Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Heltor Chasca
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Joined: 30 Aug 2014, 8:18pm
Location: Near Bath & The Mendips in Somerset

Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by Heltor Chasca »

Hello all. I've finally booked dates and ferry tickets. I have got a few questions:

1. I depart from Harwich at 0900 and as I live in Somerset I'm planning to drive to East Anglia and park my truck up somewhere the night before and sleep in the back or at the ferry terminal. Is it still OK to kip in the ferry carpark or buildings? I'll then drive off and park my truck somewhere safe for the 10-12 days. Any ideas as to where? The long term car park is £8.60 per day! (I think)

2. I arrive into Holland at about 1715 the same day. I'm planning to camp nearby for one night before heading up north along the coast. Any recommendations?

Many thanks.....b
Last edited by Heltor Chasca on 12 Jul 2015, 6:31pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Heltor Chasca
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Joined: 30 Aug 2014, 8:18pm
Location: Near Bath & The Mendips in Somerset

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by Heltor Chasca »

I probably will only book camp sites for the 1st and last nights. The rest I'll "wing it". Is that an OK plan?
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Heltor Chasca
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Joined: 30 Aug 2014, 8:18pm
Location: Near Bath & The Mendips in Somerset

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by Heltor Chasca »

Sorry. Another one: I don't fancy lugging my kit around the boat. Will my panniers be ok left on the bike? Considering we will be surrounded by water so no one will get far. I don't think anyone's allowed below decks once we are sailing. Thanks...b
iviehoff
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Joined: 20 Jan 2009, 4:38pm

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by iviehoff »

We left most of our panniers on the bike on the Harwich-Hoek ferry, as did quite a few other people, and no one seemed to mind and nothing happened.

You have to go past a security guard and barrier to get into the car park next to Harwich International Station, since he's also controlling access to the secure area. Whether he cares if you kip in your car, I don't know. The car park has about an £8 daily charge. I'm not sure why you'd want to overnight there rather than where you are going to park up for the rest of your trip.

We were there during a (Dutch) holiday weekend when some campsites had signs up saying full, but by asking nicely we found they still had room for some cyclists with small tents. Along the coast campsites are larger and less frequent than well inland. We found the smaller campsites were not shown on the ANWB 1:100 000 cycling map, though someone else showed me another brand of 1:100 000 cycling map that showed more campsites. A 1:50 000 cycling map I have shows about 5 campsites in the close vicinity of Hoek, and another on the edge of Monster, though we didn't get close enough to have a look at any of them. Some of them are very close together so it isn't too hard to go and scout them out, but you will need that 1:50 000 map, or equivalent, as we found it all a bit confusing with the maze of cycle paths in the dunes near Hoek. You might want to buy at least your first cycling map before arriving, as Hoek is a rather small town with only rather basic stuff on sale.
MartinBrice
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Joined: 13 Nov 2007, 9:57am

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by MartinBrice »

http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/

or

https://www.facebook.com/Natuurkampeert ... 53/?type=1

are cheap, clean, quiet, and once you've been to one you won't camp elsewhere. you need to join before you go. a decent map is essential simply for the planning, get it before you go.
leave the panniers on the bike, i always have done.
from the ferry go east 2k or 3k on the road until you hit the sea and can see the hoek van holland sign, then look for a sign pointing northwards, that takes cyclists northward. If you want to start in the north, get a train rotterdam, change at amsterdam and go on a train to the north, then head south on the bike.
the prevailing wind is from the south west.
it's a wonderful place, lovely people, great cycling and camping.
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foxyrider
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Joined: 29 Aug 2011, 10:25am
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Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by foxyrider »

MartinBrice wrote:http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/

or

https://www.facebook.com/Natuurkampeert ... 53/?type=1

are cheap, clean, quiet, and once you've been to one you won't camp elsewhere. you need to join before you go. a decent map is essential simply for the planning, get it before you go.
leave the panniers on the bike, i always have done.
from the ferry go east 2k or 3k on the road until you hit the sea and can see the hoek van holland sign, then look for a sign pointing northwards, that takes cyclists northward. If you want to start in the north, get a train rotterdam, change at amsterdam and go on a train to the north, then head south on the bike.
the prevailing wind is from the south west.
it's a wonderful place, lovely people, great cycling and camping.


Guess you really mean go west to the sea unless i've got my map upside down!
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
hamish
Posts: 501
Joined: 5 Mar 2008, 11:29pm

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by hamish »

I went last year....

I would agree wholeheartedly about the http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/. They are superb and made our trip. I would base any trip around nature campings but would also like to try the pole camping - these guys explain it here: http://travellingtwo.com/5233

I Think you could get a camping card on arrival at your first site... we went into Den Haag and bought a card at the Beversport shop. The great thing about the NL is that, even with a family, you can aim for any city centre and enjoy riding in and out again. It's so easy.

We parked up in the ferry car park last year and came back to find they weren't charging and so it was free.... Would be too good to be true I guess but its worth checking if this is still the case.
iviehoff
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Joined: 20 Jan 2009, 4:38pm

Re: Summer Tour to the Netherlands

Post by iviehoff »

Heitor wants to camp near Hoek and then go up the coast. Unfortunately http://www.natuurkampeerterreinen.nl/ won't really help very much with that. Also, there are similar campsites which are not affiliated to nkt, but not many along the coast.
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