Starting a campsite: turn your idea into a workable plan

1. Put your idea on one sheet of paper

Write down who you want to welcome, what they will stay in and which months you intend to open. Tent pitches call for different decisions from motorhome spaces or furnished accommodation. Include what you will not offer, such as catering or a playground, so your budget does not keep expanding.

Sketch the entrance, pitches, toilets and space needed for maintenance. For example, if you want to welcome tent campers seeking peace and quiet, consider carrying luggage, shade and the walk to the toilets as well as the view. Your sketch helps a conversation; it is not an approved site plan.

2. Research the location before buying land or facilities

First establish whether your intended use is possible at that location. In the Netherlands, start with the municipality’s omgevingsplan, its local planning rules. Discuss both camping and any works, such as an entrance or toilet building. Rules and authorities differ between countries and regions; use the country guide below for the location you are considering.

Take your sketch to the relevant authority and record who explained each point, the supporting document and what still needs a decision. A helpful introductory meeting is not permission. Have uncertainties about use and construction assessed before committing to a purchase or an opening date.

• Step-by-step guide to starting a campsite— Ondernemersplein / KVK(source in Dutch)

3. Work through your costs and a quiet season

Separate setup costs, running expenses and money needed before the first receipts. Include land or rent, electricity, water, toilets, maintenance, insurance and your own income. Obtain quotations and mark estimates clearly. This reveals which unknown cost could change your plans.

Start with available pitch nights: pitches offered multiplied by nights open. Multiply that by an occupancy assumption of your own and your expected receipts per sold pitch night. This is a planning exercise, not a revenue forecast. Deduct costs and applicable taxes, and separately check when money arrives and bills fall due.

An illustration using made-up planning assumptions: 8 pitches offered for 100 nights give 800 available pitch nights. Selling a quarter of those in your scenario means 200 sold pitch nights. This says nothing about actual demand. Repeat with different assumptions and your own costs to understand the effect of a quieter season.

• Work through a later opening and fewer occupied nights too.
• Keep a reserve for repairs and setbacks separate from the setup budget.

4. Decide who will do the daily work

Walk through an ordinary summer day: cleaning toilets, checking departures, maintaining the grounds, answering a call and welcoming new guests. Note who is available and what happens if they are ill or want a day off. Even five pitches can mean frequent interruptions when every question comes to one person.

Decide where reservations will be recorded and how extensions and phone bookings will be handled. Consider the arrival information guests need in advance. Choose software afterwards, to support that routine, and check that you can find a free pitch, a change and a blocked night yourself.

5. Choose the next action that resolves an uncertainty

No site yet? Clarify your requirements and financial limits first. Have a location in mind? Research permitted use and necessary facilities. Once those are clearer, work on quotations, timing and daily operations. A campsite listing or booking system does not need to be your first task.

Choose one conversation or calculation for this week. Keep a list of your question, who can help, the agreed action and the answer. Then use the country guide available in your language. Guides address local questions in more detail; a general overview cannot establish what is permitted on your plot.

• Sketch the site and describe what you plan to offer.
• Arrange a location discussion and gather supporting documents.
• Request a quotation for the largest uncertain investment.
• Discuss a busy day with your partner or whoever will cover for you.