Vakantiepark Delftse Hout: Unexpectedly excellent glamping in the southern Netherlands

The best place to stay in Delft isn’t all what you might expect. In this compact city, trade the historic centre for glamping in smart cabins nestled in a lush woodland setting full of fairytale wildlife. Discover more in my Vakantiepark Delftse Hout review.

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag … it’s no surprise that the southern Netherlands is a hotspot for those seeking city breaks packed with culture, gorgeous architecture and a laid-back atmosphere (that makes pulling up a chair in a cafe or bar completely irresistible). But what never fails to surprise me is that there are many different ways to shape a city break here. You can stick to the bright city lights of course, and I’ve more than enjoyed stays in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. But the smaller – and if anything more appealing –  towns on the fringe of big three make a fantastic base from which to explore the beating heart of this busy region. Delft, Leiden, Haarlem are smaller towns with big personalities, plus excellent transport connections that get you to the big city (or beach) in a matter of minutes.

It’s for this reason we found ourselves in Delft. Practically perfect in every way, this beautiful and engaging university town has easy links to the big city for days out – but also a slightly slower pace of life ideal for a more relaxing stay.

But what really made our stay special was finding somewhere unexpectedly excellent to stay.

Glamping in Delft is probably not the first option that springs to mind for anyone considering a trip to this part of the world. 

But I urge you to consider something a little different. There’s all the perks of a superb small city, right on your doorstep. Well, not quite on your doorstep. That’s what makes it special. All the perks of the city but with peaceful woodland and wandering wildlife on your doorstep. We didn’t set out looking for something out of the ordinary. But hotels without parking and bland airbnbs that wouldn’t work well for our family forced us to be open-minded, and once we’d spotted Vakantiepark Delftse Hout online we couldn’t stop thinking about it. The rest is history as they say.

And here’s the most important part. It completely exceeded our expectations. Vakantiepark Delftse Hout is a smart holiday park offering a selection of cabins, glamping pods and camping pitches scattered across a compact and beautifully maintained site that really is just a ten minute walk from the historic centre of Delft. It proved to be the perfect fit for a small family, but I’m confident we would have been equally happy here in our pre-parenting days.

If you’re looking for where to stay in Delft, let me share with you why we think Vakantiepark Delftse Hout could be just what you didn’t know you were looking for.

There’s no AI here! Every post on Travels with a Saddle Bag is written by myself and based on my own travels. This post was published in May 2026 and based on my visit to Vakantiepark Delftae Hout in April 2026.

Vakantiepark Delftse Hout: The location

The university town of Delft is situated in the busy heart of the southern Netherlands. You’re comfortably less than an hour from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag (The Hague), Leiden and Haarlem – all interesting destinations in their own right. With excellent public transport links, Delft’s enviably central location makes it possible to pick and choose days out to really get to know this part of the world.

Getting to Delft

Amsterdam Schipol airport is one of Europe’s largest and less than an hour away with an easy rail connection. Hook of Holland, with regular ferry connections to the UK, is even closer (just 20km down the road). Delft also has excellent connections to European rail and road networks. We travelled here from the UK on the Channel Tunnel, with a three and half hour drive to Delft – very manageable with a lunch stop in Belgium (I highly recommend both Bruges and Ghent as options thanks to their compact size and ease of parking close to the city centre). Despite it being my first time driving in the Netherlands, I found it really simple. There are no motorway tolls and the road network is very well signposted. And whilst you would never know, Delftse Hout is just off the A13 motorway.

Within Delft

Vakantiepark Delftse Hout is just ten minute’s walk from the historic centre of Delft, close to everything you could want on a city escape – bars and cafes, great transport links and captivating canal-lined cobbled streets. But at Delftse Hout the crowning jewel of the location is Delftse Hout (Delft Wood) itself. This park – for want of a better word – is a beautiful public space centred around a large natural lake. On its shores you’ll find grassy parkland and a sandy beach area (yes, a beach!) that’s open to swimmers in summer. And on its fringes beech woodland offers sheltered paths, perfect for strolling, cycling or playing.

Beyond the park extends Bieslande Bos, more beech woodland criss-crossed with scenic waterways and cycle paths that are a delight to explore on foot or two wheels. And closer to home, you’ll find the Delft City Park. This, in itself, is reason alone to visit Delft and Vakantiepark Delftse Hout if you’re travelling with kids. The park comprises a free-to-visit city farm and huge wild outdoor play area, brilliantly suited to a wide range of ages. It’s a superb way to break up the day for little – and not so little – ones on a city break (a little fresh air and freedom to run around amongst the trees can’t be beaten). We loved this authentic taste of life in the Netherlands, and as we were travelling just after Easter – the chance to cuddle baby goats.

Accommodation types and pitches at Vakantiepark Delftse Hout

You’ll find a diverse array of accommodation and pitches at Vakantiepark Delftse Hout, which really adds to its charm. There’s a roughly 50/50 mix of camping pitches (the majority of which have electrical hook-ups and hardstanding for vans and caravans) and all-season accommodation. Cabins vary in size from compact one bedroom retreats to large chalets sleeping 6 with an accompanying terrace. All are super smart, very well-maintained and equipped with attractive modern furniture (although it won’t surprise you that there’s an Ikea down the road once you’ve had a look around). For those looking for more of a glamping experience, there’s a beautiful wooden igloo and a handful of safari-style tents scattered around the site. 

The whole park is lush with mature landscaping that adds shelter and a sense of privacy to the cabins and pitches. The size, diversity and greenery makes it feel much less cookie-cutter than many holiday parks – but also welcomes wildlife. The birdsong, in spring, was gorgeous and we spotted herons and hares making themselves at home.

Facilities at Vakantiepark Delftse Hout

Vakantiepark Delftse Hout hits the sweet spot when it comes to facilities. Enough to ensure you have everything you need, yet not so much that you feel you’re staying in an amusement park. With very recent renovations, it’s all to the highest standard – in fact I could honestly say to the highest standard of any campsite I’ve ever stayed at.

At the entrance to the site you’ll find reception and a small but well-stocked shop that offers fresh bread and pastries daily. Opposite is the petite Brasserie, where pizza and simple meals are served on a sheltered terrace and at a handful of cosy tables inside. But the piece-de-resistance is the washblock. No, really. This contemporary building is brand new and houses extremely smart (and exceptionally clean) toilets, shower rooms, family shower rooms, a very modern laundry room and both indoor and outdoor washing up stations. There’s also a loft apartment to rent upstairs and a cheerful room used for children’s activities during the summer season. The facilities here are, frankly, better than those I’ve found at many hotels I’ve stayed in across Europe. And they’re plentiful enough that even in peak season I can’t see that you’d ever find yourself queuing.

Behind the washblock is a brand new play area with a nice mix of equipment for all ages from baby through to teens. There’s also a handful of table tennis tables and a small outdoor swimming pool, open from May. The play area was a huge hit with our toddler – and with lovely landscaping and a few spots to sit it was equally pleasant for adults to enjoy too. Screened from camping pitches by generous greenery and hedges, it feels like a space for kids to be kids without any worries that their squeals of excitement might disturb other campers (but then again, if this isn’t your cup of tea then maybe a family-friendly site isn’t for you).

Our accommodation

We booked a Naturhome Terras 4, the simplest two bedroom offering on the site. For what is pitched as a compact, cosy cabin, you get more than you might expect. We found ourselves in a quiet location at the far end of the site, overlooking a little canal where we watched herons fishing each morning. Although not quite warm enough in early April to make the most of it, the highlight had to be the large, sheltered terrace with dining table that would be glorious on a summer evening. Inside, the kitchen dining room was comfortable and had everything we could need. Kids plates and crockery are even supplied. We cooked several meals here and it more than lived up to expectations.

The two bedrooms – a twin and double – are small but well furnished and extremely clean. The same could be said for the shower room, which was spotlessly clean and had everything we needed, including plenty of hooks to hang towels (why so many places don’t have this is beyond me). It was also warm – a bonus when travelling outside of the summer season. The cabins here have gas central heating, making staying here a comfortable option year round. Lastly, you’ll find a reserved parking space right outside your cabin (or as close as possible to your accommodation). Unlike many other sites, there’s no traipsing back and forwards with your luggage which proved a blessing in disguise with a toddler. Drivers on the site were very slow and respectful so it never felt like a disadvantage having vehicles able to move around.

Useful things to know about Vakantiepark Delftse Hout

There’s parking nearby

Arriving early or leaving later? You can find (limited) public parking right outside the gate. Better still, it appears to be free (although do check on the day in case anything has changed).

You can hire bikes

If you want a different way to get around or want to explore the nearby polders and countryside you can hire bikes at reasonable prices from reception. Not only do these look brand new (spring 2026), they also have ebike options and child seats available for small passengers.

Food shopping is easy

If you’re self-catering, be reassured there are lots of options to shop for groceries in Delft. There are large supermarkets on the edge of town (including some with petrol stations) and multiple ‘express format’ supermarkets in the town centre, a brisk 15 minute walk away. Jumbo and Albert Heijn are the two big chains here and we found a good selection of produce and treats even in the smaller central stores.

And so is eating out

With the town centre 10 minutes away on foot you’re spoilt for choice with exceptional cafes and plentiful bars and restaurants. We found it really easy to find great places to eat, friendly bars and exceedingly good coffee (and Dutch apple cake). The Dutch love al fresco eating so expect to find bustling cobbled squares full of diners and drinkers even in the early spring.

What do nearby

There’s heaps to do in this part of the Netherlands.

You’ll find full details of what we got up to in Delft and its surroundings – including Scheveningen and Den Haag – in my Delft city guide, coming soon.

Rotterdam is a fantastic day out too, and easy to reach by train. Check out my recommendations in Discovering Rotterdam: 24 hours in the Netherland’s second city.

Want to explore Amsterdam? In my honest opinion I’d choose the lush surroundings of Vakantiepark Delftse Hout above an overpriced tourist-trap hotel in the fringes of the capital any day. Take a swift train from Delft to the city centre instead and soak up the stunning architecture and captivating culture – and check out my more adventurous Amsterdam city guide for some inspiration.

Glamping in Delft: A unusual city break without compromise

If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Delft, or simply somewhere a little out of the ordinary in the Netherlands, I wholeheartedly recommend Vakantiepark Delfse Hout. The variety of comfortable, quality accommodation and facilities is reason enough to want to stay, but really it’s the location that’s unbeatable. The woodland trails and lakeside paths of Delftse Hout itself are an absolute joy – yet the historic city centre of Delft with its picturesque canals and vibrant cafe culture really is only a stone’s throw away. It offers the best of both worlds, something we didn’t even realise was an option.

The cherry on the cake is that it’s wonderfully family-friendly too. There’s no compromise here – little ones can have just as much fun as the grown ups on a city break, both in delightful Delft and the park itself. 

Vakantiepark Delftse Hout might have been a chance find, but I think it was meant to be.