The Netherlands

Toffeecat

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Hi all, im popping over to Holland in mid January to take some photos and its my first ever foreign trip with the motorhome. Is there anything I need to take, be aware of etc etc. Ive been many times in the car, motorbike and flying but never in the motorhome.

Also does anyone know any decent spots I can wild or even use campsites? Obviously I much prefer to wild but if needs must. The fella im meting is a Canon Pro and im waiting to hear back the exact spot we'll be meeting but I know im arriving in Rotterdam, then im having a few days in the centre of Holland at De Hoge Veluwe then possibly mid way between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Im really looking forward to it. Best of all …..the missus doesn't want to go!!!! Just me the motorhome and my camera! What could be better!!!!!


Mick
 
The Dutch are very big on motorhoming, as you will discover. There are a few apps for stopovers/sites which you may find useful, my favourite is camperstops.
 
There’s a nice place at delft seen loads of vans parked up for night at gates mostly Germans if you want facilities there’s a caravan site that has a dedicated airs type spot for motorhomes at half the price of site a good base for exploring the area Camping near The Hague | Delftse Hout it’s inside a kind of nature reserve with a great bakers and loads of walks boat trips and plenty of wildlife and the Cycling routes is second to none enjoy ��
 
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Good luck with the trip,DONT take any pictures of those nice young girls i think they sell as there in shop windows at night in rotterdam:scared:
 
AFAIK technically it's illegal to wild camp in a van in the Netherlands, but it seems there may be a few spots where it is tolerated.
 
Rotterdam Toll!

When travelling N - S through Rotterdam there are a couple of routes signed, I took the toll one as per my satnav, was surprised that the tunnel toll was around 20€! as it is height based, cars are 2€. I argued with the toll-master but she wouldn't give in, you have to pay the truck rate because of the height! may be called the kiltunnel, but not sure.
AVOID

Edit, maybe the Westerscheldetunnel which is €7.45 now, sure I paid more than that a couple a years ago
 
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motorhomeparking is a useful app. Once loaded you can use it off-line.

Many marinas allow you to stay, often with WiFi, electricity, facilities for all waste and water but you may have to ask which taps are available in winter, many are turned off to avoid freezing but I've never had a problem.

Please be aware the Dutch roads often have VERY sharp bends for no apparent reason, frequently coming off motorways.

If you can avoid rush hour driving it is much more pleasant, typically 7 - 9.30 in the morning and 3 - 6.30pm.

Diesel is cheaper than the UK. I paid €1.31 yesterday ( £1.13 ) off the motorway.

If you have any particular questions do PM me, we spend several months a year here.

We've never had a problem wild camping but do pick areas carefully.
 
I used to like going to Holland and there are some good places to stay, but in Zeeland if you get caught somewhere where it is forbidden, you will get a fine. As usual, common sense is the order of the day. Good luck, and enjoy.
 
My first day is the drive from Rotterdam to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Lots of deer, wild Boar and Mouflons. Im hoping I can find a spot near there, maybe Arnhem. Ive been before on the motorbike years ago but cant remember where we camped. Couple of days there than back to meet the photographer somewhere between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Then its back to Blighty and a weeks tour of North Yorks for landscapes. I just hope im ok driving the motorhome over there. Ive got a sat nav that can be used in Europe. I was ok with the car and bike and Im looking forward to it. The motorhomes only 6 metres long, low profile and under 3500kg fully loaded. Still....its better than being at work. Actually, stabbing yourself in the eye is better than being at work!! LOL The places in Europe we used to tour to on the bikes did seen a lot more camping/motorhome friendly than England. Scotlands great to. Just dont know why we seem less tolerant. Oh well, lots of Heiniken and Cheese to look forward to.
 
Drive carefully and it's no problem, if in doubt give way to cyclists. Aside from the biggest towns even rush hour traffic is much lighter than the UK.
Take plenty of cash, they don't like cards.
p.s. they do a mild brown ale, a bit sweet, but I like it, cheese is expensive.
 
In five years, so probably 15 months or more I HAVE NEVER had any problem with card payments, many market stalls even take them and supermarkets often have PIN only tills. No cash accepted at them. Most self service tills only accept card payments so I've no idea where the last information came from.

Many petrol stations are " 24hr automart " open 24 hrs but card payment only.

I must admit I've never tried to buy funny cigarettes!

Please be aware some roundabouts have " guided " lanes, if you enter the right hand lane you can only turn right.
The Left-hand lane will only be for straight on or turning left only.
 
Glass man said:
In five years, so probably 15 months or more I HAVE NEVER had any problem with card payments, many market stalls even take them and supermarkets often have PIN only tills. No cash accepted at them. Most self service tills only accept card payments so I've no idea where the last information came from.

Many petrol stations are " 24hr automart " open 24 hrs but card payment only.

I must admit I've never tried to buy funny cigarettes!

Please be aware some roundabouts have " guided " lanes, if you enter the right hand lane you can only turn right.
The Left-hand lane will only be for straight on or turning left only.
Click to expand...

The 'last information' came from my recent experience, areas where UK etc tourist frequent cards are acepted, outside of these areas credit cards in particular and some UK debit cards are not excepted.
 
I am most surprised as we don't go to any tourist areas.
We are in Friesland in a small village at the moment.
 
Camperstop Europe is a good book for Stop overs.
There are not as many official places as other European countries but there are some though a lot that we used were parking places and not service points.
Good thing about the Netherlands is vast majority speak good English.
 
Glass man said:
I am most surprised as we don't go to any tourist areas.
We are in Friesland in a small village at the moment.
Click to expand...

It may well be the card you have, but it's a well known problem, I'm not sure how card companies work out their contracts over there but even having a Visa card and putting it in a Visa terminal isn't guaranteed to work, apparently there are changes afoot that will make the situation better next year.
 
We spent a week over there at the beginning of our tour last March. I can confirm the issue with UK cards, both in Utrecht and Valkenburg (the two places we stopped), at least in restaurants and cafes. It seems hit and miss as to whether tourist attractions will accept UK cards. While the Speelklok Museum in Utrecht happily accepted our Clarity cards, the ticket office for the caverns in Valkenburg would not.

Re. wild camping: I understand that it's illegal in NL (which is probably why Dutch sites seem to charge more than French ones!) If you're going to Utrecht, I can recommend Boscamp Bilthoven. It has mixed reviews, but it was all we wanted and a pretty good setting for half an hour's bike ride from the centre of NL's fourth largest city. If you're going as far south as Valkenburg, I can recommend Camping Den Driesch, which is on the hill opposite the castle and pretty much in the city centre.
 
Problem solved. Use MasterCard

Now I know what the card problem is.

MasterCard Is the main provider, many, most? smaller shops, bars, snack bars and market traders do not accept both to save having to pay for the second machine and two membership fees. In tourist areas it is worth the extra cost. As far as I know all the Dutch banks are linked to MasterCard. ( My wife used to work for a Dutch bank. )
We used to have this problem a lot in many smaller places all over Europe.
If you possibly can then get one Visa AND a MasterCard.
 
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