in a rustic cabin among peaceful nature and explore the surroundings with all they have to offer…including a UNESCO cultural heritage site!
The campsite we recommend includes a variety of accommodation options. The price indicated includes the Hiker’s Cabin. You could opt to stay in the Safari Tent instead. Simply contact us and we can adjust the tour package accordingly.
Looking for a longer vacation? Our 8-day Truly Dutch Holiday: Family Adventure in Nature. Or you might prefer our Netherlands Family Holiday by Land and Sea for a different adventure altogether!
Low Season Prices: From €215 per person (based on a stay in the cabin sharing a double or twin room)
You will begin your classic Dutch vacation at a campsite located in the South Frisian village called Bantega – Het Zwerversnest. Check-in begins at 15:00, and you will have the evening to settle in for the week!
About Minicamping Het Zwerversnest
The campsite, called Minicamping Het Zwerversnest, combines the perfect location, a rustic camping experience, and comfort all in the heart of the Frisian Lake District. Here, you’ll be surrounded by countless walking, biking, and boating routes, as well as several nature reserves.
Sanitary facilities are offered on-site, and are shared by all guests. Moreover, there is a playground for the youngest campers and an indoor recreation space for when you’ve had enough of rainy fun and feel like hosting a family Jeu de boules or pool championship.
A set of bed linen and daily breakfast is included in your reservation. Your accommodations are in a rustic Hiker’s Cabin, although you can opt to stay in a Safari Tent instead by request.
This morning after having breakfast at the campsite, you will set off on a bike tour; the bicycle rental is included in the price.
Electric bike tour
You will receive a map with directions and your bike tour itinerary. You have plenty of time to explore De Rottige Meente Reserve and De Weerribben Park while riding with the wind through the beautiful landscapes of Southern Friesland.
De Rottige Meente Reserve
The De Rottige Meente Reserve has low peat, a type of wetlands, that is characteristic of this region. Efforts are being taken to restore the bogs and the natural water flow within them, since, in the past, large parts of the low moor were excavated for turf (peat) extraction and the groundwater levels had been lowered for agricultural use.
Today, you will explore the surrounding areas, and get the chance to meet the exceptional flora and fauna residing here. The nature reserve is home to many birds like the falcon, the owl, and the purple, silver, and blue heron, as well as flora such as the crab shear – a characteristic aquatic plant only growing in clean water; it can grow to become sturdy floating vegetation you could walk on like a “green water mat”.
Today, you have a choice between kayaking and going on a sloop ride organised by your accomodation. We recommend taking a picnic lunch today.
Kayak tour
In cooperation with a local company, a kayak tour of the Rottige Meente can be organised for you. After biking through the park yesterday, you will be surprised by the new perspective you can enjoy by being on the water. With peat pits and green vegetation all around, you might get the chance to see a grass snake swim by or hear the distinct voice of the bittern.
Sloepvaren
Whether you are tired from yesterday’s route or simply want to slow down and enjoy the day, renting a sloop for the day is the perfect option for you! By joining this tour, you will explore the Reserve from a new perspective. You’ll miss nothing, focusing all your attention on spotting every bird and learning to tell apart the various water plants.
Lemmer is a very special place to visit, with the main attraction being Woudagemaal. Woudagemaal is the largest steam-pumping station in the world; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still functional, used as recently as last year as a preventive measure during heavy rainfall to lower the water level in the Frisian lakes and canals.
If you are lucky enough to visit on a training day, you will witness the station going “up in steam”. Walking around the town, you will notice characteristic canal locks and traditional churches, as well as picturesque canals and, of course, Lemmer Beach.
You depart from Bantega today, we hope you had a great time relaxing on your Dutch vacation in the nature of Friesland. We wish you a safe trip home or to your next destination!
TravPact is Travelife Certified, which means our tours are in line with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Industry criteria and our certification is formally recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
With a professional background in the nonprofit sector working in international development, we are keenly aware of the impact tourism can have on a destination and its people.
That’s why we choose to bring your focus away from driving long distances, and instead offer alternatives such as bikes, sailboats, kayaks, or simply walking to reach a destination where possible.
Moreover, in order to give you the most authentic experience, we give preference to small local hotels, B&B’s, and campsites. In these spaces, you can connect with the Dutch culture in an authentic way and experience the cities and villages of the Northern Netherlands.
