Museumboerderij Mariahoeve

In need of some jolly good exercise? Randmeren (20 minutes’ drive) is just the spot for trying out dinghy sailing and paddleboarding. If the kids need a bit more action, they’ll hopefully be happy with the rollercoasters in Walibi Holland (25 minutes). When exercising together is the order of the day, take the family for long hikes in Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe (40 minutes), where you can sometimes spot red deer, wild boar and rare mouflon sheep grazing on the heathland. Arty types can visit the fantastic collection of Van Goghs at the park’s Kröller-Müller Museum (also 40 minutes), while others might prefer a cycle ride (you can borrow white bikes to explore the park) around the forests and ever-shifting dunes. And actually, if you felt like having a city-sightseeing day, then Amsterdam in only 45 minutes’ away by car, leaving you enough time to absorb the horrors of the Anne Frank House, see great art at the Rijksmuseum and perhaps take the kids on a cruise around the canals lined with gabled mansions.