Low country highlights

Above all the screaming, I could hear two voices shouting, "This is so cool, this is so cool..." As the Falcon rollercoaster twisted, turned and looped the loop, the shrills of excitement from two of my young children could be heard above all else.

We disembarked, legs like jelly with faces of stunned delight. Both Hannah and Ben turned, wild-eyed, to confirm in unison that "this is the best holiday we have ever been on".

With that, they scarpered to join the queue for another of the rides at Duinrell Theme Park, their smiles telling two relieved parents all they needed to know. It was job done for another year. We had chosen well, the children were happy.

Holland had been something of a controversial choice for the Reeder family summer holiday. It was something of a gamble, in truth... turning our backs on France, Spain and Italy for a week away in the land of clogs, cheese and tulips. Both my wife Clare and I had enjoyed trips to Amsterdam and Rotterdam in our younger years, and we were keen to experience more from a country that

can all-too-easily be overlooked as a family destination.

We wanted our three children (Hannah, eight, Benjamin, seven, and Charlotte, five) to experience something more than just sun, sea and sand.

Whether they would appreciate this change of holiday scenery was a concern. Would there be enough to interest them, excite them and keep them occupied? We need not have worried. Indeed, as we arrived home after spending our week away in Holland, the family verdict was unanimous; this holiday had quite simply been perfect.

Our decision to go Dutch may have been born out of a desire to do something different, but there was also a practical side to the planning process. Duinrell is close to the coastal town of Wassenaar, 24 miles north of Rotterdam.

The Keycamp brochure had promised a "family holiday out of the ordinary". It was situated adjacent to the theme park, it had three swimming pools including an inside tropical complex with chutes, slides and all manner of ways to get wet, and there was also a beach close by.

Choosing this site meant we could make good use of the excellent overnight P&O ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, cutting down on the drive time and giving the children (and both adults) the added excitement of spending a night on the boat.

Setting sail at 9pm, you can eat, drink and dance the night away before retiring to your cabin – with optional face paint – and getting a decent sleep ahead of your early morning arrival.

By the time we arrived at the parc on Sunday morning, we had barely used half a tank of petrol and the entire time in the

car had been less than three hours. We were staying in a Villagrand mobile home which sleeps six and comes with shower, gas hob, kettle, barbecue and decking area. But, in truth, as soon as we saw the parc we knew we would not be spending too much time at base camp. The theme park, about the size of Flamingo Land, is on your doorstep and the bonus being that parc residents can come and go as they please free of charge and once inside, all the rides are free.

And there are some brilliant ones to try. From the frightening Falcon to the more sedate big wheel, there is something to suit all ages. Hannah and Ben were just about tall enough to try all of the rides and their thirst for the fast and furious grew as the week progressed.

Charlotte, being that much smaller, did miss out on a couple of the bigger rides, but any disappointment was swiftly forgotten as she discovered things more suited to her age group.

The Caterpillar rollercoaster, for instance, was a family favourite, while Splash was... well you can imagine what happens with that one.

We must have spent three or four fun-filled days in that park. One whole afternoon was spent lazing by the outdoor pool at the centre of the attractions, before yet another assault on the Falcon and his friends. The pools are fantastic, with the Tiki Tropical Waterpark boasting "some of the most impressive waterchutes in Europe", although many are designed with older children in mind and your options for little ones are somewhat limited. There are charges for the pool, but parc residents get a discount.

We decided it was time to explore Holland a bit more. Wassenaar is a pleasant village with tree-lined streets, nice shops and some fantastic houses.

By far its best attribute is the beach which is just 4km from the parc. It is clean, sandy and has an inviting, relaxing quality that makes all your cares fly away with the strong North Sea breeze. Lined with cafs and restaurants, it is a classy kind of place and we would often pop down for the final few hours of the day after tea to see the sun set and play with the children on the sand before going up for a hot chocolate.

Further afield is Amsterdam, which needs no introduction. Using the very good park and ride system, we spent a full day winding our way around the canals and streets of this most famous of cities. The children were taken in by the tall houses, the narrow boats and the huge number of people on bikes.

But perhaps the biggest impact was made by our visit to the house of Anne Frank, and the Van Gogh museum. To enter the house where the Frank family hid from the Germans and find it restored to how it would have looked in 1942 when they were forced to close their doors on the outside world, is heart-breaking.

What happened to Anne and those who stayed with her is expertly recounted at this must-see museum. Even though our children are still so young, they were interested in the story, not believing us that anyone could be treated this way simply because they were Jewish.

Van Gogh was thought provoking in a different way. Hannah was particularly interested and spent ages looking at these wonderful masterpieces, before buying her favourites in postcard form in the gift shop with her pocket money.

The day was finished off with a boat trip around the canals and then it was back to the parc for one more go on that rollercoaster.

FACTFILE

Matt Reeder was a guest of Keycamp which offers self-catering holidays to more than 100 parcs across Europe, plus the US and the UK. Each has excellent facilities and a choice of mobile home, chalet, apartment, Supertent and tree house accommodation. Seven nights in May next year for two adults and up to four children in a Villanova mobile home with decking at Keycamp's Duinrell starts from 258, including a return Dover to Calais ferry crossing. Ferry crossings or fly-drive packages can be arranged at a supplement. See The Little Book of Holiday Fun at www.keycamp.co.uk/ funbook. Deals, information, visit www.keycamp.co.uk or all 0844 406 0319.

n On the Hull-Zeebrugge or Rotterdam routes on P&O Ferries, prices start from 164 each way for a car with up to four passengers, including a standard cabin. Upgrades to include a Club cabin start from 45 each way.

For more information, or to book, customers can call 08716 64 64 64 or visit our website at www.poferries.com

YP MAG 16/10/10