Camping De Noetselerberg

Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park is a paradise for outdoorsy types, but there’s more to it than just hiking and biking. History buffs should make tracks for the Holten Canadian War Cemetery, a World War II-era burial ground for casualties from the tail end of the war, and the Natuurmuseum Holterberg Diorama natural history museum in the south of the park (both around 20 minutes’ drive from home base). Those aren’t the only historical must-sees near Noetselerberg: this is a particularly castle-filled part of the Netherlands, and Twickel, Warmelo and Weldam are all within half an hour. Though they’re in private ownership and aren’t open to the public, they each have stunning gardens to traipse through, and act as a nice lead in to the fab de Wiersse Gardens, 45 minutes away. If the kids aren’t quite grabbed by parks and the past, give them a day (or two) of distraction at one of the nearby theme parks. The rides of Hellendoorn Adventure Park are less than 15 minutes away, and Waarbeek (half an hour) and Slagharen (45 minutes) are well worth the longer trips. Return to grownup territory at the Grolsch beer factory in Enschede or the Um d’n Olden Smid vineyard, or take a city day in Amsterdam, an hour and a half away.