Vakantiepark De Wiltzangh

Take the kids to spot snowy owls and capercaillies at Vogelpark Ruinen bird park (10 minutes’ drive), treat them to Wild West-themed rides at Slagharen (35 minutes) or take a savannah safari at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (40 minutes). Need to cool off on sunny days? Head for Strand Nijstad (20 minutes) for fun splashing in the lake, or take a dip from the sandy beach at Blauwe Meer (half an hour). Keen to add a little culture into the mix? Try to solve the puzzle of the mysterious prehistoric dolmens near the villages of Diever and Havelte (both 20 minutes). At Frederiksoord (25 minutes) you can tour the 19th-century almshouses, communal kitchen and farmsteads of a Colony of Benevolence, founded by a philanthropist keen to help people out of poverty. Distinctive Dutch townscapes of canals, windmills and gabled houses can be seen in lively Meppel (25 minutes), and typical thatched cottages in Giethoorn (half an hour); both towns have a sprinkling of museums and cafés.