Camping site instead of cowshed: how Dutch farmers save their farm

Volkswagen has unveiled its first electric camper, the ID. California Cruise, based on the ID. Buzz. However, Dutch converter Ventje has been offering its own camper conversion of the ID. Buzz for three years, which some say surpasses VW's version. The Ventje ID features a pop-up roof with a double bed, a rear-mounted kitchen, and starts at €85,000, while the ID. California Cruise, lacking these features, starts at just over €60,000 in Germany.

Dutch camper builder Innova has expanded the options for its Roadtrip 595L, Roadtrip 695L and 4x4 Taklamakan models. A new Beach interior style with light wood decor and a lounge bench with matching ottoman are now available, the latter for the 7-meter Mercedes Sprinter-based versions. The bathroom has been updated with a shower tray and a waterless Clesana toilet. At the Caravan Salon, Innova also showed the Revotion system, which controls camper functions via touchscreen or app.

Dutch manufacturer Glaravans will show the first production model of its Wave caravan on 30 September at the Kampeer & Caravan Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. The model was previously presented as a concept. The caravan measures 6.25 m in length, 2.10 m in width, and has an interior height of 2 m. Unladen weight starts at 939 kg, with a maximum permissible mass of 1,200 kg (optionally up to 1,500 kg). The body is made of polyester with a core of recycled PET bottles, without wood. 22 floor plans are available. The unveiling is scheduled for 10:15.

In many Dutch municipalities, motorhomes and caravans may not be parked on public roads for more than three consecutive days. Violations can lead to fines; Utrecht issued 138 such fines in 2025 and had nine vehicles towed. Rules are set by local ordinances (APV) and vary, so owners are advised to check their municipality's regulations.

The Netherlands retains its status as Europe's leading camping nation, with 425,000 caravans and 210,000 motorhomes among 18 million residents. Since 2026, the vehicle tax rate for motorhomes doubled from 25% to 50% of the standard rate, raising monthly costs for an average motorhome (about 2,900 kg) to roughly 160 euros. However, new motorhome registrations in 2025 rose 19.1% from 2024, and caravans increased 3.4%. In the first half of 2026, motorhome sales fell 5.6%, while caravans grew 9.4%. Experts expect continued market growth, though the 2025 record of over 10,000 new registrations is unlikely to be surpassed this year.

Around 22:15, the fire brigade received a report of a hazardous materials incident at Azelosestraat in Borne. On arrival, a strong smell of rotten eggs was detected, coming from a battery in a camper. The owner had called the fire brigade himself. The battery, which was already warm, was safely removed and placed in a container of water to cool down. Additional checks were carried out to ensure the situation was completely safe. Thanks to the timely actions of the owner and the fire brigade, a fire involving the battery and the camper was prevented.