2026 - 06 The Pearl of the North Sea

 04/22 Wednesday

We are opting for an extension and staying one more day. The weather is so nice that we don't have to leave.

So we take some time to stroll and enjoy the terrace in Lemmer.

A true lazy day with extensive newspaper reading and sunbathing in the afternoon on a lounge chair.

The place has become more crowded, and some 'big ships' have arrived. By that, I mean the motorhomes from Morelo, Niesmann & Bischoff, and other liners. They certainly stand out, not just because of their size but also because of their owners. People tend to look at them quite critically. Are they show-offs, pretentious, selfish, or just individuals who have made it?

This category of campers is often said to prefer to keep to themselves and look down at the smaller campers down below with disrespect.

Yet with this category of vehicles, I struggle to call it 'camping'.

While you live in your vehicle with four wheels and all conceivable comforts, the price you pay is immobility and thus limited freedom to go wherever you want. Only a few places are designed for that.

A clear advantage for 'the little ones down there'.

And when does the 'liner' category actually begin?

Is it over 7.5 tons in weight? Which not everyone can drive anymore.

Or is it length that is the distinguishing factor? A normal space for a motorhome in a campsite/parking area is 8 – 10 m long. Comes a big one over 10 m long, it requires a special spot to not inconvenience anyone.

I’ll stick to my 7.40 m and can go anywhere.

04/23 Thursday

We continue, but now really.

Despite all possibilities, we are heading directly to North Holland, to the region around Alkmaar on the North Sea coast.

This is the province we have been regularly visiting for some time now, and it almost feels like 'home'.

However, what we have not yet discovered is the ultimate best place to stay if you want to

• visit Alkmaar

• spend time at the beach of the North Sea

• explore the dune landscape in front of the beach

• easily and safely reach everything by bike

Searching through camping apps and websites yields no results. You simply have to go there and see for yourself on site.

For that, you need to cross from Lemmer to the other side of the Ijsselmeer, for which there are two options: the northern route via the Afsluitdijk (A7) or the southern route via the Houtribdijk, which separates the Ijsselmeer and the Markermeer.

We choose the southern route and drive again through the many tulip fields, which are all in full bloom right now. In just a few days, the beauty will be over.

The 35 km over the dam are completely relaxed since there is little traffic, and you can enjoy the ride in the best sunshine.

On the other side, it gets initially busier because the region between Enkhuizen and Hoorn is densely populated and also industrially used.

Our first camping attempt is at a place south of Alkmaar in the small town of 'Boekel'. What we didn’t know and only realized upon arrival is that there is a huge industrial area south of Alkmaar, which reaches up to just before the campsite.

It turns out to be a well-maintained island, but we don’t like the surroundings at all. So long ...

We drive towards the coast and find the entrance to the campsite 'de Croft', near Egmond aan Zee.

A nice quiet oasis, friendly owner, but unfortunately no space. They only accept motorhomes under 7 m.

However, she recommends the nearby campsite 'het zonnige Veld', which has larger spots available. Kindly, she calls and informs them of our arrival.

And there it is – the place we have been searching for so long. It meets all the criteria mentioned above and is not only super clean but also excellently managed and equipped. All for a price of €35 per night for everything (motorhome spot, 2 persons, electricity and services, tourist tax).

The owner (Marcel Zonneveld) is instantly likable and shows us to our spot. However, he only has space for 2 days. If we want to stay longer, he can offer us something – one night in the parking lot for cars without electricity, then back on the spot. But we need to decide today; demand is high.

I immediately believe that after the first impression, and we accept the offer. Five days in the same spot – we haven’t done that in a long time.

Let’s see if all self-imposed requirements can indeed be met.