EuroParcs Markermeer

Shuttle the kids off to Sprookjeswonderland (10 minutes’ drive) for a day of entertainment on rides themed around fairy tales and greeting the furry creatures in the petting zoo. Venhuizen (10 minutes) has rainbow-coloured fields of over 300,000 tulips. A tour will show you the machines used throughout the years and you might get to pick a few tulips too. Edam (half an hour), of course, is famous for its cheese. Visit the 18th-century cheese warehouses and browse the cheese markets to sample some yourself. There’s more for more cheese fans in Alkmaar (40 minutes), including a cheese museum and traditional cheese market. If you’re not too full from all the dairy treats, Medemblik (20 minutes) is yet another hot spot for watersports on the lake (or perhaps a visit to the Dutch Steam Museum).