Are you looking for a holiday close by where you can enjoy nature and outdoor life, but where there is also plenty of indoor entertainment when the weather is bad? Then check out Center Parcs De Eemhof on the edge of Lake Eemmeer and right next to the Hulkestein forest. At this holiday park, it's party time all seasons. Saskia spent a long weekend there with her family and enjoyed this beautiful place.
Nature experience at Center Parcs De Eemhof
In cooperation with Center Parcs
When you think of Center Parcs, you think of family holidays, fully equipped holiday homes, subtropical swimming pools and entertainment for young and old. But did you know that nature lovers can also have a great time at Center Parcs? The originally Dutch holiday concept with 29 parks in Europe, nine of which are in the Netherlands, is surrounded by nature. Indeed, it has been the company's philosophy since its founding in 1968 to build a maximum of around 10% of a park. The remaining 90% must remain nature so that we as guests can enjoy it and the park remains a good and rich habitat for plant and animal species.
Nature in the surroundings of De Eemhof
We previously visited another fantastic park in Limburg, Het Meerdal (check this review) and in Belgium it was good fun at their park De Vossemeren (we have also written about). Back then, we learned that every holiday park has a biodiversity plan led by a biologist and landscape architect and a team of nature specialists. This time it is De Eemhof's turn for a visit, a Center Parcs holiday destination in Flevoland. The park is located on Lake Eem to be precise. With nice weather, you can enjoy the beaches in the area (a valhalla for water sports enthusiasts) and on the other side, the fishing village of Bunschoten-Spakenburg is always a nice idea (nice market on Saturdays)!
To start with nature: De Eemhof is ideally located for nature lovers on the edge of the Hulkestein forest, where peace seekers and bird watchers will be in their element. The Forestry Commission has reopened the Laakse Slenk here. This is a body of water that runs through the forest and had become silted up over the years due to the supply of clay from the sea. The water now flowing through the woods has brought more (new) animals and plants to the forest. So take walking shoes and binoculars with you!
But also the Horsterwold is not far from this holiday park, this forest in Flevoland is the largest continuous deciduous forest in Western Europe. You can explore this forest on foot, by bike, in a canoe or on horseback. You can spot wild horses, fallow deer and foxes, and even the otter and beaver are regularly spotted here. You can of course discover all this yourself, but if you are not an expert, it is even more fun to do so under the guidance of a forest ranger. In our experience, you will learn and see much more. For fun outings in Horsterwold, take a look at the page of state forestry.nl.
Suppen in the Horsterwold and a visit to Bunschoten-Spakenburg during a previous holiday in Flevoland.
Center Parcs: an archetypal Dutch concept
Did you know that Center Parcs was founded in 1968 by a Dutch entrepreneur Piet Derksen? He wanted to bring people together with nature and started his first holiday park on a piece of land in Limburg called Sporthuis Centrum. It was groundbreaking for the time: holidaying in nature, but in comfortable cottages with sitting pit, television and indoor swimming pool on the park grounds. Although the parks were a lot simpler back then than they are now, it was an innovative way of celebrating holidays. He created a holiday concept that grew considerably in the following years. The philosophy always remained the same: building holiday parks in combination with nature restoration projects. What many people do not know is that the green parks were created in places where nature was not in the best condition, such as old mines, gravel excavations and old military training areas. You can no longer imagine that when you walk or cycle among all that greenery.
De Eemhof, the most famous swimming pool in the Netherlands?
Center Parcs De Eemhof is of course best known for its subtropical swimming pool, Aqua Mundo. Centrally located in the Netherlands and with five spectacular slides such as the Duo Racer, the wild water course, the Turbo Twister and a surf simulator, this pool attracts many visitors every year. Like many other parks, De Eemhof has undergone a metamorphosis: the cottages and central facilities have been renovated. That made us extra curious about this park. Less than fifty kilometres from Utrecht, you can experience the holiday feeling here in the woods, without sacrificing luxury.
A waterfront cottage at Center Parcs De Eemhof.
Center Parcs De Eemhof a unique experience in the middle of nature
We had been invited by Center Parcs to experience a long weekend in their revamped holiday concept in Flevoland during the Christmas holidays: sleeping in the revamped cottages, hiking in nature and a bit of excitement with the familiar Center Parcs activities. The swimming pool (the Family Wild Water Raft activity is a tip to get out of bed early for), laser gaming and the Escape Room were a hit with two boys aged eight and nine. This park is an ideal weekend or (mid)week break in both summer and winter (we were there in the Christmas holidays). During the day, we enjoyed all the activities at the park and a walk. And in the evening, we plopped down by the fireplace with a wine and beer or went out for dinner in one of the restaurants (where there are plenty of vegetarian choices by the way, top). The aim of this holiday - just like last time - was to unwind, and again we more than succeeded.
Of course, there is also plenty of entertainment for children during your Center Parcs holiday.
Handy!
At check-in at De Eemhof, every guest receives a bracelet. This allows you to check in digitally, it is also the key to your cottage and you can use it to book activities. The bracelets also provide access to the Aqua Mundo, and really great: you can use them to operate a pool locker! So you don't need coins (which I always forget by default).
Center Parcs and sustainability
A holiday park - and especially a chain like Center Parcs - can make a big difference by making its entire operations more sustainable. In the first place, this means green energy generation, good insulation of the cottages and main buildings, good waste disposal, sufficient vegetarian choice and local products in the restaurants and parks rich in biodiversity. All these themes are being worked on, but Center Parcs also admits that there is still work to be done in some areas. For example, the park would like to install solar panels on more roofs or create solar meadows in the area, but it is not always feasible yet due to the wooded surroundings. However, all energy is generated green and it is working towards 25% less energy consumption by 2025 and 35% less CO2 emissions. New parks will not be connected to natural gas.
Sustainable fact about subtropical swimming paradise Aqua Mundo
To reduce water consumption in the Aqua Mundo, water from the outdoor pools is transferred to large tanks just underground every night to keep it at temperature and prevent heat loss.
We previously tipped sustainable travel labels What to look out for when choosing and booking your holiday. Center Parcs has three of these renowned features:
- Since 2020, all parks have held the Green Key certificate, this is a hallmark that sets high standards for green, sustainability and social commitment in the travel industry. This seal shows that the company is doing everything possible to minimise its pressure on the environment.
- All Dutch Center Parcs parks, including De Eemhof, hold a Green Key Gold certificate. The park received this highest distinction through additional measures such as the introduction of reusable bags, water conservation, a flora and fauna management plan and a smart thermostat in the cottages, among others.
- Center Parcs was the first company in the leisure sector to comply with ISO 14001 and 150001 standards as they ensure appropriate environmental and energy management.
Surprising sustainable facts about Center Parcs
But there are more sustainable facts that will make you look at your Center Parcs with different eyes. For example, all parks are a biodiversity plan led by in-house biologist Jean Henkens, who has worked at Center Parcs for more than 40 years, little chlorine is needed in swimming paradise Aqua Mundo (goodbye red eyes!), the cottage accommodation is sustainable and energy-efficient thanks to smart thermostats and water-saving shower heads, the tropical décor in the Market Dome and in the swimming pool consists of endangered plants that have been rescued from destruction and given a second life here and cared for without pesticides, in the restaurants you have plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices (the pasta bolognese and the nacho dish come standard with vegetarian minced meat), orange peels are preserved to make soap, coffee grounds turn out to be an excellent substrate for growing your own oyster mushrooms (we know that too) and old frying oil is used for biodiesel.
Would you like to know more about all Center Parcs' sustainable projects both in nature conservation, biodiversity, climate and social projects? Then check out this website.
Also going to De Eemhof?
Curious about the revamped cottages? We understand! Find out more about De Eemhof and the Comfort, Premium and VIP cottages.
Sources: desk-maris.nl, dagjeindenatuur.nl, visitflevoland.nl, visitflevoland.nl. Photo credits: Center Parcs & thegreenlist.nl.
