Amsterdam campsites: great-value stays for the city and beyond
Camping in Amsterdam? Sure, why not? There’s plenty of green space in and around the Dutch capital, so it’s perfectly possible to mix up a bit of city culture with some fine fresh air and outdoorsy time. There’s an excellent public transport system in and around the city so getting around is a doddle, even if you choose to stay a bit further out – stay at a campsite near Amsterdam rather than within its boundaries and you can pick ’n’ mix your own schedule of city days, open-air activities and trips to other parts of the Netherlands.
And it’s worth broaching the tricky subject of money too: whether you bring along a tent, roll up in your caravan or motorhome or pick one of our Amsterdam camping pods, cabins or rental tents, it’s likely to compare favourably with the sort of budget hotel/hostel/rental pad you might find for a similar price in the city centre.
Ready to start planning an Amsterdam camping break? Check out our guide to finding the best place for your stay.
Camping and caravan sites near Amsterdam: backpacker breaks and family stays
Amsterdam’s got to be one of the must-visit stops for folk touring the Netherlands in a motorhome or caravan, or taking in the sights of northern Europe on a backpacking adventure. It’s got something for everyone – stacks of amazing art, canals to cruise along, colourful flower markets, quirky shops and of course a famed social scene.
With all of that comes a real mix of travellers, and a good variety of Amsterdam campsites to cater for them all. Pick yourself a peaceful place that’s just got the essentials (bathrooms, laundry, wifi, maybe a shop) or sign the family up for a more action-packed stay somewhere with kids’ activities, a play area and a pool (indoor or outdoor depending on your hardiness level). And of course there’s only one way to get around on Holland hols, so maybe you’d like to throw bike hire into the mix too.
A caravan park or campsite near Amsterdam is the obvious pick if you’re travelling with all your own kit – solo travellers, couples and families should all be able to find fab spots in which to lay their tent or park up their wheeled home. If you’re not in a position to bring all your own bits and bobs, make life easy by picking out a lodge, static caravan or rental tent stay with everything provided (a bit like an apartment rental with added fresh air – how fab).
What to do during a camping break near Amsterdam
This is a city where it’s easy to fill many a day strolling around in the city centre – the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s House are musts, as are canal boat rides, market browsing and drinks in a traditional ‘brown café’. Beyond that, families might want to include the ARTIS zoo and Nemo Science Museum, while nature lovers take a dip in Sloterplas lake and trendseekers look out the latest hip neighbourhoods.
But even so, it’s worth extending your horizons out beyond Amsterdam, for there is much to see in the vicinity. Pack in the classic Dutch sights by aiming for the Alkmaar cheese market, venturing up to Volendam to see folk wandering about in traditional dress, tripping through the tulip fields of Keukenhof and wandering around the windmills of Zaanse Schans.
Haarlem (often referred to as being like a ‘mini Amsterdam’) is another place to pop on your list, as is a day out at the seaside – did you know there were some fine sandy beaches about a 40-minute drive from Amsterdam? Perhaps you’ll want to make that Amsterdam camping break a little longer…
Making Amsterdam just one stop on a wider tour of the country? Check out all our options for Netherlands campsites and holiday parks.
