The Verge

The eVentje is a worthy fully electric successor to the iconic VW Camper.

By Thomas Ricker, an associate editor and co-founder of The Verge, with a passion for human-centered cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He has been a tech journalist for nearly 20 years.

Volkswagen’s ID Buzz has now been converted into a custom camper that’s just as clever and charming as the electric microbus itself. It’s called eVentje and is now available for general sale in Europe.

A travel game that shouldn’t be missing in your Ventje is a simple deck of cards. Easy to take with you, and you instantly have dozens of games to play. A deck of cards is universal; you can instantly play with anyone you meet, whether at home or abroad.

Designed and sold by Ventje, a small but rapidly growing company based in the Netherlands, the eVentje conversion is currently the best on the market, especially since Volkswagen has yet to release a California edition of the ID.Buzz – which is still at least a few years away. This long delay since the European sales began in 2022 has created space for a thriving aftermarket for ID.Buzz camper products.

In 2022, I first tested a Ventje camper built on a VW Transporter T5 van, and in 2023, I spent a few weeks using an ID Buzz as my living and workspace. In 2024, I finally got the chance to try the combination of the two for a weekend. And I can tell you: this is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The ID Buzz always grabs attention when it drives by, but the real show starts when the doors open, revealing the beautifully customizable Ventje interior.

The design of the Ventje camper still relies on more than 100 magnets to keep all the wooden surfaces securely in place and perfectly aligned. The camper still features a kitchen accessible from both inside and outside, a pop-up roof, and a multifunctional interior that can be transformed in minutes from a lounge into a bed or even into a luxury outdoor furniture set. New, however, is the addition of a fold-out table and hidden stools, allowing you to create an outdoor bar. Simply mouth-watering.

The kitchen has been improved in several areas, with flexible work surfaces — always a challenge in a small space — and a more efficient use of the available storage.

Ventje has also added not one, but two induction cooktops, powered by a 2200W inverter and a 2160Wh household battery, which is charged by the VW’s battery, a 350-watt solar panel, and a small shore power connection at the bottom of the van.

Ventje also makes it easier to keep all your devices charged, with eight USB ports (4x USB-A, 4x USB-C), a 12V car socket, 3 wireless charging spots, and 3 230V AC outlets for those looking to take advantage of their company’s hybrid work policy. In addition, there are more lighting options, including dimmable LED light strips and a lockable skylight in the pop-up roof.

Volkswagen’s poorly designed software remains a frustration, despite the otherwise excellent driving experience, which stays completely rattle-free even with all of Ventje’s modifications. You’d expect VW to eventually add a ‘camping mode’ to the ID Buzz, a feature already available in the California campers. This would make controlling heating and cooling more intuitive when the vehicle is stationary, and make it easier to disable the interior alarm at night when locking the doors.

The eVentje offers sleeping space for four people but is currently only approved for two. It’s built on the standard wheelbase version of the ID Buzz, not the long-wheelbase model, which is finally expected later this year in Europe and the US. Still, my wife and I had no lack of space, even with the dog along for the trip.

The eVentje, like the ID Buzz, is not cheap. Soon, it will face competition in Europe from VW’s new PHEV “T7” California camper, expected to go on sale in June at roughly the same price. However, that model lacks the retro-futuristic charm of the fully electric ID Buzz, and its interior is likely less flexible — and certainly less fun — than the warm, custom-designed eVentje.

The custom eVentje ID Buzz starts at €95,000 in Europe. Orders placed today will be delivered in nine months to customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Ventje also plans to expand to the UK and the US in the future.

Importantly, Ventje is doing something that VW hasn’t done since the first announcement of the ID Buzz in 2017: delivering a worthy fully electric successor to the iconic Type 2 camper.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge