Camping near Amsterdam?

[Traveldog]

I would like to camp near the the sea, Amsterdam area, end of August.
I am riding a Suzuki DRZ400 on the route Tokyo-Vladivostok-Mongolia-Turkey-Central Europe-coast of Europe. Would like to make it to the North Sea or Atlantic ocean, Amsterdam area probably the easiest from my current location in the Czech Republic.

Any nice spots you know about?

How safe is the area as far as bike theft etc.?

Thanks!

[jkrijt]

Amsterdam and the area around it is very unsafe for your bike. Lock it with a chain to a solid object !

[Luuk]

depends on what you call safe, lock your bike to a solid object under a light, etc etc and you schould be ok especially if its not to new, really the same in all major city's. as for camping check this side: http://www.amsterdamtourist.nl/

enjoy

[Traveldog]

Thanks for the suggestions! I guess after last years overlanding the Suzuki does not look all that appetizing, but still will need to lock it up good.

The website Luuk recommended has a bunch of campsites, great!
Here they are:
http://www.amsterdamtourist.nl/en/ho...campsites.aspx

[Traveldog]

Which one of these would you think is the safest to leave a bike and go for a day trip to Amsteram:

Camping Het Amsterdamse Bos
Camping Houtrak
Camping Uitdam
Camping Vliegenbos
Camping ZeeburgDe Badhoeve
De Badhoeve
Gaasper Camping Amsterdam

[Sander]

Traveldog,

When are you arriving in town? You can park your bike in front of my house (Amsterdam Center) if you want to. Can even show you around town.

No problem parking your bike in the city, as long as you lock it.

If you want to camp near the sea, try Zandvoort or Bloemendaal. But i don't know if that is your 'cup of tea' after such a big trip.

Send me a email for more info..

gr Sander

sander@honda50.cc

[Dirk Taalman]

Originally Posted by Sander

Traveldog,

When are you arriving in town? You can park your bike in front of my house (Amsterdam Center) if you want to. Can even show you around town.

No problem parking your bike in the city, as long as you lock it.

If you want to camp near the sea, try Zandvoort or Bloemendaal. But i don't know if that is your 'cup of tea' after such a big trip.

Send me a email for more info..

gr Sander

sander@honda50.cc

Don´t stay at this guys place, he is a maniac I have tried to shake him off all the way from Alaska to Ushuaia, but his moped was too fast for me...

Traveldog, after Amsterdam you could try the northern coast too. There is an excellent campground just north of Petten, where you can camp in the dunes. They wont let you take your bike on the campground, but the parking is safe. The camping is called ´de Lepelaar´and it is a top spot. Might be a little busy now, but at the end of august you´ll have the place to yourself. Wake up in the morning with the sea just outside your (tent)door. Nice little villages to hang around in too: St. Maartenszee and St. Maartensvlotbrug (real name, no joke).

Have fun!

[Traveldog]

Hi guys,

thanks for the input, Sander, many thanks for the invitation (PM sent).

Will keep you posted on how the planning goes.

[Sander]

Stan,

No problem, whatever you are up to is fine with me.

Bikes are pretty save around here, my BMW stands in front of my house all year round, and no problems yet. Just take your luggage with you, and no problems.

About the campsites, there are two campsites near the center of Amsterdam:
The first one is on the North side of town just over the canal and is called 'Vliegenbos'. Vliegenbos is a campsite with lots of young people in an small area with lots of trees. You can take the free ferry to the central station (wich is located in the center of Amsterdam). I would advise this camping.

The other campsite is called 'Zeeburg' and located in the East part of town. No experience with this one.

If you are interested i can provide you, and your friend, with a free bed in the center of Amsterdam.

Let me know when you are in town, maybe we can drink a or go on my friends boat and cruise the canals for a bit...

Greetings Sander

[Traveldog]

Thanks Sander! (PM sent)

Stan