7 Great Campsites Near Amsterdam Where You Can Reconnect With Nature

Camping is a national passion in Holland, and a wonderful way to reconnect with nature and enjoy the outdoors with loved ones or on a solo adventure. Campsites close to the Netherlands' capital are set amidst lakes, beaches or forests, yet are close enough to Amsterdam that you can head into the city and visit some of Europe's best-loved attractions.

Here are 7 of our favourite campsites, where you’re sure to find a spot with the amenities and surroundings for a memorable holiday.

Being able to commune with nature so close to one of Europe's major cities is rare, but such a pleasure is possible at Camping Vliegenbos. The campsite is surrounded by forest, and the adjacent park has a network of woodland hiking trails. Along with tent pitches, the site offers woodsy cabins with underfloor heating and basic kitchenettes. The availability of pitches for camper vans together with the fact that the city centre is only 10 minutes' drive away makes Vliegenbos one of the best motorhome campsites near Amsterdam.

Noorderpark metro station is less than a kilometre from the campsite, while a fun alternative way of getting into the city is to take a 15-minute walk to the nearby ferry stop and sail right to the ferry terminal at the main train station, Amsterdam Centraal. Facilities at Vliegenbos include an outdoor kitchen, plus a convivial restaurant and bar with a terrace.

Open: Year-round

Pet Policy: Dogs are only allowed in campers or caravans

Adjacent to Bloemendaal Beach along the North Sea coast, Camping de Lakens offers something different from your average campsite. After a day of walking in the surrounding Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, you can indulge in a massage or sauna session in the campsite's spa facility. Once your energy is replenished, don't miss out on a yoga class, or a guided fitness session based around boxing or interval training. To make the most of the sea, why not add windsurfing or kitesurfing classes?

From the on-site restaurant, you can alternate between admiring the dunes and keeping an eye on your little ones as they enjoy the attached play area. Accommodations include beach shacks, dome tents with kitchens and American-style school buses fitted out with cooking facilities and toilets. The BBQ facilities and beachfront camping pitches mean there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy a traditional camping experience. Don't miss the live music at Surfana Festival in September!

Open: April to October

Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed

This convenient site, one of several ACSI campsites near Amsterdam, is around 15 minutes by car from the city centre, and there's even a night bus stop next to the site. Gaasperplas metro stop is about 10 minutes' walk and the line leads right to Centraal Station. Being this close to the city means visitors can't expect to find themselves in nature's great wilderness, but Gaasper Camping is set in a peaceful park with walking trails and a lake.

There's a camp shop selling freshly baked goods and coffee along with essentials, while other benefits include free Wi-Fi across the campsite, plus ticket sales for Amsterdam attractions so you can avoid the queues. You've also got the option of grabbing one of the site's rental bikes and cycling to your chosen attraction.

Open: Year-round

Pet policy: Dogs are welcome only in motorhomes or camper vans. They must be on a leash on-site and should be walked outside of the campsite grounds

Camping de Badhoeve is close to the capital's A10 ring road and less than 20 minutes' drive from the city. Despite being only 11 km from the old centre of Amsterdam, the campsite has a very rural feel, being flanked by farmland on one side and IJmeer lake on the other.

There's a cafe and restaurant on-site with a cosy, nautical vibe, as well as a camp shop to pick up basic items you can't do without. Families with children will find plenty to do, as the site has a playground and a large football field. Plus, there's always the option of taking a dip in the lake during summer! Birdwatching is also a popular activity around the campsite. The site offers spots for tents, trailers and caravans, including plenty that are set right next to the water.

Open: April 1st to October 1st

Pet policy: Pets are welcome

This option along the North Sea coast is one of the best family campsites near Amsterdam thanks to its wide range of amenities for adults and children. These include a cinema and an open-air theatre, as well as a petting zoo, tennis courts, and indoor and outdoor fitness facilities. There's even a track for BMX and skateboarding.

Camping Bakkum has various pitches for tents and motorhomes set amid forest or sand dunes, while cabins with kitchens are also available. The multiple food outlets make this campsite stand out from others, with rotisserie chicken, Italian dining and an ice cream parlour among the options.

Open: Late March to late October

Pet policy: Pets are not allowed

Camping Zeeburg is only 15 minutes' drive from central Amsterdam, but the campsite's setting on a tree-filled island gives it a completely different vibe that's somewhere between a coastal community and a music festival. The campsite's social life centres around the laid-back restaurant, the open kitchen and various BBQ spots, and there's even a herb garden.

Along with the usual pitches for tents, motorhomes and caravans, Camping Zeeburg gets great reviews for its quirky accommodations like wagonettes with verandas or eco-friendly cabins with glass ceilings. There's a camp shop, and bike, canoe and kayak rentals are also available.

Open: Year-round

Pet policy: Dogs are welcome when staying in tents, motorhomes or caravans, but not in wagonettes or cabins

On the shore of IJsselmeer lake, Camping Strandbad Edam is one of the few campsites near Amsterdam with swimming pool facilities for kids. Adults can enjoy a dip by diving into the lake from the campsite's jetty, and the area is an official IJsselmeer swimming spot. There's also a public swimming centre less than 2 km away called De Waterdam, which has indoor and outdoor pools. 

If you feel like taking a walk, wander around the marina near the campsite, or enjoy a 20-minute stroll into the quaint town of Edam. Back at the campsite, there's a restaurant and snack bar with a terrace to enjoy refreshments after your walk or swim. Wood cabins with cooking facilities are available in addition to camping and motorhome pitches.

Open: April 1 to October 1

Pet policy: Pets are not allowed

A lot of visitors enjoying a city break in Amsterdam prefer to book a stay in one of the city's many excellent hotels, but choosing a campsite is a great alternative if you have already done a lot of sightseeing in the city and want to build some rural tranquillity into your trip.