De Kalverweide

The Canvas Frills Lodge with hot tub, at De Kalverweide in the Netherlands, is one of the tents found at this farm that is located next to the Weerribben lakes and the Havelte forests. Three national parks are found within a 25 km radius of the farm.

Any stay at De Kalverweide includes a tour of this working dairy farm. The farm has a unique feature; a voluntary milking mechanism has been installed. This allows the 140 cows to decide themselves when they want to be milked. The farm is also home to sheep, plus over 100 young cows and calves. Some of these need to be fed by hand and guests can get involved and help with the farm activities.

The owners regularly conduct a "speurtocht," a Dutch-style treasure hunt perfect for family fun. Children can ride the ponies, take a horse and cart ride, or take the donkeys for a walk. Guests can help feed the pigs and there is Shetland pony on the farm as well. The farm owners run pizza nights as well, with their wood fired oven. An honesty shop sells meat from the farm and homemade ice cream. There is also a ground level trampoline.

The Canvas Frills Lodge has a wood-powered hot tub and has a double bed, a bunk bed, and a single bed, sleeping a maximum of five guests. There is a private gas-powered shower, a flushing toilet, deck chairs, an outdoor cooker, a hammock, an extended canopy for the wooden floored covered veranda, and cold running water. The lodge comes with a starter pack made up of wood for heating and cooking, starter pack candles, and lamp oil. Kitchen linen is provided, there is a BBQ provided, and there is ample parking space.

Down the road, close to the farm, is a charming and fun Indonesian garden zoo. Fifteen minutes away by bike is the stunning canal village of Giethoorn, while the Kalverweide itself has panoramic views of glistening fields from the tents. Visitors can take bike tours to other nearby villages.