In the past fall and winter, we’ve been busy again – rain or shine – making a lot of renovations and modernisations to our campsite Camping Vlietland. For example we renovated our cabins which meant a complete make-over. We can’t wait to share it all with you in this blog post and of course in person! You can still come camping with us this season (2023) until September 17th.
New Website
First of all, you’re now reading this blog on our brand new website. So glad you found us! We’re very proud of how it turned out, which we created in collaboration with Globemrk.
Nicole (owner of Globemrk) is actually from this area but has been traveling the world as a digital nomad with her business for years and is currently ‘based’ in Scotland. She was camping here last summer, we got chatting, we were in need of a new website and we really loved her designs. The rest, as they say, is history 😉
New Numbering, Information Board, and Map
This marked the completion of our new branding. We worked with our graphic designers from Studio Kordaat in Leiden to extend this style to our information board and site map. In addition, we then had some really cool colored number signs made for all the different pitches, which add a fun and colorful touch to the green grounds. We placed these on nice thick wooden posts in the ground, with every two pitches ‘sharing’ a post.
Also super cool is our very first merchandise! Awesome stickers with our logo that you can take for free at the reception, great for your scrapbook or your campervan.
10 Amp Electricity at the Waterfront
We’re eager to upgrade the entire campsite to 10 amps, but it’s such a significant investment that we have to spread it out a bit. However, we’re very happy – even after all that digging in the rain in muddy rain gear – that all of our waterfront pitches now have 10 amp power for this camping season! The electricity is connected to the posts on all waterfront sites, as pictured above.
The rest will follow, but for the time being, the rest of the campsite has 6 amp power. This means you can use 1380 watts at any one time. With 10 amps by the water, that becomes 2300 watts.
Cabin Makeovers
The cabin makeovers were a major project (think: months!) this past fall and winter. We put a lot of love and energy into completely transforming the cabins, both inside and out.
We started by planting beech trees, giving each cabin its own private little garden. Then we built the boardwalk, an adventurous path that leads you to your cabin. After that, we tackled the complete renovation of the exterior: the wood paneling, painting the windows and doors in our signature color, and topping it all off with a brand-new silver metallic roof. Inside, we painted all the walls white, laid a hardwood floor, renovated the kitchenette, added a new set of chairs and tables, made curtains (with grandma’s help!), and added some other accessories. The cabins now have a fresh, modern, and summery feel. We are very happy with the end result!
You can see videos of the process of creating the little gardens and the boardwalk on our Instagram.
New Greenery
The beech trees aren’t the only new plants on the grounds. In total, we’ve planted around 450 new plants to create a more cozy and sheltered atmosphere on the pitches.
It’s been wonderful to see how all the plants we planted last year have been growing and are now back in bloom or sprouting new leaves. We’re excited to see how the new plants will do!
Revamped Grass Pathway
Speaking of green, our ‘green’ pathway has also been renewed (the path between the waterfront pitches and the ‘second row’). Last year, we had to remove the entire path due to the installation of the drainage system that runs underneath it. Relaying and reseeding the path happened just before the season started, which meant it didn’t really become green last year and remained sandy all year round. In addition, the path had already subsided. In other words: time for a revamp! We laid a new, reinforced path and reseeded it, and now it’s radiantly green again (disclaimer: unfortunately, not anymore after the long dry period)!
It was a bit nerve-wracking when we opened in early April, wondering if the grass would be strong enough (with all those campers and cars driving over it), but luckily it was. Phew!
Lighting and Water Points
We’ve installed new lighting along this pathway and the other pathways around the campsite. It used to be very dark on the grounds in the evenings. Now, the campsite is atmospherically lit at night to safely guide you back to your tent, folding trailer, campervan, or caravan. Some of these lights are attached to our renovated water points, which Felker has beautifully crafted (see below).
Bike Rentals
Another new feature is our bike rental service: starting this year, we have 6 bikes available for rent. If you’re unable to bring your own bike or if you spontaneously decide you’d like to go for a nice bike ride, you can rent some fantastic city bikes from us (like the one pictured above) or, even better, an e-bike. Perfect for cycling to the beach, to Leiden or The Hague, or to the supermarket in Voorschoten.
Reception Revamp
The reception has also had a makeover. For example, we have an amazing (if we do say so ourselves) new counter: a vintage bar from Spain.
Dishwashing Area and Laundry Room
We’ve replaced the roof of the dishwashing area. We’ve also given the floor a new, darker (and less stain-prone!) epoxy coating. Plus, the washing machine and dryer have been upgraded. (We were supposed to get these last year, but due to production issues, we had temporary replacements last season.)
Waste Disposal
Lastly, we have fantastic new underground containers for paper and glass. Not unimportant either 😉
The Beginning of Much More!
Unfortunately, we can’t do everything at once, so we still have a lot on our list for the coming years! Curious? Keep an eye on us!
We wish everyone a wonderful summer and hope to see you at our campsite 🙂 Instagram: @campingvlietland
