Family campsite Hendrikswijkje

In the search for the perfect holiday destination in the Netherlands, where tranquility, nature, and family-friendliness converge, potential guests often encounter a wide range of accommodation options. From the large-scale luxury of a resort or a modern department to the intimate setting of a small-scale hostería or a traditional posada, the choice is enormous. However, for families who prefer an authentic, well-organized, and child-friendly experience, Familiecamping Hendrikswijkje in Elim, Drenthe, offers a unique alternative that stands out from the crowd.

The Small-Scale Concept: A Personal Approach to Hospedaje

Hendrikswijkje Family Campsite, located at Groot Hendrikswijk 1 in Elim, is explicitly designed as a small-scale family campsite, a philosophy that directly contrasts with the size of many commercial hotels or holiday parks. Many visitors consider this small scale a major advantage, resulting in a high 4.6-star rating on Google and rave reviews on various review platforms. The core of this appeal lies in the site's layout.

Safety and Visibility: The Car Free Zone

A fundamentally positive aspect repeatedly emphasized by guests is the layout of the camping area. Unlike many campsites where vehicles remain parked at the pitches, Hendrikswijkje maintains a strict car-free policy in the central area. After unloading luggage, the car is parked in a designated parking space. This creates a safe play area for children, a crucial element for parents seeking a carefree hospedaje . From almost anywhere, whether camping with a tent or staying in one of the rental accommodations, you have a constant view of the children. This overview is a luxury rarely found in the more anonymous settings of larger Apartamentos vacacionales or a traditional albergue .

The Children's Facilities: More Than Standard Entertainment

The focus on children is undeniable and goes beyond the basic amenities one might expect from a simple Alojamiento. The play area is strategically placed so that, as many reviewers have noted, it is almost entirely shaded – a blessing on hot summer days. This playground is equipped with the necessary equipment, including a large trampoline that appeals to both the youngest and the older guests. It is this kind of attention to detail that distinguishes the campsite from a standard hostal .

• Animal Interaction: The highlight for many young visitors is the direct interaction with the animals. There's a petting zoo with goats and chickens that children can feed. Pony rides, coordinated by the owner, Coby, are a recurring evening ritual. These range from grooming and cuddling to guided rides, with even opportunities for pulling carts. Offering free pony rides for the littlest ones emphasizes the hospitality rarely found in more commercial villas or resort-style settings.
• Additional Activities: Besides the daily pony fun, there are also creative activities like craft clubs and weekly barbecues that promote social cohesion. All of this contributes to an atmosphere that's more like a relaxed family gathering than a commercial rental from Habitaciones .

The Positives: Service and Comfort within the Camping Format

Although the base is a campsite, the level of service and comfort is elevated to a level one would more readily associate with a high-end Posada or bed and breakfast. The owners, Coby and Huub, are consistently praised for their hospitality, dedication, and the love they pour into the campsite. This personal touch is a constant in the positive feedback.

Facilities that make your stay easier

The convenience of your stay is enhanced by various services that make camping more enjoyable:

• Bread service: The option of ordering fresh bread rolls the night before, which will be ready at reception the next morning, ensures a perfect start to the day, comparable to the service in a well-maintained Hostería.
• Sanitary Quality: The sanitary facilities are modern and heated. Crucially, showering is coin-free, a small detail that contributes to a carefree stay. Furthermore, there is a spacious family shower/toilet combination available, which is also suitable for guests with disabilities, further enhancing its accessibility (as confirmed by a wheelchair-accessible entrance). Although the sanitary facilities are described as "small," the cleanliness and functionality, including good water pressure, are highly appreciated.
• Other Amenities: For those staying longer or traveling with a lot of luggage, the presence of a washing machine, spin dryer, and fridge-freezer in the main building is a welcome amenity that makes the stay more pleasant than in many other simple hostales or basic cabañas . Free Wi-Fi throughout the property is a modern standard that is also provided here.

Rental Accommodations: Alternatives to the Tent

For guests who want to experience the charm of camping without their own camping equipment, there are excellent rental options. The four furnished safari tents and the cozy Pipo wagon function as fully-fledged, compact Alojamiento units. The Pipo wagon is specifically recommended for those without a tent, while the safari tents offer a comfortable base, complete with kitchen facilities, high chairs, and cots. These options offer a glamping experience that goes a step further than standard cabana rentals.

The Disadvantages and Realistic Expectations

To present a balanced picture for potential visitors, it's essential to highlight the limitations of this small-scale concept, especially compared to the larger accommodations mentioned. The campsite isn't designed to compete with the facilities of a large resort .

• No swimming pool: The most noticeable missing feature is a private swimming pool. This is a real concern for families who rely on a pool for daily entertainment. However, the proximity of the Schoonhoven Recreation Area, with a large swimming lake and a separate splash pool for children, offers excellent compensation within a short drive (about 10-15 minutes). This does require a car, which conflicts with the car-free philosophy of the campsite itself.
• Sanitary Capacity: Although the sanitary facilities are clean and modern, they are described as "small" in size. With only four toilets and three shower rooms (plus the family shower), this can lead to waiting times during peak periods, such as the Ascension holiday when the campsite was fully booked, even when the showers are not coin-operated. This is inherent to the small scale, unlike the unlimited capacity of larger hotels or vacation homes .
• Limited shopping facilities: The campsite offers a bread delivery service and sells ice cream and eggs from its own chickens at reception. This is far from the full-fledged supermarket or shopping facilities one would expect in larger villa complexes or at a resort. For larger purchases, you'll have to go to the nearby town of Hoogeveen.

The Area: Drenthe Offers More Than the Camping

The location in Drenthe, a province known for its wooded surroundings and tranquility, facilitates relaxation. The campsite itself is nestled in a wooded area, offering excellent opportunities for walking and cycling, often via the junction network. The location is strategic for day trips: Slagharen Theme Park is only a 10-minute drive away, and Wildlands Emmen is 30 minutes away. This makes Hendrikswijkje a practical base, even if the Hospedaje itself focuses primarily on tranquility and the camping experience.

For Whom Is This the Ideal Alojamiento?

Hendrikswijkje Family Campsite is not a place for guests seeking the anonymity and abundance of amenities of a large-scale resort or a traditional hotel with permanent accommodations. Nor is it a place for those seeking only luxury villas or a fully equipped Departamento . In fact, the campsite excels in the opposite: it offers an intimate, safe, and extremely child-friendly environment. Its strengths lie in the personal attention of the owners, the car-free zone with a perfect view of the playing children, and the animal-related activities. Guests who prefer a cozy, uncluttered atmosphere, where the price-quality ratio is excellent and where the "camping on the farm" feeling is cherished, will find excellent accommodation at Hendrikswijkje. It is a destination where the small scale is not seen as a limitation, but as its greatest asset—a true Posada in the Drenthe countryside.