Duinrell October Half Term Break in The Netherlands Family Review
Growing up I was always fascinated by The Netherlands, windmills, tulips and so much history even more so for me as I knew that my family originally were Dutch. So when Duinrell contacted us with the opportunity to visit we jumped at the chance and headed off for an October Half Term break just across the North Sea in The Netherlands. We put it through its paces and explored and had fun in the autumn at Duinrell staying in a Duingalow.
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Duinrell
We were given accommodation at Duinrell for the purpose of this post. All opinions are our own please see our Disclosure Policy for more information.
Duinrell is located in The Netherlands it is a holiday park, amusement park and water park. Geared towards families there is a lot to do just staying in the holiday park. However, it is also an ideal base for exploring a bit more of The Netherlands and Holland.
Duinrell Holiday Park
The Duinrell holiday park surrounds the amusement park. It has everything from pitches for your tent or caravan to premium plus accommodation over 2 stories.
We stayed in a Premium Duingalow for 6 people. Fully equipped for families it was a great base for us and really comfortable.
The Premium Duingalow
The Premium Duingalows can be found in 2 groups in the holiday park. Numbers in 100’s to the south of the park and in the 700s to the North East.
Each of them has 3 bedrooms, a toilet, a shower room, kitchen and lounge/diner.
The bedrooms have 1 double bed (this can be split into 2 singles) with a TV, 2 singles in another room and then a bunk bed in a smaller room. Each room has ample storage.
Unlike some of the other holiday parks, you are provided with bedding and towels for use in the accommodation.
For an autumn break having central heating was especially useful as it was pretty much like the UK in terms of weather over October Half Term. Wet, cold and then brilliant sunshine too!
We prepared a couple of meals in the kitchen and found it fully equipped for our needs. We bought some food with us from the UK as we came across on the ferry but also used the supermarket on site for bread and fresh food.
The kids loved having a TV and we found British channels on it. There was BBC 1, 2 Channel 4, Five, CBBC and CBeebies so plenty of options if you wanted to get cosy and stay in.
Outside of the Duingalow, there was parking for 1 car – you need to contact the park if you are bringing more than 1 car for your family.
There was also a patio area with table and chairs as well as a sun loungers – although October Half Term these weren’t used at all!
Facilities at Duinrell Holiday Park
As I mentioned above there is a supermarket at Duinrell. This had delicious fresh bread daily and treats like doughnuts.
There was also a Restaurant La Place which cooked fresh food including a kids meal and pizzas in the same Plaza. As well as a pub, snack bar, amuseumt arcade with bowling and this is where much of the kids’ entertainment went on.
Around the holiday park, you’ll also find laundrettes, kids play areas and of course the actual amusement park of Duinrell.
We ate a couple of times at La Place, J enjoyed the kid’s meal which was a burger and salad, whereas T tried pizzas, salads and steak. We found it on par with prices in the UK for a restaurant.
You can also hire bikes and go-karts on site. This opens up the outside area for you to explore. Of course, if you come over on the ferry as we did you could also bring your own bikes.
Duinrell
As well as the holiday park there is also the Amusement Park of Duinrell which when you stay in a Duingalow you get free access too and a Water Park (access to this depends on your booking however, you get a discounted rate on the water park when you stay in a Duingalow even if you don’t have entry.
Duinrell Amusement Park
We are fans of theme and amusement parks and the kids really looked forward to visiting Duinrell and experiencing another park. With over 40 attractions to visit there is a real mix of different rides to suit everyone in the family.
J and Rainy Day Dad love calm rides and only the calmest of roller coasters they will go on. Whereas T and I love roller coasters and we are working our way up to more and more daring ones as she gets older!
J and Dad loved Kikkerachtbaan a little Frog Roller Coaster that had a few twists and turns in it but no loops and not particularly fast. T and I enjoyed it as well.
Another family favourite was Splash. We especially liked the fact that you could go in a covered boat! Although as we visited when it was raining it didn’t really matter getting wet in the ride.
For thrill-seekers, there is the Falcon with loop the loops and more! For those that don’t like roller coasters at all, there was a carousel with beautifully painted horses, hot air balloons and carriages. As well as little trains and some play areas too!
We found it very similar to Paultons Park and ideal for families to visit whilst you are staying there. Popping in and out was great for the kids as they loved having the option to go when they wanted and come back.
Tiki Pool – Indoor Water Park
Probably the kids’ favourite part was the Tiki Bad or Tiki Pool.
This indoor water park was fantastic for the whole family.
Depending on your tickets you may have free entry for a time or you can pay a discount. It did get busy so we found it best to visit early when it first opened or later after the main park had closed as many people just visited for the day and didn’t realise the extended hours.
Inside the water park, there were family dressing rooms and lockers which were free. Once showered you were then inside the indoor water park.
During the summer months, there is also an outdoor area that you can enjoy – however for October Half Term this was closed.
There was a great selection of different attractions in the Tiki Pool from the wave pool to Stream (which none of us did!) that you drop as the floor disappears below your feet.
There is also a restaurant in the Tiki Bad but as we had used the supermarket to get some delicious bread we always went back to our Duingalow to eat lunch or dinner.
Getting to Duinrell
We decided to use the Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland with Stena Line to take our car across to The Netherlands.
We read up on driving in Holland with this great post from Twins and Travels. And headed across.
Despite travelling a lot with the kids it’s the first ferry crossing that we’d done and it’s something we would definitely do again.
From the Hook of Holland, it’s really easy to get to Duinrell.
Straight forward roads and past Den Haage it’s signposted so you can switch off your Google Maps Sat Nav and follow the signs.
On arrival as we had taken the overnight ferry, we were there before 10 am when the park opened and before the Duingalow was available. However, we were able to check-in get our map and instructions plus our Duinrell ID cards (you need a passport photograph for these) and then visit the park until the accommodation was available.
What’s There to DO Around Duinrell
We found Duinrell ideally located to explore The Netherlands. In fact, we’ll come back and stay again just to use it as a base that we can then visit other destinations.
The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam are all easily accessible within an hour’s drive or by public transport.
The town of Wassenaar where Duinrell is located also has a gorgeous beach backed with sand dunes. Great in the summer to visit with the kids or to walk along in October half term. It’s around 5km away but with bikes hired it’s around a 20-minute bike ride along some of the best bike paths we’ve experienced.
You’re also only 15 minutes drive away from Scheveningen the top beach destination in The Netherlands. It has an amazing pier with zip lines and a Ferris wheel. As well as a surf school, Sea Life Centre and a gorgeous sandy beach.
KidS Review of Duinrell
I’m handing over to J and T to write their review of Duinrell.
We LOVED Duinrell. The Duingalow was very nice. It was good to have CBBC so we could watch TV we liked. T and I shared a room which wasn’t too bad!
The park was so fun. It seemed a first that there were lots of rides for thrill-seekers like T but we found lots to do that I liked as well.
I loved the Tiki Bad the best. J didn’t like the fast water slides but I did. You have to go on Moonlight and Starfright they are on rings for 2 people and in the dark!
We enjoyed visiting other places as well. Amsterdam was fun and different lots of art there to see.
Both of us want to come back and see more. Maybe in the summer when it would be drier and warmer.
Booking with Duinrell
Head over to the Duinrell site to book your stay. It is worth noting that although the holiday park is open year-round there is a Winter Attractions programme and the Tiki Pool has different opening and closing times during the winter months (November to end of March).
