If you’re planning a family holiday in the Netherlands, the chances are you’ve come across Duinrell Holiday Park.
Holiday park, theme park and home to one of Europe’s most impressive on-site water parks, this is one of the most popular family holidays in Holland. We’ve been visiting for well over a decade and it’s one of those destinations where we just know everyone will have a good time.
Set on the edge of the elegant Dutch town of Wassenaar, the holiday park is surrounded by woodland, sand dunes and cycle paths. This means it has the best of everything; enough excitement to keep everyone entertained, easy access to nature for the days you want to get out in it and a beautiful Dutch town on the doorstep.
Duinrell is fabulous, but if you’re booking for the first time, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Here’s everything you need to know: A Duinrell Cheat Sheet, if you like!
Looking for something in particular? I’ve included a contents table so you can skip to what you need.
Table of Contents
Where is Duinrell Holiday Park?
You’ll find Duinrell on the edge of the well-to-do town of Wassenaar, between The Hague and Leiden, with Amsterdam within easy day trip distance.
One of the things I really like about it is the location. Unlike some holiday parks that are a bit isolated and designed to keep you on site, Duinrell is within walking distance of Wassenaar town centre and has beaches, cities and the Meijendel Nature reserve on the doorstep.
Once you’ve checked in, getting around to explore is remarkably easy thanks to the fantastic Dutch cycling path network and local transport options.
What to Expect at Duinrell
This park combines three attractions into one holiday experience: a family friendly theme park, the famous Tikibad water park and accommodation ranging from camping pitches to luxury lodges.
The Theme Park
Unlike some big-ticket European theme parks, Duinrell isn’t about big ticket rides and queues that go on for hours. There’s a good mix of family friendly rides, nothing too white knuckle but enough bigger rides to keep teens (and scaredy cat adults, like me!) happy.
The theme park is firmly aimed at families, which means plenty to enjoy for younger children alongside some more thrilling rides for older kids and adults. Highlights include:
- The Falcon: the parks looping, swooping roller coaster.
- Aqua Swing: High level swings with shooting fountains below
- The vintage carousel: A restored German carousel in its own glass house.
- The Monorail: frog themed, pedal round the park high up on the suspended rail.
Adjacent to the main theme park you’ll also find Wonderland. This fairytale themed village is wonderfully strange, accessed by a drawbridge and full of quirky attractions, including talking statues and a miniature Manneken Pis.
Alongside the theme park, there’s plenty of good old fashioned play parks. Low tech, just as much fun.
The theme park at Duinrell is very manageable: easily walkable, a good mix of rides, you rarely queue for long and it has a bit of a nostalgic charm to it.
Being a lover of all things vintage, my favourite spot is the restored Carousel. The historic German beauty features beautifully painted horses, hot air balloons and a sleigh. It lives in its own glass house with a cafe- the perfect place to stop for a coffee and a stroopwaffle. One of the prettiest, most Insta-friendly spots on the park.
Theme park access is free and unlimited to all guests. You can ride all day, every day, at no extra cost.
The Tiki Pool Water Park
The star attraction, The Tiki pool. Featuring more than twenty waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river and splash zones for smaller guests, this is the largest water park in the Benelux region.
If thrill seeking is your thing, there’s all sorts of slides from near vertical drops to flumes with light effects. Personally, I’m happy drifting round the lazy river on a big rubber ring. There’s also sauna cabins, a snack bar and plenty of seating. Something for everyone!
Do you have to pay for Tiki Pool if you’re staying at Duinrell?
This is where things get a little confusing, especially for first timers. How you access the waterpark, and how much you pay, depends how you booked.
If you’re staying in a Duingalow or Lodge Tent booked directly with Duinrell, a set number of free Tikibad visits are included with your stay. Additional Tiki Pool visits can be purchased at regular prices. Full price visits aren’t cheap, expect to pay about €20 per person.
Camping guests receive discounted entry .
The number of free or discounted sessions you get depends on the length of your stay.
If you booked through a third party, such as Eurocamp, you’ll be given a voucher for discounted visits. All sessions need to be booked in advance on the Duinrell app.
In the summer months, the outdoor section of the waterpark is open and entry costs €5.50 per person. Note that you can’t switch between the indoor and outdoor parts, it’s one or the other.
This complicated (and sometimes expensive!) way of doing things is my least favourite thing about the park, and if you know you’ll want to visit often, you do need to consider this when booking and budgeting. If you don’t have any free sessions, expect to pay €9-20 per session, per person.
It’s worth checking the current access arrangements before booking, as water park entry depends on how you book/ where you stay and may be subject to change. Find up to date details here.
Accommodation Options
Accommodation ranges from traditional camping pitches to fully equipped luxury holiday homes known as ‘Duingalows’. There really is something for every preference and budget.
We’ve enjoyed several stays, our favourite to date being the six person lodge tent booked directly with Duinrell. We loved the glamping experience for the perfect balance of camping and comfort; proper beds, a well equipped kitchen and plenty of space.
There’s also a mix of caravans and lodges on-site that can be booked through companies such as Canvas and Eurocamp.
Should You Book Duinrell Direct or Through a Third Party?
It really depends what’s important to you. Here’s a few things to think about:
- Tiki Pool: This is the biggest one for me. If you want to spend a lot of time in the waterpark, booking direct could save you a lot of money.
- Accommodation: Duinrell has some fun options- love this tree-house style lodge tent with a hang net, for example– but companies such as Eurocamp have some very comfortable options at a significantly lower price point.
- Flexibility: Dates for direct bookings are fixed as per the Duinrell calendar, whereas other companies allow you more freedom to choose an arrival date.
- Space & Location: Having stayed in a few options, I can confirm that booking direct means a more spacious pitch and a location within easy walking distance of the park facilities. Third party pitches do tend to be packed close together and spread around the park.
What’s Included in A Duinrell Stay?
All bookings include unlimited access to the theme park & playparks.
Depending on how you booked and length of stay, you’ll get some free Tiki Pool sessions. You can buy extra admissions if required.
Campsite guests get free access to communal shower blocks. They are good- clean, heated and well equipped. You can book a pitch with a private wash house if you like. Campers receive vouchers for discounted Tiki Pool access.
Things you’ll need to budget for: amusement arcades, laundry facilities, bike hire.
Explore Duinrell, Wassenaar & Beyond by Bike
If there’s one thing I’d recommend doing at Duinrell, it’s bringing or hiring a bike.
Cycling is a huge part of everyday life in the Netherlands and the park is perfectly placed for exploring on two wheels, the extensive network of dedicated cycle paths making it super easy to get about. It’s also a great way to get about the park itself.
Bikes can be hired directly from the park, with children’s bikes, family bikes and electric bikes available, meaning there’s something suitable for everyone.
Is Duinrell Dog- Friendly?
Yes and no. Let’s get into it.
You can bring your dog: there are pet friendly accommodation options and dogs are allowed across most of the park. You need to pick up a Duinrell dog tag for them at reception, which will cost around €6.50. Dogs aren’t allowed in the Tiki Pool, restaurants or Plaza.
Realistically, not all dogs will enjoy this park. There aren’t many dog friendly open spaces (although there are plenty of fantastic walks just off park) and it’s a very busy environment. Little Wolf stays home when we do this holiday- it’s too much for him.
You can bring your dog to Duinrell, but you need to decide if it’s right for your dog. Will they have a good time?
A Few Things We’ve Learned Over The Years
We’ve been visiting Duinrell for a long time. We’ve been at all times of year, spending 1-2 nights as a stop over when travelling between Germany and the UK ( we used to live in Germany) up to a week on family holidays. Here’s a few things we’ve learned along the way:
- Take passport sized photos. You’ll be given a park pass at check in for everyone in your party and it requires a picture. It doesn’t actually need to be a passport photo, a cut down photo will do. There is a photo booth in the Park Plaza but its spendy. Save the time and money.
- Pack comfy shoes. The park is walkable, but after a full day of rides, exploring and the Tiki Pool, you’ll be glad you did. Don’t worry about going casual either, this place is super relaxed.
- Take a cheap swimsuit if you plan to ride the water slides. The slides can wreck your swimsuit by putting a hole in the bottom. I’ve lost a few this way. Pack a cheapy you don’t mind binning!
- Take ant traps/powder and sealable bags. Due to the parks dune/ forest environment, there can be a bit of an ant issue. It’s not a hygiene issue, it’s just the environment. Pack ant traps and sealable bags for open foodstuff. Just makes things easier.
- Shop Off Park. There’s a general store on park, but it comes with a park premium. Head into Wassenaar to shop. There’s several supermarkets, drug stores and a shop called Hema, which sells everything you never knew you needed.
- Join a Duinrell facebook group. There’s a few, but I like Duinrell Chats & Tips. Members share tips, pass on things as they leave and share any unused swimming vouchers.
Looking for a bit more Dutch inspiration? Try one of these posts next:
Things to Do in Wassenaar, Holland
Glamping Holland- A Lodge Tent Stay @ Duinrell Holiday Park.
The Ultimate Guide to the Amsterdam Swing: Over the Edge
Helen x
Thank you for such an interesting post. Its good to get the history of the park, but also your own history. I loved the carousel. To me, there is always something magical about carousels 🎠 maybe it’s nostalgia for the past
There’s definitely something about them, isn’t there? Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, appreciated.
Great to read about this historic park and how it’s grown over the years. It’s lovely to discover a place you enjoy so much that you are drawn back year after year. Although I adore visiting new places I can hardly bear a year to go by without returning to Finland. Hope you’re enjoying the bank holiday celebrations. We’ve had nice, dry weather up north!
Thanks Marion, it is lovely to have place that pulls you back. For us, it also means we have family pics in one place. Moving with the army, we haven’t that at home! Weather is hit and miss here but nothing dampened the bank holiday celebrations. Hope your having a good month.
Carousels and lazy rivers are about my limit, Helen. None of that X drop stuff! Sounds like a Belgian Butlins. Nice to have a family visit still going strong 🤗💕
To be honest I passed the top-level-scary water rides. Put my foot down about anyone in my lot going on the craziest two- we’re on holiday, no injuries please!
😁💟
Oops, Dutch Butlins 🤔❤️
This looks a lovely family place. I think maybe those of us the wrong side of 75 probably need not apply, but could perhaps pass the info on to our families.
Oh I don’t know, ride on the carousel and pancakes for tea is ageless, surely! Ha ha, it is aimed at the younger family market but a charming place nonetheless.
Riding on carousels? Nah. Seasick. Pancakes? Yes!
Looks to be a delightful holiday destination, especially with the vintage fairground. The stuff of fairytales. ❤️
A nice little escape from the madness that is the world just now!
Nice to have that continuity of a family business in an age of multinationals.
Certainly is, I was pleasantly surprised that they’d managed to keep it in the family.