KASTEEL BREDERODE
Can I just saw how much I adore this quaint yet royal ruin? It captivates my imagination and feeds the history geek within, plus it’s just up the road from us. You can read more about our first visit to Brederode in another blog post here: Dog days out: The Netherlands
How beautifully scenic is it for a boy and his dog to roam the old rooms of a 13th century castle?! I love how much freedom they have. Just to be crystal castle clear, I mean we have lots of space to move and play. Your dog must (legally) be on-leash but you can afford to be lenient with the length, provided you have decent recall training in place and are mindful of other visitors.
Tips:
There are multiple bridges to cross the moat and a winding, spiral staircase if you wish to climb the turret reach the top of the castle. If you have a large breed of dog, they should be pretty confident on their feet to conquer these challenges. There is a cute little café situated just before the entrance to the castle where you can grab a drink and light snack. They also have castle themed playroom within the walls and a dress-up box for the kids near the gate – both of which were a big hit with my three year old!



CAMPING IN NOORD BRABANT
We all loved camping on this 2.3 hectacre of woodland. We found Sam via Campspace and thoroughly enjoyed our two night stay. This gem boasted not only a private plot to pitch your tent but an open fire (you could collect your own firewood from the forest floor) a clean compost toilet a short walk from camp, a herb garden and perhaps best of all, a full scale climbing and adventure course! We had a BLAST and spent hours on this impressive invention after breakfast in the morning and before dinner in the evening. I highly recommend this place for those who like a physical challenge. Sam is a wonderful host, lovingly passionate about her project and helpful since the moment of contact. Our dog and toddler adored the whole concept of camping and it was the perfect way to not only connect with nature but as a family unit. Fancy checking it out? Here is the link…you’re welcome! 😉
Tips:
There is a supermarket not far from where you will be staying – a short drive so if like us, you forgot many things, you can always jump in the car and collect what you need. (Yeahhhh, I hear you seasoned campers sigh but hey, this was my first time.) Take a long line with you if your dog is prone to following their nose. We took one with us but Kygo ended up spending almost the entire time off-leash. There is wildlife (birds and rabbits of course) and when we stayed, a flock of sheep were residing opposite the front entrance. You are surrounded by a small fence but if a dog was very determined or highly prey driven, I would want management in place. If you have any doubts in your dogs ability to listen when things get interesting, don’t risk it.




BOAT RENTAL IN HAARLEM
Greenjoy is a wonderful company! Having used them many times since our arrival in The Netherlands, I love how easy and straight forward their booking process is. You simply reserve your electric boat online and provided with a code and instructions so you can activate the vessel yourself. No need for queuing or interactions, just get in and go! They offer a discounted rate on week day mornings too and they welcome four paws aboard!
Tips:
Take plenty of dog treats, a bag for rubbish if you fancy lunching on the boat, an umbrella for shade, a potty for your toddler and note that from pavement to boat, it is quite the jump – in terms of height, not distance. Kygo had no problem jumping into the boat but I had to really engage him to get him to willingly jump up and out – much to the delight of the folk next to us! He was such a brave boy and was handsomely praised for his launch.



DIERENPARK AMERSFOORT
This was Kygo’s third expedition to this particular zoo. He was far less phased by the animals compared to our first experience (understandably, it’s A LOT for a dog to process.) Making this trip with a mobile toddler was definitely interesting. When my son wanted to head towards the big cats, my dog put the brakes on. Having a second handler or parent present makes it much easier. I did not want to drag my dog towards an area he was uncomfortable nor did I want to deny my son his desire to see the lions – after all, we’re at the zoo. So we found a happy medium and Dad took little man to see the ”Simba’s” whilst I stayed with my dog rewarding him for less hesitations towards the fierce felines and honoring his instincts to maintain space.
Tips:
Be mindful of your intimate space when moving through the zoo. There are many excited children moving fast and as it was fairly busy during our visit, lots of human ”traffic jams” where your dog will likely need extra guidance. Think of a close heel through a crowd of people, with ice cream and food on the floor, flamingo’s to your left and giraffes to your right. Oh and if you have a large dog and need to do a toddler potty run or nappy change, it can be quite tight in some of the toilets so again, a second handler comes in very useful! We didn’t get many photos this time round as we were too busy tending to the needs of our 18 month old. We will be heading back again later this year so will update this post after our visit. 😉

