Camping has been around for centuries and the average Dutch person loves it. About once or twice a year we exchange all our luxury for a primitive existence on, for example, a cozy family campsite. Usually no more than a week or two, because camping is, of course, a bit of a struggle. Especially if you bring the whole family! Cross the campsite with toilet roll, continuously losing your stuff. And then you just have to hope that it stays dry, because being all in a small tent is far from fantastic. Especially when the kids get a little older. Nevertheless, the desire for 'experiencing your holiday in nature' remains present and you achieve that most if you look for it in the form of camping in a tent. That is why we have sought refuge in glamping in recent years, a beautiful combination of nature and luxury.
When looking for a family campsite, we specifically look for a campsite that is also suitable for teenagers. Saves a lot of sighing and whining once we're at the destination. And the anticipation of a holiday is also worth something. At least if you manage to prevent your teenagers from getting into a fight.
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A family campsite also for teenagers, that sometimes takes a while to find. Especially if your teenager is already slowly turning into an unruly teenager. Because an adolescent has slightly different needs than mom and dad. And very different needs than younger brothers and sisters, I've noticed that here too. Are you already slightly tense at the thought of the whole family, including teenagers, in a smaller tent? No worries:good preparation is half the battle.
Looking for a family campsite that is also suitable for teenagers? There are more than enough to be found in Europe. First, think about what makes your family happy. Or better yet, get the whole family together for an old-fashioned family meeting and make your "wishlist" together † Which country appeals to you? And do you go for a luxury camping holiday, or do you opt for primitive? I don't give you much chance regarding the last one, but who knows, maybe your teenager might surprise you 😉 .
We already said it:camping is suffering. If you also have a bunch of grumpy teenagers, it becomes completely unbearable. So you could go for a little bit of extra luxury. Is the mood of your teenagers a bit better, and yours immediately follows in an upward trend. Have you ever heard of glamping? Surely. That's camping, but with a little more glamour. In a ready-made luxury tent, with regular beds (where you don't even have to provide your own bed linen), your own sanitary facilities or even a kitchen.
A family campsite also for teenagers, what kind of facilities should it have? That is of course entirely up to you. Or to your teenagers, perhaps? . In any case, the needs partly differ from those of young children. With small children you can still get there if there is some water, some sand and a playground nearby. However, that is no longer enough for teenagers. So make sure that the must-haves below are no more than a stone's throw away. In this way you can keep even the wildest teenager in silence.
All campsites are provided with the above must-haves to a greater or lesser extent. Depending on how your teenager is set up, you choose the campsite that best meets his or her needs and your own of course.
A vacation is not a vacation for the average teenager if there is no swimming. Depending on the temperatures, this often also applies to their parents. If there are also little ones, check whether there is a paddling pool and whether the large pool is located on a 'closed' area so that your toddler cannot end up in the water in a lost moment. Do you sit a little more calmly yourself, don't you?
If your children are also real water lovers, then a holiday in the Netherlands may not be highly recommended. Unless of course there is an indoor swimming pool at your campsite or you are just very lucky with the weather.
We have found that a swimming pool is a requirement, but an entire water park is absolutely not necessary. It always looks great, but my kids don't take full advantage of it. A normal, nice swimming pool around a family campsite with possibly a single slide is more than enough.
Fun, swimming laps in the pool. But a teenager doesn't last forever either. Time for some extra entertainment! If you are also looking for a family campsite for teenagers, then it is smart to check in advance whether fun activities are also being organized for your teenager. You'll probably be enjoying yourself at that pool for a few weeks with a good book or something, but your teen probably wants more. Go for a great family campsite in France, for example, where you have the option of canoeing, rafting or mountain biking. Super fun activities to do, effort is also relaxation in this case, if you know what I mean. Make sure you bring enough sunscreen! All those outdoor activities ensure that you burn quickly, especially if you also have some beads of sweat on your body.
Last year, for example, we did all kinds of activities with children on holiday that we normally do not do so quickly, which gives an obvious holiday feeling.
Read also : Activities with children on holiday, ultimate fun
It's not easy. You are probably looking for a quiet family campsite in the middle of nature, but your teenager or adolescent wants nothing more than crowds and party. So try to find the golden mean:rest for you, and a piece of entertainment for teenagers. Or make sure there is a town nearby, so that trips can always be made. For example, at this family campsite on the Italian island of Elba (I always want to go there again!), which is also close to the beach and where you have pleasant shopping streets nearby.
Teenagers are sometimes a little impulsive. Also, a small mood swing here or there is not rare. One minute something is totally awesome, the next it's boring. That is why it might be smart to bring some extra variety to your holiday. Don't book one, but look for two family campsites, for example. Last year we also visited two campsites (which were about 4 or 5 hours away from each other) and we really liked it. You have a fresh environment and other activities nearby to do.
When you look at a campsite on Greencamp, for example, you will immediately see recommendations in the area that you can combine with the family campsite of your choice, or you go for a round trip where you stay a few days at each campsite. As long as you don't have to set up your tent yourself, that's perfectly doable, of course, and it's probably something that's easier for you to do with older children. Examples of such a 13-day tour can be found on their site.
And what is good to know is that they visit all their campsites themselves, depending on “their feeling”. Would they like to spend their holiday there themselves? If the answer is yes, then it is a campsite that they are happy to recommend to others. Nice to know that this is all being assessed with care, isn't it?
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