Doubling of road tax fails to deter motorhome buyers in the Netherlands

Pierre Peters, a homeless man living in a motorhome at the De Rusheuvel site in Oss, cannot fulfill his promise to leave by the weekend. The reason is a vehicle breakdown: the engine won't start. The incident is linked to a previous dog bite case.

On Sunday morning in Tolkamer, Netherlands, a camper van missed the dike ramp, crashed into the barrier, and overturned. The driver was hospitalized, and the vehicle was completely destroyed.

On Saturday morning on the Elkerzeeseweg in Scharendijke, a caravan detached from the towing vehicle and ended up in a ditch. According to local enforcement officers, the likely cause was a faulty coupling. The road was temporarily closed, and recovery was carried out by Ista from Oosterland.

On Friday afternoon, two cars collided on the A2 near Beek, one of which was towing a caravan. The accident occurred around 2:30 PM on the right lane heading south. One person was injured; the severity of injuries is unknown. Traffic was disrupted between Urmond and Ulestraten, with delays of nearly an hour.

The Netherlands has over 422,000 caravans, but new sales through July 2024 are led by German brands Hobby, Fendt, Knaus, Dethleffs, and Eriba-Hymer. The only Dutch brand maintaining a presence is Kip, founded in 1934. The Drenthe-based company focuses on lightweight, compact models (Shelter, Compact, Vision) suitable for small cars, hybrids, and EVs. Kip does not compete with mass-market brands but occupies a niche for buyers seeking an alternative.

A small camper van caught fire on Landgoedlaan in Apeldoorn overnight Thursday to Friday. Firefighters found the vehicle fully engulfed and could not save it. Police are investigating the cause and have not ruled out arson. The camper van will be towed later.