We recently had the opportunity to discover and experience one of the most beautiful holiday parks in the Netherlands. Although we don’t usually visit holiday parks, we didn’t want to miss this opportunity. In fact, some of the most amazing places to visit in The Netherlands are in the immediate vicinity of the park which made us extra enthusiastic.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She was invited to visit and explore Hof van Saksen on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her stay and experiences.
About Hof van Saksen
Hof van Saksen is a holiday resort located in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. At the resort you will find Saxon farm houses and holiday homes. This gives the resort a special atmosphere and appearance and also fits in perfectly with the surroundings.
Hof van Saksen is part of Landal Greenparks, which has holiday parks throughout Europe. Landal distinguishes itself from other providers by the open character of the parks. Peace, space and nature are the most important characteristics that come with that.
The parks of Landal Greenparks are known for being luxurious holiday parks.
Hof van Saksen is a luxurious and large-scale holiday park surrounded by beautiful Drenthe countryside and nature. It is an excellent destination for walking, cycling and nature lovers.
The park itself offers plenty of space and facilities for relaxation. There is a large lake in the middle of the park. Various accommodations have a view or a direct location on this lake. It invites you to walk around it during your stay. We will discuss the facilities in detail later in the blog.
The park is constantly working to provide its visitors with an unforgettable stay. Hospitality and personal attention for their guests are core values within the organization.
In addition, sustainability and innovation are also important themes for Hof van Saksen. In fact, Hof van Saksen was named the most innovative Holiday Park in the Benelux in October 2024. In particular, the constant innovations, continuous attention to job satisfaction and the latest investments behind the scenes make Hof van Saksen a deserved winner, according to the jury.
Farmhouse
The great thing about Hof van Saksen is that their accommodations are all in the style of the surrounding Drenthe villages. So not the standard holiday park houses, but all amazing farmhouses. It makes it a very special experience, you don’t even have the idea that you are at a holiday park.
They have a wide range of accommodations, from 1-4 people to even accommodations for groups of more than 20 people.
We got a 6-person farmhouse, the 6L to be specific. These types of homes have recently been completely renovated and it showed. From the outside it looks like a farmhouse, but when you step inside, you literally step into luxury.
The accommodation is spread over two floors.
Downstairs you will find the large living room with fireplace and the kitchen with all necessary appliances. You also have a garden or outdoor space at the rear. It is completely surrounded by trees, so it is completely private.
You will also find 1 of the 3 bedrooms on the ground floor. The downstairs bedroom has an ensuite bathroom.
Upstairs you will find 2 more bedrooms and a second bathroom. This large bathroom also has a sauna and a separate bath tub.
The farmhouses really offer everything you could wish for. A perfect base for a wonderful stay with family or friends.
Shopping
Who would think that you can do extensive shopping at a holiday park? Not me anyway. But you don’t have to leave Hof van Saksen to enjoy shopping and return home with nice souvenirs.
In the centrally located main building of the resort, called Havezate, you can find a large shop. Here you can find everything. Souvenirs, clothing, toys, but also items for swimming, in case you have forgotten them.
Supermarket
If you walk down the long avenue from the main building Havezate you will arrive at the Noordermarkt. This is the Hof van Saksen supermarket. You will find everything a regular supermarket has to offer here. Fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh pastries, a bakery, a takeaway and all the ingredients you need for breakfast, lunch and dinner during your stay.
There is no need to leave the resort, just take a stroll to the Noordermarkt for fresh groceries.
Activities
Many holiday parks are aimed at families and children, and Hof van Saksen is no different. In fact, children are the most important guests at Hof van Saksen. Everything in and around the park is made for children. Hof van Saksen truly goes an extra mile when it comes to entertainment for children and families. A complete overview of things to do is really too much to mention here. We would like to share the most important or striking ones.
Children’s Academies
We immediately noticed the Children’s Academies. You will find these academies in various places in the park. They offer a total of 10 different academies. Which academies are there? Building Academy, Cooking Academy, Crafts Academy, Fashion Academy and several others. The kids academies are all about playing and learning. The Kids Academies combine pleasure and education and challenge children and (grand)parents to be creative and active. All you need to do is choose!
Indoor Play Paradise
Indoor Play Paradise The Harrewar is specifically for the youngest kids up to the age of 12. Climbing frames, slides and challenging rope ladders, it’s a true paradise for kids. It covers more than 1000 m², so it’s a true adventure for the youngest guests of Hof van Saksen.
Bowling
Bowling is a family favorite. It’s fun, exciting and competitive all at once. Hof van Saksen only has a limited number of bowling lanes, so reserving a lane during your stay is a must. You can do this at reception or via the Hof van Saksen app.
Family Golf
The Family Adventure Golf has only recently been added to Hof van Saksen, but can already be seen as a favorite! It’s the perfect activity for families who are into outdoor sports and golf. It’s an 18-hole golf course and guarantees fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Foot Golf
A variation on classic golf, foot golf. It is a combination of football and golf. The foot golf course is located throughout the resort. So if you play this game you will immediately discover the resort.
Playgrounds
You will find playgrounds for children in several places throughout the park. All kinds of playground equipment, always near accommodations. As a child you don’t have to walk far to find one.
As mentioned before, this is just a small selection of the enormous range of activities for all ages. Make sure to check out everything when you visit the park.
Indoor swimming paradise – Water Fun
We almost forgot to mention perhaps the coolest thing in the entire park. Hof van Saksen has one of the best swimming pools you will ever encounter at a holiday park. This mainly has to do with the impressive and incredibly cool water slides they have here. They have a total of five spectacular indoor water slides. No matter your age, once you see these slides you will go wild! Their slides all have their own names and all are special in their own way.
Let’s start with the newest water slide at Hof van Saksen, the Subito. A spectacular tube with light effects as well as a curve in which you roll around.
Next is the Intenso. Before entering the Intenso don’t forget to choose the light effect you want during the ride. It’s a gigantic inner tube slide.
Then there is the Bombo, the world’s largest indoor waterslide. Bombo equals the feeling of free fall.
One of our favorites is the Presto. A più presto means as fast as possible. That is exactly what this slide is about. With the Presto you’re definitely in for an adrenaline rush. Race down the 115-metre track at around 60 km per hour, awesome!
At last there is the Saltato. This is the longest funnel slide in the world and an experience for real daredevils. In this 195-metre-long water slide with four funnels, you shoot back and forth in a 2-person inner tube.
They also have a 107 meter long white water course that goes outside and is heated in winter times, so you won’t get cold. Get into the rapids and have some fun.
Next to the swimming pool Hof van Saksen also has a spa and wellness area. You can find the gym here as well as the sauna area. This is also the place for massages or treatments. Please note that entrance to the wellness is not included when staying at Hof van Saksen.
Culinary
With so many activities and so much to do in and around the park, the culinary options are not unimportant. All those activities make you hungry and fortunately the options at Hof van Saksen are excellent in that regard. Of course, we have already mentioned the Noordermarkt, where you can go for all your groceries, fresh bread and even a takeaway meal. But Hof van Saksen has much more to offer!
Al Fresco
To start with, there is the Self-service restaurant Al Fresco. Here you will find an extensive and varied menu with fresh and healthy meals. Al Fresco is also the restaurant where you can enjoy a fresh and extensive breakfast buffet every morning. From our own experience we can say that the breakfast buffet at Hof van Saksen is very good and definitely recommended when you stay here.
Grand Cafe
Then there is the Grand Cafe. You can walk in here all day long. In the morning for coffee and cake, in the afternoon for a delicious lunch and in the evening for a great dinner. You can enjoy local and seasonal dishes here.
Always prepared with fresh, organic and locally sourced ingredients where possible.
Gusto
Did you know there is even an Italian restaurant? At Gusto you can enjoy delicious Italian dishes. The restaurant has a very chic and atmospheric interior. Gusto is a bit more luxurious than the Grand Cafe.
During our stay we had dinner at both the Grand Café and Gusto. We really enjoyed both restaurants and especially had a great meal. We can recommend both of them for a great meal and great night out during your stay.
Hof van Saksen App
As a holiday park, Hof van Saksen even has its own app, which is super useful. Everything you want to know about the park can be found in this app. For example, you will find opening hours of restaurants, shops and activities. You can easily make reservations via the app. The app also contains an interactive map on which you can see exactly where you are walking so you can always find your way back.
Before you arrive at Hof van Saksen, you can check in online via the app, so that you can go straight to your house upon arrival, without having to visit reception. Because the app also contains a digital key with which you always have access to your farmhouse.
Things to do around Hof van Saksen
Hof van Saksen is located in a special part of the Netherlands. It is a vast and sparsely populated area. Perfect for going out in nature. In addition to the endless possibilities in the surrounding nature reserves, there are a number of special sights near the resort. Sights that you won’t find anywhere else in the Netherlands, so definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area.
Hunebeds
The Hunebeds, prehistoric tombstones, are the oldest monuments in the Netherlands. They were actually transported to Drenthe during the Ice Age, can you imagine?
There are a total of 52 Hunebeds that you can visit. They’re all located within a 30 kilometer radius. It is doable to do them all, but it could be a bit much. The local tourist information has come up with the so called Big Five. You get to see the best five prehistoric tombstones. Among them is the largest of them all. This one is located near the Hunebed Visitor Center, which is also absolutely worth a visit.
Camp Westerbork
This is probably the most impressive place you can visit in this area. Camp Westerbork, hidden away in the woods. Camp Westerbork was known as the foyer of hell during the Second World War. It was a transit camp to concentration camps like Auschwitz and Sobibor.
The former campsite itself is accessible free of charge. You can’t get to the camp by car. You’ll have to park your car at the museum’s carpark. From there it’s roughly a 2.9km walk to get to the camp. They have a shuttle bus running between the camp and the museum. The museum entrance fee is €13,50 and is absolutely worth a visit. You will learn a lot about Westerbork’s history.
Radio Sterrenwacht
Imagine walking around Camp Westerbork and all of a sudden bump into 14 huge satellites. It can easily happen to you too, because Westerbork Synthese Radio Telescope is located right next to Camp Westerbork. The huge satellites can’t be missed.
This telescope, built in 1970, is one of the most sensitive telescopes in the world. It consists of 14 satellite dishes, each 25 meters in diameter.
The walk from the Westerbork Museum to Camp Westerbork will guide you along this telescope. In fact, this walkway is called the Milkyway-walk. It’s a very interesting, fun and beautiful walking route on which the fascinating world of the universe and the largest radio telescopes in Europe play a central role and are explained. Both young and old learn about the operation of these enormous satellite dishes.
Fort Bourtange
Bourtange fortress is a unique historical defence work. Meet Fortress Bourtange, the fortress that was never taken. From the seventies until the nineties last century massive reconstructions took place at the Fortress Bourtange. Digging the canals again, forming the ramparts and reconstructing the many buildings, all in the style of the past. They did this massively with the help of old maps and drawings.
Welcome in the year 1742, that’s certainly what it feels like when walking through Bourtange, stepping back in time. The fortress is located roughly a 30 minute drive from Hof van Saksen and absolutely worth a visit.
Let’s go
We hardly actually visit holiday parks until Hof van Saksen came along. We had an absolutely amazing weekend here. The park is truly a five-star holiday park and perfect for families. It has everything you can imagine, and more!
This, in combination with the quiet, natural, wooded and interesting surroundings, makes Hof van Saksen a true top destination.
