Starting a campsite in the Netherlands: what should you check first?

Describe the kind of campsite you want to open

A few tent pitches on a farm need different preparation from a site with motorhome spaces and holiday cabins. Write down who you want to welcome, which months you plan to open and the facilities you think you will need. Distinguish between guests bringing their own camping equipment and guests renting accommodation from you.

Take a simple sketch of the site to your first discussion with the municipality. Include access, parking, toilets and showers, and the surrounding area. It does not need to be a polished brochure: a concrete plan makes the conversation more useful.

Treat touring pitches, motorhome spaces, seasonal pitches and furnished rentals as separate parts of your plan. Being part of a farm does not automatically give permission for camping. Describe capacity and length of stay as matters to assess; do not use the number of pitches on another small campsite as a national permit threshold.

Check the local planning rules before investing

Do not rely on the word ‘recreation’ in a property advert. Check the rules for your location and discuss with the municipality whether your intended camping use is allowed. The Dutch government business information service Ondernemersplein lists this as the first step in starting a campsite.

The Regels op de kaart section of the Omgevingsloket lets you view rules for a particular location. If your plan does not fit the omgevingsplan, the local environmental plan, ask what procedure might be available. A discussion or a submitted application does not mean you have permission.

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

Check the use of the land and the planned work separately

Permission to use land does not automatically cover every piece of work. Check your plans for a toilet and shower block, entrance, drainage and other facilities as well. Use the Vergunningcheck in the Omgevingsloket for the activities you actually intend to carry out, and keep the results with your plan.

The Vergunningcheck is a tool, not a permit. The Dutch Information Point for the Living Environment, IPLO, explains that its results do not create legal rights. Ask the relevant authority if anything is unclear. Also discuss whether local rules, nature protection, fire safety or catering requirements need to be investigated for your plans.

Ask the municipality which other authorities need to be involved, such as the province or water authority. Have the location, nature protection, drainage, wastewater and utility connections considered together. Include emergency access, safe walking routes, waste and someone guests can contact in the design. Have the precise requirements established for your proposed layout.

Drinking water and toilets also need ongoing management after installation. The Dutch inspectorate ILT explains that legionella prevention duties depend in part on the facilities. Have your own installation assessed and allow time and money for maintenance and checks. Do not adopt a standard number of showers or a wastewater solution before the relevant authorities have considered your plans.

• The Dutch Omgevingsloket— Rijksoverheid(source in Dutch)
• Results of the Dutch permit check— Informatiepunt Leefomgeving(source in Dutch)
• Step-by-step guide to starting a campsite— Ondernemersplein / KVK(source in Dutch)
• Legionella prevention inspections— Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport(source in Dutch)

Build a budget that can cope with a quiet season

Start with costs rather than an expected number of bookings. Consider land or rent, site preparation, utility connections, maintenance, insurance and your own time. Separate one-off investment from recurring expenses. Ask for quotes where you do not yet have a reliable estimate.

Then work through a quiet, an average and a busy season using your own assumptions. What happens if you open later than planned, part of the site stays closed or you can work fewer hours? That helps you see which uncertainties to resolve first. These scenarios are a planning tool, not a forecast of your revenue.

Request separate quotes for groundwork, toilets and showers, water, electricity, drainage, access and fitting out. List advice, investigations, insurance, administration and finance separately. Budget for maintenance and your own work even in quiet months. Advance payments may relate to stays you still have to provide; allow for payout schedules, refunds and tax payments.

Keep VAT and tourist tax separate

According to the Dutch tax authority, providing camping facilities for short stays falls under the 9% VAT rate. Accommodation classified as logies is subject to 21% VAT from 1 January 2026. Renting out furnished accommodation is therefore not necessarily treated in the same way as providing a camping pitch. Have the treatment of your own offer and any extra services checked; do not apply one rate to every product without checking.

Tourist tax is a separate municipal tax. Municipalities decide whether to levy it and how to calculate the rate. Check the current regulation in the municipality where your site is located, including reporting requirements and any exceptions. Account for VAT and local taxes separately when calculating prices and keeping your records.

• Dutch VAT on camping facilities— Belastingdienst(source in Dutch)
• Dutch VAT on accommodation— Belastingdienst(source in Dutch)
• When is Dutch tourist tax payable?— Rijksoverheid(source in Dutch)

Prepare your administration and opening routine

Check with KVK, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, whether you meet the business criteria and need to register. Also list what must be ready before opening: suppliers, cleaning, arrival instructions, reservations and records of overnight guests. Find out which obligations apply to your business and what information you need to meet them.

Decide who updates reservations and who welcomes guests while you are working on the grounds. Try out the arrival yourself, from finding the entrance to reaching the pitch and facilities. You may spot practical questions that are easy to miss on a drawing.

Decide where to keep online and phone bookings together and who updates them. Compare booking systems on pitch selection, capacity within a group, blocked dates, data export and help when needed. Your website should show the same offer and clear arrival information. Ask a payment provider about verification, fees, payouts and refunds. Calendar links can have delays; someone needs to enter phone bookings themselves.

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

Choose your next step based on what is already clear

Still unsure about the location? Investigate that before advertising or announcing an opening date. Once permissions and the layout are clearer, work on your pitches, prices and guest information. Keep a list of unanswered questions, who will answer them and where the answer is recorded.

An online campsite page can later help explain what you offer. It does not replace a permit, a municipal assessment or tax advice. Turn to the guides on daily management and presenting your campsite when you are ready for that stage.

Common pitfalls start with assuming too much too soon: owning land does not mean camping is allowed, an application is not a permit and an online campsite listing is not municipal approval. Have changes such as additional pitches, rental accommodation or catering reassessed when they could fall outside the plans already considered.

• Describe stay types, capacity and opening periods.
• Check planning rules, activities and the authorities involved.
• Have water, sanitation, environmental and safety matters assessed.
• Work out quotes, finance, taxes and registration.
• Check required decisions and site readiness before opening.
• Try out reservations, payment and arrival.