Erkemederstrand

The forests and wetlands around Zeewolde are fab places for a leisurely walk or bike ride (bike hire available on site) – tread quietly and you may spot birds and roe deer as you roam. An hour’s pedalling will take you to Fun Forest Almere, where you can sail through the trees on the woodland adventure course, or you could take a boat trip from the marina next to the site. For more animal antics, head to Burgers Zoo, the Dolfinarium or Apenheul primate park – all are within a 45-minute drive. Other family-friendly days out within half an hour or so include Walibi Holland theme park and Aviodrome, an aviation-themed museum with more than 100 planes, a 4D film theatre and flight simulators. Should you fancy a slice of city life, the museums, canals and cafés of Utrecht are around a half-hour drive away, or you could get to Amsterdam in less than an hour.