Margriet
Henriette and Ingrid: “We rented a camper and immediately fell in love with it.”
Henriette and Ingrid: “We rented a camper and immediately fell in love with it.”
Henriette (59) and Ingrid (58) from Amsterdam have been the proud owners of a camper van for six months. They head out on weekend trips within the Netherlands as often as possible, and this summer, they are taking it to Scandinavia.
“When our daughter was little, we always stayed at larger campsites so she could be around other children. Later, we rented a cottage from Natuurhuisje or Buitenleven. Now that she’s an adult, we go on vacation just the two of us. At first, we considered buying a cottage in the Netherlands, but then you end up going to the same place every time. With a camper, you can go anywhere. Sleeping in a tent isn’t very comfortable. This is a luxury form of camping. We sleep under cover, and there’s plenty of space for your belongings.
“The arrangement of the seats can be changed from a lounge area to a dining space. You can also move the chairs and table outside. The kitchen is at the back. We open the hatch and are able to cook outside. There’s a solar panel on the roof, so we don’t need an external power source.”
“The big advantage is that you always have everything with you, and you don’t have to deal with renting a cottage anymore. We rented a camper for a weekend to see if it was something for us. That weekend, we drove through the Netherlands and were instantly sold. This camper van is so cute; it’s compact, and the design is well thought out. The arrangement of the seats can be changed from a lounge area to a dining space. You can also move the chairs and table outside. The kitchen is at the back. We open the hatch and can cook outside. There’s a solar panel on the roof, so we don’t need an external power source.”
“So far, we’ve only been on weekend trips within the Netherlands with our camper van. It’s nice to see how many small campsites there are, each with a lot of care and attention put into it—clean facilities, little shops, and covered spots. We consciously choose smaller campsites because we come for the peace and nature. Each time, we go to a new place. The bikes come along, and we explore the surroundings. This summer, we’re heading to Sweden and Denmark. We have a rough idea of the route, and along the way, we’ll see what catches our interest and where we want to stay longer. The great thing about the van is that we already feel like we’re on vacation as soon as we step inside. Our dream is to travel around for three months one day. In the past, we took long-haul flights, like to the Maluku Islands, where Henriette family lives. At the moment, we stay closer to home and discover how beautiful that can be.”
Written by: Dorine van der Wind for Margriet.
Images by: Marloes Bosch