De Regge-Vallei

Keen to get out and about in peaceful countryside? Cycle or hike on winding roads through green meadows and past old Saxon-era farms. Forests and nature reserves nearby include the Sallandse Heuvelrug (20 minutes’ drive) and the Lemelerberg (accessed from the site), while you can clamber across sand dunes at Sahara (15 minutes). There’s lots of manmade stuff to see as well: elegant Kasteel Eerde (10 minutes) offers lovely gardens and guided tours of sumptuous rooms. The lively town of Zwolle (35 minutes) has an excellent art museum and electric boat cruises along the Almelose and Stadsgracht canals. You can also enjoy good food and shopping in nearby Ommen (20 minutes) and Hellendoorn (15 minutes). The kids will want to make a beeline for the rollercoasters at AdventurePark Hellendoorn and the waterslides at Aquaventura Slidepark. They can also let off steam on go-karts and by playing laser tag at Kartplaza Actionworld (all 20 minutes).