Weekend away at Achterhoek, Netherlands: Alpaca Farm

We just had a great weekend, as we visited the amazing Camping 't Uitzicht in Vorden, nestled in the beautiful region of Achterhoek. Here you can sleep in a tiny pod surrounded by alpacas, cows, chipmunks, and fresh countryside vibes! Read more below 🙂

What to expect in this article:

About the Achterhoek

Achterhoek is a hidden gem in the Netherlands, known for its picturesque landscapes and historic towns. As someone who has lived in the Netherlands almost all her life, I felt ashamed to say that I had never been to the region. I am happy I got the chance now; it was mostly because I wanted to show my boyfriend, who recently moved here, the beautiful area of the Veluwe.

Anyway, the Achterhoek is the perfect area for those who love to be outdoors and discover Dutch countryside culture. The region offers lots of cycling and walking routes through the green landscapes.

If you enjoy exploring local culture, Achterhoek also has vineyards, artisan shops, and historical castles nearby. It’s a lesser-known paradise for nature lovers, and staying at Camping ‘t Uitzicht lets you enjoy it at your doorstep.

Disclaimer: We stayed at the Rietman family’s farm at Camping ’t Uitzicht, on the Hackfort estate. The self-service rest point is called “De Rietberg” and is separate from the farm and the camping. It’s a lot of names, but I hope this makes it a bit clearer.

Off-the-grid accommodation: Winterwoods in Drenthe

Birthday idea: Alpaca picnic in Drenthe (NL)

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About the tiny house/PODS

The pod at Camping ‘t Uitzicht is tiny but has everything you need: a big bed to snuggle in, and two chairs to stare outside at the water. It might be tiny, but it is super cozy and gives you a lot of privacy.

Next to that, it also has a table, a sink, and a kettle to make coffee and tea for a morning brew. There’s also an outside seating area where you can sip your drink while looking out at the little pond—a peaceful view, especially when the sun sets!

One thing to know: the toilet is just a quick walk outside, about a minute away. But that adds to the charm of being so close to nature! There are 2 pods on the site and space for around 10 other campers to park at Camping ‘t Uitzicht.

For a tiny adventure, you can take a hike for an hour. The farm owners can tell you everything about the route.
It is nice to see the Dutch farm side visit a local shop with delicious handmade nougat!
We only stayed one night, but we fell in love with the place and wished we could have stayed a few more days, that’s how much we loved it.

Also, do you know Natuurhuisje.nl has many more extraordinary stays in the Netherlands? Check out their website (link) to find your next cool stay.

About the farm and its animals

Family Rietman’s farm is home to quite some interesting animals. There are more than, you might not expect, 30+ alpacas grazing peacefully at the farm on the Achterhoek. I loved those animals so much, that I even did an alpaca picnic for my birthday. You can read about that experience in this article.

Besides that, you can spot colorful koi carp in a tiny pond, chipmunks scurrying around, and elegant peacocks, who are free to wander. The peacocks made an adorable welcome, occupying the neighboring house when we arrived.

Lastly, the farm also has a herd of cows, which are raised for meat. That is also the main income of the farm owners. They have two types of cows, one has a bell that you can hear all night long, which makes it special.
There are supposed to be even more animals, but we have not seen them, do ask and check them out!

This combination of animals and nature makes the Farm feel like a lively little haven, perfect for anyone looking to feel surrounded by nature and animals.

Did you know you can also chill and have some food at the alpaca farm when you are a traveler on your way through the Achterhoek?

Find your activity with GetYourGuide in the area

What to do in the area of the Achterhoek?

There are many things that you can do in the Achterhoek.
One thing is that you can visit the Veluwe, which is just a 30-minute drive away. If you have never heard of the Veluwe, this is the Netherlands’ biggest nature park with gorgeous and diverse landscapes.

You can also visit Hanze cities in the area, like Deventer or Zutphen. We chose to visit Zutphen on our way back to our house in the north.

Paleis Het Loo (50 minutes away) is a beautiful palace. Royal members are living there and the outside looks just like Versailles Palace near Paris. This could be another activity to do from the Alpaca Farm.