Camping in Amsterdam

Camping in Amsterdam isn’t an obvious choice, but fortunately there are several good options available if you are looking to combine museums and coffeeshops with the great outdoors. The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that there are no campsites in Amsterdam’s city center. The good news is that a couple of them can be reached in only about 10 – 20 minutes from Centraal Station by public transportation.
Camping Zeeburg is one of the closer and more popular campsites. It’s known as a “youth campsite,” and even though there are no age restrictions, Zeeburg is definitely a somewhat wild place. If you are looking for absolute peace and quiet, this is not the place to find it. Tent sites run about €5 in high season and if you haven’t got a tent they also rent cabins with bunk beds for about €20 per person in high season. They’ve got all the amenities including a bar/restaurant, a store, internet, kayak rental, and even a free place to charge your mobile phone. Most campsites in Amsterdam only stay open spring through the end of October, but Camping Zeeburg stays open year round.
Camping Vliegenbos is about 5 km north of the city center, but only a 10-15 minute trip to Centraal Station by bus. This is another “youth campsite” so don’t book here if you are intending to have a peaceful return to nature. It’s located in the center of a 62-acre wooded area so it’s got more of a traditional camping vibe, but they also have a bar and restaurant so you’ll not have to go far for some comfort. Campsite prices are €8 per person and they also rent Trekkers Cabins that hold 4 people for €70 per night. Camping Vliegenbos is only open from April through September.
There are a couple of more family-oriented camping facilities a little further from the Amsterdam center. Gaasper Camping Amsterdam is southeast of the center and can be reached by bus or metro. The main draw of Gaasper is a large artificial lake with facilities for watersports activities. There is also a restaurant, bar, and store and camping prices are about €5 per person.
Het Amsterdam Bos is another family campground that is about 30 minutes outside of the city center by bus. It’s located in a forest so this one is more rustic than some of the others. Prices for tent sites are about €5 per person and there are also a few cabins available that fit up to 4 people.