The second week of our recent trip to The Netherlands, we spent at Duinrell. This was actually the fifth time we’ve stayed at Duinrell in one form or another, in the last four year, so as you can probably guess, we’re big fans! We’ve also persuaded a number of friends to go there, who on the whole have loved it.

For those that don’t know, Duinrell is a combination of theme park and camp site, with cabins for those that don’t fancy roughing it. From that description it’s probably doesn’t sound like our typical holiday location, we’re not really ones for package holidays or “organised fun”. But Duinrell is in a fantastic location, has lots of great facilities and is generally chilled out.

Duinrell is situated in Wassenaar, which is a town situated 10km north of The Hague. Wassenaar is known as being one of the most affluent places in The Netherlands, this becomes pretty obvious if you have a look round, with the number of big houses, embassies and international schools. It’s amazing really that they ever got permission to build Duinrell, I couldn’t see that happening here in the UK. Duinrell is also about 4km from the beach at Wassenaarse Slag, which is a lovely place to go when the sun shines.

As with much of The Netherlands, the area around Duinrell is great for cycling. Much of the immediate area around Wassenaar has high quality, dedicated cycle paths. This includes dedicated routes to the The Hague, Leiden, the beach at Wassenaarse Slag and beyond. As is common elsewhere, some of the infrastructure isn’t great by Dutch standards. There’s a fair share of painted cycle lanes, mostly on quiet roads, but on some busier roads in the town too.

Each time we’ve gone to Duinrell, we’ve come prepared with bikes. Though there are plenty of people who choose to hire them when they arrive. The on-site hire shop have quite a large selection of typical Dutch bikes to choose from, mainly Batavus. As these are typical Dutch bikes, they generally only have a coaster brake, which can take some getting used to for some. For those with families, there’s a number of options, such as child seats, trailers and tagalongs.

A trip to Duinrell isn’t complete without having bikes to explore. If you’re driving there, leave the car when you arrive and use bikes for the rest of your trip. It’s amazing how little you need a car when you’ve got quality cycle infrastructure for all.

Small petting farm off one of the cycle routes in Wassenaar

The boys on the bikes, looking at the animals

The other half riding along one of the canal-side cycle routes

Example of a painted cycle lane, poor by Dutch standards

crossing a bridge, en route to Leiden

Cycling through the entrance at Duinrell

Passing the rather good Het Pannenkoekenhuis, just outside Duinrell

One of the few examples where mopeds are directed off the cycle path

The recently improved path to Wassenaarse Slag from Duinrell

The recently improved path to Wassenaarse Slag from Duinrell

Arriving at Wassenaarse Slag

Cycle parking at Wassenaarse Slag

Bikes parked up while the kids play at Duinrell

On the cycle paths around Duinrell

On the cycle paths around Duinrell

On the cycle paths around Duinrell

Waiting at the traffic lights

Waiting at the traffic lights

Waiting at the traffic lights

One of the quiet roads with no specific cycle infrastructure

One of very few cycle paths with a loose gravel surface, very rare in The Netherlands

The eldest and other half riding along a gravel path

Typical cycle path in Wassenaar

Typical cycle path in Wassenaar

Typical cycle path in Wassenaar

Back to part 2 – The route to Wassenaarse Slag

Next to part 4 – The route to Leiden