Christa and Eelco

Camping de Oudlandse Hoeve: where tranquillity, nature and delicious tea come together
"Running a campsite? Many people quickly think: a bit of lawn mowing..." Eelco and Christa have to laugh about it themselves. "But that's not how it works here. This is not a hobby, this is our life." At Camping de Oudlandse Hoeve , everything is about attention. For the place, for nature and especially for the people who settle there. What once started as a dream on an old farm has grown into a beloved spot where guests effortlessly slow down. And for a few years now, another heart has been beating: the tea garden.

Where an old barn once stood, Christa had a new idea four years ago. "We were going to renovate and I thought: if we are going to build anyway, why not add something that suits us?" That became a tea garden, as an addition to the campsite. Not a standard terrace, but a place that blends seamlessly with the campsite. "Camping is living in nature. We wanted to extend that. To pure flavours, honest products and real conviviality." You can taste that thought in everything the couple serves. The cakes, brownies and even the snickers are homemade. Herbs come fresh from their own garden. And the tea? They choose those with care: more than eighty varieties, some of which keep changing with the season.

'People feel at home here'
The strength of the tea garden is not only in what is on the table, but especially in how it feels.
"People sit here as if they were in their own living room or garden," they say. "They sometimes get up and bring their plates to the kitchen themselves. Not because they have to, but because it feels so normal." You can see that conviviality everywhere in the tea garden. Do you have an allergy or eat less? Then Christa will adjust the high tea accordingly. And by the way, no high tea is the same at the Oudlandse Hoeve. "We serve what we have made at that moment. That's what makes it so much fun: if you come again in a fortnight' time, there will be something different on your plate."

The campsite itself is also all about tranquillity. Even when all the spots are occupied, it remains quiet. "You can hear a pin drop here at night," says Eelco. "Of course you hear the occasional laugh, but everything is soft." Guests don't come here for crowds or entertainment. They come for space. For a book in the sun. For the feeling that nothing has to.

Surprised by the environment
Its location on the Brabantse Wal completes the experience for almost all visitors. "This is such a unique part of the Netherlands," Christa and Eelco say in chorus. "Forest, heathland, water, height difference... you find it all here, in a small area." Many guests are surprised by the area. "They often book for a few days, but very often stay longer than that." Tips according to Eelco and Christa in the area? "The Kalmthoutse Heide, a tour of Bergen op Zoom or just endless cycling along everything that makes this area so varied."

The campsite mainly attracts those seeking peace and quiet. People in their forties plus, nature lovers, hikers and cyclists. But the stories they bring are anything but boring or predictable. "We recently had guests from China, who came by car. They were on a tour of Europe. And two guys from Dubai, who came by bike. Every encounter makes this place a little richer for us."

More than work
What makes this place special is perhaps in what you don't immediately see. The care for every detail, the involvement of guests coming back, helping, thinking along... "This is our way of life," Eelco and Christa reiterate. "We enjoy it just as much ourselves." After 12 years, the counter stands at around 25,000 guests for Camping de Oudlandse Hoeve. And the ambition? That continues to grow. "We always have new ideas, small improvements, more experience in the tea garden. But the basics don't change: peace, attention, nature remain central for us."

View the Oudlandse Hoeve website

May 2026