Parking lot turned green campsite

After a walk from the north of the city, we arrived at this little green oasis! They have managed to create something very beautiful here, you’d hardly believe it was once a parking lot: the many fragrant plants and flowers really give you the illusion that you are a lot further than a stone’s throw from the busy city.

Tour

After arrival we were immediately given a tour of the site, fun fact: Culture Campsite is not only a campsite, but also an exhibition. Not only can you sleep in the various objects here, but they are also all independent works of art. Even without an overnight stay, you are always welcome to come by and take a look!

Innovative view on architecture, design and sustainability

We not only received an explanation for each accommodation, more about that later, but we also discussed the unique experience between visitor, art, architecture and sustainability. The four founders started this project to give people an innovative view of architecture and design, while also broadening the horizon in the field of sustainability in an informal way. Well, it’s definitely worked!

Sleeping objects

Currently, they offer a choice of 12 different architectural sleeping objects, all smaller than a tiny house, with space for two to three people. These are not just any objects, as they are all made by different artists and designers. Of course all equally sustainable.

Which would you choose? Perhaps, the accommodation, ‘Second Skin’, which is made from the idea of ​​improving the urban microclimate by creating a symbiosis between buildings and plants. It even has its own garden. Or how about the electric cart ‘(S)low tech’, that was used as a delivery car in the 1950s? Maybe you’d prefer the ‘High Rise.’ that’s also seen as the shortest tower in Rotterdam: you even climb up to your own roof terrace for an overview of the campsite. Or finally, why not imagine yourself as a honeybee in the ‘Honeycomb’ or opt for old cattle feed silo ‘Val Ross’?

Take a look around the website for all the possibilities, because every object has a completely different look and feel. In addition, the range also changes regularly, because new objects are constantly being designed and built. Also a good excuse to keep coming back!

Our accommodation: Scuba

We couldn’t make up our minds on what to choose, so we left it to Laura, one of the four founders, for convenience. When we arrived we were very curious to see which place she selected. When we were assigned ‘Scuba’ we were absolutely not disappointed. Have you ever seen the igloos that calves grow up in on the farm? Well, they took two of these calf igloos and created a cozy accommodation. ‘Sleeping Pod’ has the same base by the way, but this sleeping pod has been raised – so it just depends on your preference.

It’s still camping, so don’t expect huge luxury in the ‘pods’ – although this is definitely a bit more glamping than camping. The ‘Scuba’ is only a few square meters in size, so you won’t find more than a fairly comfortable double bed (including bed linen) and some extra space for your luggage here. 😉 With a bit of luck the weather will be nice, and you will only use your object as a place to sleep. If it happens to be a bit colder ..  they luckily also have a number of other, nice facilities!

Facilities: food!

The campsite is of course fully equipped. What made us very happy are the communal kitchen (with cooking utensils), living room and the cozy terrace. It was nice to be able to prepare our food ourselves, but also to grab some snacks or drinks. The cooling offers something for everyone – and you pay neatly afterwards when you check out! They also have a pizza oven and barbecues available and an Albert Heijn within walking distance. Prefer not to cook yourself? Then you can also order a delicious pokébowl here. Speaking of food: you can also pre-order different boxes full of delicious regional products!

There is more..

In the living room you will find a large number of games (we enthusiastically played ‘Guess Who?’) as well as lockers to charge your electrical devices. Between all the greenery outside, there are also a number of hammocks, plus they have set up a ping pong table for some extra entertainment. And if you bring your swimsuit, you can enjoy the hot tub (that’s never a punishment)! Showering and going to the toilet is of course also possible, in a self-built sustainable hut: simple, yet effective! 🙂

Perfect for a city trip!

We really can’t recommend this quirky city campsite enough! It is perfect for a city trip to Rotterdam. Enjoy the city for the day, and shake off the urban crowds for the night. The best of both worlds, right?

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