CAMPING ON THE PIETERPAD: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.
We are fresh back from completing the Pieterpad, a 500km long-distance trail running from the North of The Netherlands to The South. As avid tent lovers, we decided to camp along the Pieterpad. The Netherlands is probably one of the most “tent friendly” destinations that we have traveled to, alongside Norway, and we would very much recommend camping – whether along The Pieterpad, or a family trip or cycling holiday.
In this blog post, you can find our guide to camping on The Pieterpad, based on our recent experience. This blog post should also help anyone hoping to explore The Netherlands by bike or on foot when it comes to understanding campsites around the country.
Can you camp on the Pieterpad?
When we set out to walk the Pieterpad, we weren’t too sure if we would be able to find campsites every day, but we are pleased to report that we did. Camping is not only straightforward on the Pieterpad, but it is a very pleasurable experience.
Where are there campsites on The Pieterpad?
We walked daily stages of between 25km and 35km each day on The Pieterpad and found campsites at every stage. With a little bit of flexibility along the way, you can manage to walk the entire Pieterpad and stay at campsites.
There are a fair few campsites that are right on the trail, or a minimal deviation. To get to others, we had to walk perhaps 1km extra. But in general, we were able to avoid major detours to find campsites.
How to find campsites on The Pieterpad
We used a combination of three apps and websites to find campsites on The Pieterpad.
1/ The Official Pieterpad Website – this has a list of all accommodation on The Pieterpad. It includes details on the distance from the trail to the accommodation. You can search by daily stage and by accommodation type. The one drawback – the website is in Dutch, but Google Translate does help.
2/ The All Trails App – we use All Trails to navigate most of our walks. Alongside the trail, you can see little symbols demarcating campsites.
3/ Google Maps – Dutch campsites are easy to find on Google Maps. We found that most Google Listings were up to date and had contact details for the campsites.
Do you need to book campsites on The Pieterpad?
We walked The Pieterpad in mid-July and into the school summer holidays – meaning it was nearing peak season for camping. In our experience, booking definitely helped at some campsites, especially at the weekends. There were only one or two sites which did not have space for us when we requested a pitch in advance.
That said, we also turned up to a handful of campsites without a booking and were always welcomed with open arms and given a pitch. The vast majority of campsites told us that they would always find space for a small tent, especially for trekkers or cyclists arriving without a car.
What can I expect from campsites on The Pieterpad?
The campsites on The Pieterpad that we stayed at really varied. There were smaller, more basic campsites, attached to farms. These campsites were generally just a field with a few toilets and showers. Comparatively, we stayed at a few campsites with all the bells and whistles – restaurants, swimming pools, tennis courts.
All of the campsites that we stayed at had decent toilet and shower facilities, water taps and electric charging points. Everything you need when camping on The Pieterpad. Some sold cold drinks or snacks and had WiFi too – but this wasn’t consistent.
How much do campsites on The Pieterpad cost?
The price we paid for campsites on The Pieterpad varied. The least expensive pitch that we got was 18 Euros, with the most expensive being 30 Euros. Some campsites charge a premium at weekends and in the summer too.
Generally, the least expensive sites were those with limited facilities, whereas the expensive ones were large sites with swimming pools, restaurants and sports facilities. Where possible, we tried to avoid these on The Pieterpad – the last thing we needed after 25km of walking was a game of ping pong!
When it comes to price, keep in mind that there tends to be different prices for each type of pitch. Pitches with electricity cost more. Likewise for larger pitches. That said, some campsites do not differentiate. We found this a little frustrating as we would end up paying the same as a family in a large tent with a car, just for our small tent.
💡Many campsites on The Pieterpad will only accept cash and not card payment. Be sure to carry Euros with you to pay for your pitch.
Look out for trekkers pitches
One of the best things about campsites on The Pieterpad that we found was the concept of “trekkers pitches.” A few campsites along the way had an area of the site saved just for anyone cycling or walking. Rather than “pitches” this was a space, where you could pitch the tent, alongisde other trekkers.
There are pros and cons for this. Firstly, it means that you have the chance to meet others walking The Pieterpad. Secondly, trekkers pitches tend to be cheaper. Thirdly, trekkers tend to keep similar schedules -we all go to bed by 22:00 and get up at the crack of dawn. This makes packing up your tent in the morning much easier.
That said, it can mean the tents are quite close to one another which doesn’t provide much privacy.
Some of the best sites we found also had a trekkers hut, where we would dry clothes on a rack, charge phones and even make tea and coffee. When you’re spending weeks outdoors – the opportunity to use a kettle inside is bliss!
Where are the best campsites on The Pieterpad?
We stayed at many campsites on The Pieterpad, but there were a few that we loved most. These are the best campsites on The Pieterpad in our opinion:
1/ Minicamping Pieterom – we loved this campsite as it was our first experience of staying in a “trekkers pitch”. The hosts here have thought of everything that walkers need – there’s somewhere to dry clothing, the option to buy cold beers and plenty of places to charge your phone. There is even an little cozy reading nook inside the trekkers hut.
2/ Natuurcamping Eelerberg – This campsite has great facilities – we wished we could have stayed more than one night. It is really more of a family campsite, with a swimming pool and lots of things for children like a little butterfly farm. But, we loved it as trekkers because it had a restaurant and bar (cold beers on arrival for the win), plus spacious pitches with picnic tables. The campsite is also right on The Pieterpad.
3/ Farm camping Hietkamp – we loved this campsite because the owner is super friendly, as were all the other campers. When we visited, there was an eclectic, with a mix of Pieterpadders and older guests staying for the summer. The bathrooms are great and there are plenty of phone charging points, as well as somewhere to make coffee in the morning.
4/ Camping t’Heike – this campsite is a total dream for trekkers. Honestly, they have thought about everything. You can access a microwave and kettle, plus there’s an honesty bar where you can collect cold beers, wine, soft drinks and even ice-creams. We had a spacious pitch in the trekkers area, with access to a trampoline (yes we tried it).
Is wild camping legal in The Netherlands?
Wild Camping i.e. camping on public land, is not legal in The Netherlands. Thus, if you plan to camp whilst walking or cycling the Pieterpad, you will need to plan to stay at campsites along the way.
There are many countries where Wild Camping is prohibited, but you could probably get away with it if you stuck to a few rules (camping at dusk etc.) Personally, I don’t think this is the case in The Netherlands, especially on The Pieterpad. In the summer, there are many people out and about in the countryside – meaning you’d probably be noticed camping in the wild.
Plus, much of The Pierterpad includes walking through woods and forested areas – in the summer, there are so many flies and biting insects, I would recommend sleeping out amongst it.
Pieterpad Daily Walking Stages
You can find our daily walking stages guide to the Pieterpad here.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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