THE CAMPSITE OF THE FUTURE / MENS EN NATUUR

24 april 2025

In March, we were featured in the IVN Natuureducatie magazine People and Nature with an article:

Ons Buiten (360 pitches) in Oostkapelle has undergone a transformation in recent years: from a traditional campsite into a wild, green oasis with edible forest garden plants for guests to snack on. Rectangular privet hedges once surrounded each pitch to ensure privacy. That’s how Ons Buiten looked when Gabriël Coppoolse took over the site from his father nineteen years ago. These hedges were maintained with large machines. “That clashed with our values,” says his wife, Dagmar Thomys, who co-manages the site with Gabriël.

In their own backyard next to the entrance gate, Gabriël and Dagmar began experimenting with permaculture. “We saw how well it worked and decided to gradually redesign the entire site.” A landscape architect helped develop a plan. The hedges have now been mostly removed and replaced by trees and plants that help improve the soil. The mini-golf course, entertainment area, tennis court, snack bar, and shop have made way for edible forest plants, offering fruit, nuts, and herbs for guests to enjoy.

At the heart of the campsite, where the restaurant and nature playground are located, the landscape has been shaped with gentle hills to retain rainwater in bioswales. Gabriël and Dagmar do most of the pruning using a sickle and scythe. “That makes the place look a bit wilder,” Dagmar explains. Solar panels and grey water systems were already in place from the previous owner. For new construction or upcycling of buildings, the couple uses circular materials.

Their redesign work is not yet finished. They recently started a bokashi project for pruning waste, and guests can dispose of their organic waste in a compost tumbler. The former petting zoo has been replaced by nomadic chickens and pigs, which help maintain the land and improve the soil.

According to Dagmar, this level of greening and sustainability is still rare for a campsite the size of Ons Buiten. “You sometimes see it on mini-campsites, but for a business this large, it’s quite unique.” Gabriël and Dagmar have noticed their vision attracts a different audience: people who live more in tune with nature and seek a low-stimulation environment to reconnect with themselves. “In the past, guests came for the entertainment and facilities. Now we welcome more introspective visitors who know exactly what they want from their holiday: they go out and explore. These people suit us better – and they suit the future better too.”