Dutch Natural Campsites Open Camping Season With Special Focus on Cyclists

NIEUWEGEIN, Netherlands, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In early April, the Natural Campsites in the Netherlands celebrated the official opening of the 2011 camping season. The key areas of focus this year are sustainability and bicycle camping.

The Netherlands is home to a total of 140 approved Natural Campsites, all of which are located in or in the vicinity of beautiful nature reserves and spacious areas, offering guests tranquillity and peace. Although the sites do not provide typical facilities such as swimming pools, cafeterias and entertainment teams, they do feature good sanitary facilities. The Natural Campsites attract people looking to experience nature and camping for its own sake. While several sites allow only tents, most others also welcome caravans and campers.

The plans for the upcoming camping season were disclosed at the festive opening on the De Hondsrug Natural Campsite in Noordlaren in the Province of Groningen. Sustainable business, which has been a priority for the Natural Campsites for many years, will remain a prime focus in the coming year, which is in line with the trend of sustainability increasingly becoming a key factor in holidaymakers' choice of accommodation.

With a nod to the sustainability aspect, the year 2011 will be devoted to bicycle camping on the Natural Campsites. By highlighting this form of camping throughout 2011, the foundation aims to encourage more people in the Netherlands and abroad to go on cycling holidays, one of the most sustainable travel options around. The Natural Campsites have the added benefit of suiting the needs of most people going on bicycle holidays. In addition to being located in beautiful biking areas, the sites are quiet at night, and transients are almost always guaranteed a space up to 7 p.m. This adventurous form of camping suits cyclists' active lifestyles.

Throughout the year, cyclists will be involved in the Natural Campsites in a variety of ways, and vice versa. The Natural Campsites will become even more bicycle-friendly, providing campers with amenities such as bicycle pumps, tyre repair kits, and charging stations for e-bikes. Thanks to the partnership between Stichting Natuurkampeerterreinen and the Dutch National Cycling Platform, cyclists can easily plan a route between the Natural Campsites across one of the long-distance routes in the Netherlands (see http://www.fietsplatform.nl/english for more information).

To access the Natural Campsites, campers must be in possession of the Natuurkampeerkaart (Natural Camping Pass). By signing this pass, campers certify that they will respect the natural environment and peace at the Natural Campsites. The Natuurkampeerkaart is included in Het Groene Boekje, a camping guide that includes listings and descriptions of all Natural Campsites in the Netherlands (Dutch-language publication). The pass and the guide are available on http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl (also in English).