The Netherlands is the home of Center Parcs. This is where it all began before expanding into Belgium, France and Germany. As a result, there are more Center Parcs villages in The Netherlands than anywhere else. With several ferry routes from the UK to the west of The Netherlands, and within easy driving distance of Calais and Dunkirk, travelling to Center Parcs in The Netherlands is particularly convenient for families living in the east or south-east of England.
Although there are many Center Parcs villages in The Netherlands, they don’t all have the same facilities or standard of accommodation. If you’re looking for a village with a great swimming pool and lots of activities, the villages listed below are the cream of crop.
Add a Couple of Nights at Efteling!
Efteling is one of the most popular theme parks in Europe, and isn’t far from the Center Parcs villages. Commonly believed to be the inspiration behind Disneyland Paris, this theme park offers plenty of fun for thrill seekers and younger guests. We tagged a couple of nights at one of the Efteling hotels onto the end of our stay at Center Parcs De Kempervennen recently, and loved it. Tickets to the Park are included with every stay. Hotel rooms sleep up to 6 people, and include breakfast, while self-catering houses can sleep up to 24 people.
A little disclosure: there are affiliate links on this page! That just means if you click on a link, find something you like and buy it, I’ll make some cash. You won’t pay any extra, though.
Center Parcs Villages in The Netherlands
It’s worth checking out the various routes from the UK to The Netherlands before deciding which one works best for your family. You have three options:
- Eurotunnel with your car, then drive to the village
- Ferry with your car, then drive to the village
- Fly from UK to the nearest airport to the village, then train/bus and taxi to the village. You could hire a car at the airport, but it will probably sit in the village car park for most of your holiday, so might not be the best budget option.
Top Tip: Taking little ones to Center Parcs? A bike trailer is the perfect way to transport them around the village.
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Travelling to Center Parcs De Eemhof Village in The Netherlands
1-244, Slingerweg, Zeewolde, Flevoland, Netherlands, 3896 LD, Netherlands
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurotunnel from Folkestone
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone – Calais | 35 minutes | 375 miles | 4½ hours |
Taking Your Car on the Ferry from a UK Port
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover – Calais | 1½ hours | 233 miles | 4 hours |
| Dover – Dunkirk | 2 hours | 215 miles | 3¾ hours |
| Folkestone to Calais | 1½ hours | 233 miles | 4 hours |
| Harwich – Hook of Holland | from 6½ hour day or night crossing | 79 miles | 1½ hours |
| Hull – Rotterdam | 11½ hour night crossing | 102 miles | 1¼ hours |
| Newcastle – Amsterdam Ijmuiden | 15¾ hour night crossing | 48 miles | 1 hours |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | 4 hours | 302 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 5¾ hours |
| Poole – Cherbourg | 4½ hours | 496 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 7¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Caen | 5¾ hours | 430 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 6¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | from 4¾ hours | 496 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 7¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | from 6 hours | 379 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 6 hours |
| Portsmouth – St. Malo | from 10 hours | 524 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 8¼ hours |
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station
- I wouldn’t recommend taking the Eurostar as all onward journeys include several transfers.
Flying to Center Parcs from a UK Airport
- To Amsterdam Schiphol Airport – all public transport routes from the airport include several changes and walking transfers. A taxi straight to the village takes around 45 minutes.
Travelling to Center Parcs De Kempervennen Village in The Netherlands
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurotunnel from Folkestone
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone – Calais | 35 minutes | 184 miles | 3½ hours |
Taking Your Car on the Ferry from a UK Port
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover – Calais | 1½ hours | 182 miles | 3¼ hours |
| Dover – Dunkirk | 2 hours | 167 miles | 3 hours |
| Folkestone to Calais | 1½ hours | 182 miles | 3¼ hours |
| Harwich – Hook of Holland | from 6½ hour day or night crossing | 97 miles | 1¾ hours |
| Hull – Rotterdam | 11½ hour night crossing | 78 miles | 1½ hours |
| Newcastle – Amsterdam Ijmuiden | 15¾ hour night crossing | 102 miles | 1¾ hours |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | 4 hours | 253 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 5 hours |
| Poole – Cherbourg | 4½ hours | 455 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 7 hours |
| Portsmouth – Caen | 5¾ hours | 374 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 5¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | from 4¾ hours | 455 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 7 hours |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | from 6 hours | 324 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 5¼ hours |
| Portsmouth – St. Malo | from 10 hours | 472 miles if choosing Google Maps route offered that avoids Lille ULEZ zone | 8½ hours |
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station
- I wouldn’t recommend taking the Eurostar as all onward journeys include several transfers.
Flying to Center Parcs from a UK Airport
- To Eindhoven Airport – flight time varies depending on departure airport. The easiest way to get to the village from Eindhoven Airport is by taking a taxi straight there (22 minutes).
Travelling to Center Parcs Het Heijderbos Village in The Netherlands
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurotunnel from Folkestone
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone – Calais | 35 minutes | 244 miles | 4¼ hours |
Taking Your Car on the Ferry from a UK Port
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover – Calais | 1½ hours | 221 miles | 3¾ hours |
| Dover – Dunkirk | 2 hours | 206 miles | 3¾ hours |
| Folkestone to Calais | 1½ hours | 221 miles | 3¾ hours |
| Harwich – Hook of Holland | from 6½ hour day or night crossing | 109 miles | 2 hours |
| Hull – Rotterdam | 11½ hour night crossing | 90 miles | 1½ hours |
| Newcastle – Amsterdam Ijmuiden | 15¾ hour night crossing | 110 miles | 2 hours |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | 4 hours | 321 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 5½ hours |
| Poole – Cherbourg | 4½ hours | 487 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 7¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Caen | 5¾ hours | 417 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 6½ hours |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | from 4¾ hours | 487 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 7¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | from 6 hours | 366 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 5¾ hours |
| Portsmouth – St. Malo | from 10 hours | 515 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Lille ULEZ zone | 8½ hours |
Travelling to Center Parcs by Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station
- I wouldn’t recommend taking the Eurostar as all onward journeys include several transfers.
Flying to Center Parcs from a UK Airport
- I wouldn’t recommend flying as there as all onward routes from the nearest airport include several changes and walking transfers.
Taking a ferry from Harwich or Newcastle? De Eemhof Village is your closest Center Parcs village!
Useful Resources When Driving in France, Belgium and The Netherlands
All distances have been taken from Google Maps. Journey times will vary depending on the time/day you travel and any unforeseen events such as accidents or roadworks. Whether you opt for planes, trains or ferries, remember to allow 1-2 hours for check-in and boarding each way.
ULEZ Zones
Many countries are bringing in more and more ULEZ zones, which can make travelling to Center Parcs in The Netherlands difficult if your big old family car is non-compliant. Even cars that are compliant have to be registered to be allowed in these zones. This all gets pretty complicated, so it’s best to just avoid the relevant areas. Google Maps will often take you straight through a ULEZ zone without offering an alternative route, so make adjustments to your route before you set off if necessary. Visit drive2.city for up-to-date information on ULEZ zones in the UK and the rest of Europe.
For information about using trains in Europe, I highly recommend visiting seat61. There’s not much this guy doesn’t know about train travel in Europe.
