Special nights in a luxury treehouse (Netherlands)

You don’t always have to look far for a unique experience. There are many ways and locations to spend an unforgettable night, but you have probably never done this before: a real tree house night. And no, by that we don’t mean sleeping on five planks of wood nailed together and reached by a loose rope ladder.

On the outskirts of Lelystad, the Netherlands, the Buytenplaets Suydersee holiday park offers a wide range of extraordinary accommodation. At least, that’s what we read online. After a day of city-tripping in Amsterdam, we decided to head for this mysterious place. It only takes 45 minutes by car to get from the bustling Dutch capital to the quieter places that the wooded Buytenplaets Suydersee has to offer.

On arrival we were immediately greeted by a herd of curious alpacas. Apparently, the holiday park has a real alpaca farm and offers guests the chance to go on forest walks with the tame animals. That’s a good start if you ask me. Unless you’re careful of alpaca spit.

photo credits: http://www.boomhutovernachtingen.nl

From teepee tents to shipping containers

After checking in at the small wooden reception hut, we were escorted by the friendly owner of the holiday park. the paved stretch of road was already a first unique experience. No, not because the poured concrete was so admirable, but left and right of the road several special accommodations popped up. Safari tents, tepee tents, gypsy caravans, garden sheds, sea containers, yes, even sewage pipes had been converted into comfortable little houses.

We were pleasantly surprised on arrival at our own special accommodation, a tree house. A sturdy, wooden staircase led us into the trees, straight to a luxurious hut. We chose the Treehouse Suite, especially for a romantic weekend away for two. It turned out to be an all-in experience: a comfortable double bed, bathrobes and coffee and tea machines, just like a hotel room. By the way, you don’t have to fear the typical nightly camping cold. The treehouse is equipped with a stove and nice warm blankets.

Under the tree

The suite is surrounded by green, green and more green. You are literally under the crowns of the trees. In the morning you can have breakfast together on the large terrace, while spotting birds with binoculars. Small tip: each tree house has its own fire basket. Snuggling up together in front of the crackling fire with a blanket in the evening is the perfect end to an idyllic treehouse experience. I speak from experience.

If you are rather looking for an adventurous family outing, Buytenplaets Suydersee has just as much fun waiting for you. Besides the two Treehouse Suites, they also have a Treehouse Family on offer. Would you like to camp back to basics, but in a unique place? Then this is the ideal destination for a weekend trip with the whole family. You can combine your stay with an adventurous mountain bike trail or an extensive walk in the woody area of Flevoland, where Buytenplaets Suydersee is located. You can also just send the kids to the alpaca farm, whether or not you warn them about the animals’ spitting talents is up to you.