Camping with your dog: choosing a dog-friendly campsite, regions and costs

Sleeping outdoors, spending the whole day outside, no door closing between the two of you: for a lot of dogs, camping is the best holiday there is. But “dogs welcome” on a campsite’s website doesn’t say much about what it’s actually like on site, one campsite has a separate dog field and a paddling pool, another only tolerates your dog on a leash between the pitches. Here’s how to pick a place beforehand where you’re both genuinely welcome.

What should you ask the campsite before booking?

• Is your dog allowed everywhere on site, or only near your own pitch? Some campsites keep the swimming area, playground or sanitary block dog-free.
• Is there a leash requirement on site? Almost always, even if your dog behaves perfectly off-leash at home.
• Is there an off-leash field where he can still run free for a bit?
• How many dogs are allowed, and is there a surcharge per dog or per night?
• How close is the nearest vet? Handy to know before you actually need one.

Three kinds of camping spots, three experiences

In practice, “campsite” covers quite different things, and that makes a real difference to how your holiday with your dog will feel:

• The regular campsite or holiday park, pitches or accommodation, often with a pool, playground and shop. Larger parks like RCN De Roggeberg (Appelscha) or Duinrell (Wassenaar) usually have a clear dog policy per zone: not every pitch area or every type of cottage is dog-friendly, so check that specifically rather than relying on a blanket “dogs welcome” on the homepage.
• The motorhome pitch, a simple, often smaller stopover for motorhomes, usually without a pool or playground, sometimes even without staff on site (payment via machine). Examples: Camperplaats Kessenich, Camperpark De Zwerver in Nieuwpoort, Camperplaats Jachthaven ’t Leuken in Well. Quieter and cheaper, but don’t expect dog amenities like a dog wash.
• The nature campsite, small-scale, often run by Staatsbosbeheer or a similar nature manager, right in the middle of woods or heathland. Natuurkampeerterrein Borger (Drenthe) and Natuurkampeerterrein De Veenkuil (Flevoland) are good examples, less comfort, but nature starts literally at your tent flap.

Tent, motorhome, or static caravan?

Each type calls for a different approach:

• Tent, closest to nature, but also the easiest for your dog to sneak under. A tie-out cable or an extra peg by the zip helps.
• Motorhome or caravan, wonderfully mobile, but never leave your dog behind in full sun. A motorhome heats up incredibly fast; be sure to read our tips on dogs and heat before you set off.
• Static caravan, the most comfortable and stable option, ideal for a dog that needs a sense of stability in a new environment.

What does a dog cost at the campsite?

This varies a lot from place to place, but our own guide shows a fairly clear range: on a regular pitch, expect a small surcharge per dog per night, usually somewhere between €2 and €7 (for instance, RCN De Roggeberg charges around €5 per dog per night for a pitch, and Boerderijcamping Oud-Heille in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen charges €2 a night). At motorhome pitches you usually pay a single flat rate for the pitch itself (typically €10 to €26 per night, as at Camperpunt ’t Heksken in Westouter or Camperplaats De Guldenroede in Noordwijk), with the dog usually included for free. Some nature campsites don’t charge anything extra at all. Always check the amount when booking, a campsite website doesn’t always mention the dog surcharge explicitly.

Regions made for an active camping holiday

Belgium and the Netherlands have plenty of ground for anyone who likes to walk, and by now every region has at least one dog-friendly campsite or motorhome pitch on GoPuppy:

• Belgian coast, Camperpark De Zwerver in Nieuwpoort and Camperplaats Steenkerke Rust near Veurne sit right by the dunes; also check our guide to dog-friendly beaches for the exact beach rules per municipality.
• Kempen (the Campine), Camperpark Vogelzang in Antwerp and Sunparks Kempense Meren (as a holiday home) sit right against the sandy paths and heathland of the Kempen.
• Ardennes, Camping Les Murets in Esneux (Liège province) and Camping du Vieux Moulin in Plombières put you straight onto the forest trails from our Ardennes hiking guide.
• Eastern Cantons/Voeren area, Aire de Kelmis sits right by the German border, a quiet base for walks in a region still thinly covered on GoPuppy.
• Zeeland, Boerderijcamping Oud-Heille near Sluis combines camping with the dunes and beaches of Zeelandic Flanders.
• North Holland/Wadden, Camping Loodsmansduin near Den Hoorn sits right in the middle of Duinen van Texel National Park, with its own dog wash; TuinGoed Bonatèr near Venhuizen, by contrast, lies on the Markermeer, on the other side of the province.
• Drenthe/Overijssel/Friesland, Natuurkampeerterrein Borger, Toppark ’t Hulsbeek near Deurningen and RCN De Roggeberg near Appelscha all three border woodland and heath.
• Limburg (BE and NL), Camperplaats Kessenich, Camperplaats Kerkrade near Kasteel Erenstein and Camperplaats Jachthaven ’t Leuken near Well are spread across both sides of the border.

Check for each campsite which walking routes are nearby, for an active dog, a site right in the woods is always that bit nicer than one on the edge of a busy road.

What to pack

Beyond the usual travel gear, these make the difference at a campsite:

• your own water bowl and enough shade at the pitch;
• a light but sturdy leash for tying up while you cook or do the dishes;
• tick protection, campsites are often close to woods or scrub, exactly where ticks live (see our tick guide);
• their familiar bed or blanket, so the new spot has something recognisable right away.

Find a campsite on GoPuppy

On GoPuppy we list dog-friendly campsites, as well as hotels, B&Bs and holiday homes across Belgium and the Netherlands, also check our broader guide to a dog-friendly stay if camping isn’t your thing. Know a campsite where dogs are genuinely welcome? Add it and help other owners find their next camping spot.