By Chris Littley
Dream Destinations is all about looking forward to the places we might go on holiday with our caravans once travel starts to return to normal. This edition is focusing on Holland – that’s the two provinces of the Netherlands, North Holland and South Holland, that include Amsterdam, Haarlem and Kinderdijk windmills.
It’s a great place to take a caravan, not least because there are deals on certain days of the week letting you transport your motorhome for free on the ferry to Amsterdam. From there, you can explore a seemingly inexhaustible list of Dutch icons.
Just 15 km from Amsterdam is Castle Muiderslot, Holland’s most famous medieval fortress. From its fairytale turrets and picturesque moat to its collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings and impressive assortment of arms and armour, Muiderslot has enough history to keep the whole family entertained all day.
Haarlem’s history as a North Sea trading port can still be seen today in its imposing defensive wall, cobblestone streets and gabled houses. The city is at the centre of a jaw-dropping flower-growing district, offering views of fields brimming with tulips as far as the eye can see.
No caravan trip to Holland would be complete without a visit to the windmills of Kinderdijk, which have been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. The 19 individual windmills were all built around 1740 to manage the local water supply and prevent the area from flooding.
If your time in Holland is limited, then there’s a way to see it all in one go and it’s called Madurodam. This theme park has been delighting visitors since 1952 with its 1:25 scale models of Holland’s most famous landmarks.
From canal houses to the Peace Palace, it’s all there and there’s plenty of ways to interact with the exhibits. You can bid on blooms at a flower auction house and help an aeroplane take off from Schiphol Airport, all in miniature.
Where are you dreaming of visiting with your caravan once lockdown restrictions are lifted? Get in touch to let us know.
