Camping Meerwijck

Budding historian or wildlife watcher, hiker or cyclist, outdoorsy or not, there’s plenty to see out and around Camping Meerwijck. Zuidlaren (15 minutes’ drive) is a nice starting point, with a windmill museum and the family-friendly Sprookjeshof Zuidlaren (10 minutes) attraction with indoor play areas, slides and a toboggan run. For a quick trip before lunch or dinner, Heemtuin Muntendam (15 minutes) has splendid boardwalks over local ponds and a little pitstop where you could treat the kids to pastries. Kids should also like ogling at the creepy crawlies at DoeZoo Insektenwereld (45 minutes) and the bigger creatures at animal parks like Wildlands (50 minutes). There are lots of amusement parks within driving distance, like Nienoord (40 minutes), which has a petting zoo and outdoor activities on the grounds of a historic mansion. For a bit of history, Bourtange (50 minutes) has a star-shaped fort built in 1593. Orvelte (50 minutes) is also full of interesting bits, almost like a living museum, as it has a sawmill, wooden shoemaker and blacksmith. Up north are the East Frisian islands too. Borkum, the largest of them all and home to a seal colony and gorgeous dunes, is accessible by a ferry from Eemshaven (40 minutes’ drive and an hour and 15 minutes’ ferry).