The location

Karnemelkplaats is actually located between two villages: Callantsoog and Groote Keeten – in the middle of nowhere. In 2005 they transformed the dairy farm into a fantastic holiday resort, where you can spend the night in the middle of beautiful nature. The North Holland dunes are only a 10-minute walk away, making it an excellent location during the summer months.

(I myself was very curious where the name came from. After extensive Google research, I think it might have something to do with the location from which the England sailors departed during the war. The name is taken from an old custom: when the milk is churned and the butter scooped off, a flag was hoisted to let the poor people know they could pick up buttermilk for free! Correct me if I’m wrong.)

Arrival

I don’t think we’ve ever been greeted with such enthusiasm as we were here. We hadn’t even stepped out of the taxi when owner Wilfred was walking up to us waving. He immediately started talking passionately about their campsite, and we were given an extensive tour.

Accommodations

Although we wanted to stay in one of their new igluhuts, there are several other amazing options to choose from. The campsite has a number of cozy spots on the south, where you can go with your own camping equipment. For those interested in a little more luxury, they also have several guest houses perfect for you. 😉 It’s really camping & glamping. You can stay here in de Zoute Bries, de Jutter, ‘t Staartstuk or – my personal favorite – ‘t Paradijsje! The latter is a nostalgic Swedish caravan from 1967, which can be found under a shelter in perhaps the most beautiful spot of the campsite. How. fun. is. that?

De Zoute Bries is an old workman’s shed, renovated in the atmosphere of the past with old granite countertops and cheese board flooring! The old house (even the toilet) is also still completely intact. The wooden house De Jutter is furnished in the atmosphere of beach and beachcombing, which is completely in line with the location. It has a warm appearance and a private garden of 200m². ‘t Staartstuk is a spacious house with no less than two (!) floors. Downstairs the living room, kitchen and bathroom (with roll-top bath!), above a fantastic sleeping loft. Also completely in the appropriate beach atmosphere!

The igluhuts

Okay, finally time to discuss the igluhuts – because I know that’s what you’re here for! Karnemelkplaats is the very first location in the Netherlands to have these huts with kitchen and bathroom. Since March 2021 it’s been made possible to stay in one of the three unique tiny houses: de Keet, de Hut and the Boet. We slept two nights in De Boet located in the back corner of the Karnemelkplaats, closest to the sea. Yes!

The three cottages can be found on the edge of the site, and they all have their own fairly spacious outdoor area with picnic table. Because of the fences you have plenty of privacy here and a very nice view over the farmlands and the dunes. The extraordinary design in particular makes this a truly special stay. The semi-circular, wooden cabins blend in nicely with the environment – ​​and of course, the cold Dutch nights have been taken into account so you can even enjoy a stay during the winter months.

Although the cabins are all unique – both in terms of layout and design – they all offer space for two people. They are furnished with a double box bed, curtains, a small dining table with chairs, a sitting area, a kitchenette, and a relatively spacious bathroom. Everything you need for a pleasant stay is available. The cabins are really equipped with the most important comforts and space is used optimally. The shape of the igluhut and the windows really create a very cozy atmosphere, especially during sunrise and sunset!

The environment

Karnemelkplaats is surrounded by nature. It is located next to a nice, undulating dune land between the fields – the De Nollen van Abbestede nature reserve – and if you like bird watching, this is absolutely the right place for you. It is full of ducks, geese, waders, terns, and gulls. Do you prefer to seek out the conviviality of people? You can find that in (one of the beach pavilions of) Callantsoog.

Although we already had a very nice view from our igluhut, we wanted nothing more than to discover the beach. Lucky for us, we were just a wooden bridge, a short walk across the neighbors’ land, and a climb over the dunes from the sea! Really, in less than 10 minutes, you can have your feet in the North Sea. A little advice, pay attention to when the tide comes in because we were suddenly almost stuck on a sandbank.. oops!

Facilities

Unfortunately, the weather was really bad on our second day. I believe it rained non-stop the entire day. Thankfully, we had a pretty good time in the cabin. If you want to play a game or read a book, and you didn’t bring anything yourself,  you can go to the so-called ‘coffee house’ – and choose something from their selection! No time for boredom.

In this coffee house, you will also find a table full of cycling routes, folders, and maps. It is the ideal base for cycling, walking, and a beach holiday on the North Holland coast. Also fun fact: they have a covered bicycle shed with charging points for electric bicycles!

Waking up in De Boet was absolutely no punishment. The night before, we had enjoyed a beautiful (!) sunset, but waking up to the chirping and singing of birds completed the (holiday) picture. It was really enjoyable!

→ This article was written in collaboration with Karnemelkplaats. We were allowed to stay here for a night for free, in exchange for content. Of course you can read our own opinion here!