There are many ways to have a family vacation. But if a few weeks off is mainly about relaxing and resting with your family, it is better to stay close to home than travel far away. Being close to where you live is nice and familiar. It is affordable and you can just sleep at home in bad weather. And how wonderful not to have to get stuck in traffic.
Family holiday in the 1950s
Shortly after the Second World War, around 1955, there were few who could afford a trip abroad. A few could afford to travel by coach to Italy, a country that was just becoming popular as a holiday destination. But parents with children certainly could not afford that luxury. They often resorted to camping in the Netherlands with a (4-person) tent or in a simple tent house on a camping site, as a campsite was still called at the time. At that time, transport took place by bicycle with child seats and panniers. Often a larger trunk was sent ahead by forwarder Van Gend & Loos, with heavier items such as cooking utensils, etc. Among Amsterdam residents, the Bakkum campsite in Castricum and De Fransche Kamp in Het Gooi were particularly popular. Mokums was spoken there in summer in a very flat manner. As parents you were lucky if the weather was reasonable during those two weeks. But there were also 14 days of bad weather. It is logical that at a certain point sun holidays became popular, so that the Dutch climate could no longer ruin your only holiday a year.
Camping in 2012
Not only has the number of vacation days for employees been increased from 2 to at least 4 weeks, the luxury and comfort have also increased compared to the past (for those who have work). Camping is no longer a primitive affair, because the quality and ease of use of camping equipment has of course improved enormously compared to before. Air mattresses have been in vogue for some time, but who could have imagined that there would also be inflatable tents that can be set up in the blink of an eye. The cooking options are no longer primitive and if you don’t feel like preparing a meal, you can get some fries.
Shower and toilet facilities
The modern shower and toilet blocks can no longer be compared in any way to the toilets of the past, when you still had to rinse things away with a bucket of water and the shower was not present at all, or there was barely any hot water.
The transportation
Yes, that is of course a luxury if you own a car, where you can take the bicycles on the back and transport everything else from your home to the campsite. And don’t forget from the campsite to home. Because if you camp close to your home, you can occasionally go back for a day alone or together, for a nice shower, and to check the plants + garden and to look at the mail. You can immediately complete some obligations and possibly sleep in your own bed if you also have to arrange something at home the next morning. Then you can go back to the tent or house with your empty head, all the better.
The climate
The only thing you still shouldn’t have is 14 days of rain. But as soon as it is somewhat dry and not too cold, you can enjoy yourself and your family at a campsite today. There is a lot to do for children and adults when the weather is bad and there are plenty of activities organized. Moreover, you have the great outdoors at your disposal with those grazing highlanders in the dunes, and you can forage for blackberries or blueberries.
Sensation for your children and/or grandchildren
If you have a family or already have grandchildren, there is nothing more fun than spending a holiday close to home in a house or tent. Because that means little travel time and few travel costs, and therefore no children who are bored during that trip. So all in all hardly any stress. But you also have the convenience of your own home less than an hour away, if you need something from home or need to arrange something. If you live in Amsterdam you can choose the beautiful Gooi or the various dune campsites on our beautiful North Sea coast. In addition to the beautiful dunes, you can also enjoy the beach when the weather is nice. As grandparents, for example, you pitch your tent and take turns inviting your children and/or grandchildren for a fun day or a weekend of relaxation. As grandparents, you naturally secretly sleep at home in your lovely own bed as soon as they are not there.
Bakkum
Located in the North Holland Dune Reserve, a water extraction area. You have already read it above: Camping Bakkum was extremely popular around the Second World War and afterwards with Amsterdam workers who were often poorly housed in their small apartment. This campsite dates back to 1914, which means that its 100th anniversary was celebrated in 2014. Originally, the site was not a camping site, but served as an overnight stay for the unemployed. In the context of employment, they were employed in the dunes where they had to plant pine trees for mining in Limburg, where it was used as shoring wood.