Cows, beer and the Frisian flag: striking caravans at De Veenhoop

Ruud de Wild will swap the NPO Radio 2 studio for a camper from July 27 for a week during 'Ruud du Soleil'. He will present both his own afternoon show and the morning show while traveling with his team towards southern France. Live broadcasts will air from French campsites and historic locations, also on NPO 1 Extra. The project marks the transition between the old and new morning shows: Jan-Willem Roodbeen and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte leave on July 31, replaced by Daniël Lippens and Roelof de Vries from August 3.

On July 20, 2026, on the N99 near Breezand, Netherlands, two cars and a camper collided after a driver allegedly fell asleep. The crash occurred around 15:50, leaving the vehicles heavily damaged and debris scattered across the road. One person was taken to hospital with chest pain. Traffic was halted while three tow trucks cleared the scene.

Dutch manufacturer Easy Caravanning has started dealer deliveries of the GetAway CS. It is the production version of the GetAway TB prototype shown in October 2025. The caravan measures 4 metres in length and 1.85 metres in width, and features a fixed transverse double bed (2.10×1.45 metres), part of which folds outwards through a luggage hatch when parked. The rear seating area converts into a child bed (1.70 metres long), with an optional upper bunk, providing sleeping capacity for up to four people. The model lacks a traditional front locker, freeing up interior space; a pop-up roof with panoramic windows adds headroom and light. The GetAway CS is built in the Netherlands and is now on display at selected dealers.

Dutch conversion specialist Vantrack has launched a modular camper conversion kit for the electric Kia PV5. The LightCamp kit includes a pull-out bed (190×130 cm), a roof tent, a kitchen with an induction hob, an 11-litre fresh water system and an 18-litre cooler. The complete package with the vehicle is priced at around €65,000. First deliveries are scheduled for September.

Dutch company Vantrack has unveiled the Lightcamp modular camper based on the Kia PV5 electric van. The system allows converting a 5-seat van into a 4-person camper for weekends without permanent modifications. The kit includes a slide-out bed platform, a detachable kitchen module with an induction hob, bamboo countertop, 11-liter water tank, and 18-liter compressor fridge. The vehicle has a 71.2 kWh battery with a range of 358 km. V2L function provides up to 3.6 kW of power. The base price of the Kia PV5 in South Korea starts at 47.09 million won (before subsidies). Pricing and availability of the Lightcamp module have not been announced.

Dutch outdoor magazine ACSI freelife magazine conducted a comparative towing test of the new Mazda CX-5, CX-60, CX-80, and MAZDA6e. The CX-5 was rated best in price-to-performance, but for trailers over 1,650 kg the CX-60 or CX-80 are recommended. The CX-80 offered the highest stability due to its longer wheelbase and higher weight. The MAZDA6e, the only EV in the test, showed strong low-end torque but its range dropped by nearly half.