History

"I throw the awnings back and step out of the tent. The ground is still moist with the dew, the birds are busy with their morning concert and the weather invites me to take a nice walk through the woods and along the beach. Tomorrow I ought to check at the Castricum post office whether a business telegram has arrived from the company. And remember to buy a gazette and fetch some more oil for the lamp. The day after that I shall travel first to Haarlem by horse carriage and then by rail, 3rd class, back to Amsterdam. I am most grateful that our small company have been allowed a few days under canvas here. There is not a soul to be seen on this rural estate. Such wonderful peace and quiet."

These could well be some thoughts of a guest staying 'at Bakkum'. And they could well be almost a century old. Since that time Bakkum has been developed into a unique camping place where several generations have spent important parts of their lives. Thousands of families have spent time there, from March until October. Children grew up breathing its fresh air, learned to ride their bikes at Bakkum, went to school there. And it is where many a romance blossomed. Summers full of puppy love and flirtations, the birthplace (and the demise!) of many serious relationships. Many young people met their spouse at Bakkum. Parents enjoyed some well-deserved rest after a busy day at work or in the house, although housework naturally continued to some extent on the campsite too. Camp Bakkum was a place where city folk could forget their cramped upstairs apartments and breathe freely in the open air. Its inhabitants formed strong social communities, sharing the sweet and the bitter and helping solve each other's problems.

A wonderful place where people could escape the hussle and bustle and the accompanying isolation of the large city. All winter they looked forward to it, during the summer they lived it. Unforgettable times at Bakkum.

• A 'royal' camping area
• Spread the word
• Modern seaside resort
• Bakkum builds on
• Holiday village
• The 2nd World War
• Tent houses
• Commuter's campsite
• Supply and demand
• Bakkum, society in a nutshell
• Changing population

Changing population

Most of the changes in society are reflected in the small world of Bakkum. Dad spends time at the campsite, while mum is at work. If both are busy, the grandparents take care of the little ones. Due to the early retirement arrangements, they are younger and more energetic than their predecessors. Gradually, the old occupants of Bakkum disappear. It is no longer a matter of course that generation after generation spend their holidays on the campsite. Far off places, geographically and financially within easy reach, have tempted people away.

And yet, Bakkum retains its appeal. The unique estate is as beautiful as ever, still in the middle of nature, just as in 1914, with the beach only a short walk away. The peace and quiet is still undisturbed…! But the nearby areas have only gained in interest as a result of the growth in tourism. The villages and towns are perfect for shopping or for going out and the region is full of attractions suitable for all ages.

In 2001 over 6,500 people camped at the 1,700 pitches of the newly named Kennemer Duincamping Bakkum. The campsite is also popular among the tourist campers who, with their latest model caravan or ultra light dome tent, pitch camp in the forest. They come from everywhere. Just for a few days, just this summer, or maybe many times. Depending on the weather, on the facilities which should be 'just so', or on the mood and on fate. A campsite with a rich flora and fauna, the car close by but out of sight, your own toilet and internet facilities.

The world changed, and Bakkum changed along with it. Sometimes it was forced to, sometimes it led the way. But Bakkum's aim is constant: everyone, frequent visitors and one-off passing tourists, should have an unforgettably good time there!