Hello, from the Netherlands here

**Echterling** · 10-10-2015, 00:33

Hey you guys,

I'm Tim, I'm from the Netherlands.
I'm a Scoutsleader in the Netherlands and since a half year or so me and the other Scoutsleaders of our troop started sleeping in hammocks on weekendtrips and summercamp with de scouts (in netherlands scouts are age 11/15) and we try to get our scouts to sleep in them as well. The nature in the Netherlands is quite okay, just really flat if you know what I mean. We do have a lot of trees here but in most of the forrests you're just not aloud to camp there, unless it's on an official camping ground where there is a keeper and where you have to pay to camp. Basicly it's like this, camping is a comercial thing in the Netherlands where you pay for and you are not aloud to go into the forrest and find yourself a nice spot and just stay there. I know it kinda sucks.. We do have special camping grounds owned and restricted by Souting Netherlands but you'll also have to pay there and it still isn't really "running wild in the nature" kinda thing.

We had a couple of skype meetings with Troop 88 from Colorado and there we learned that souting and camping in the States is a bit different then over here. Really nice for the boys to see that it's different around the world, but still the same interests and respect for nature. But to me it seems that your just aloud to enjoy nature a lot more freely in the States.

Anyhow I've signed up for this forum because I've jused this forum quite some times for info on the hammock camping and on gear, an if there's anyone with questions about my particulair gear just let me know!

greatings,

Tim

**ofuros** · 10-10-2015, 01:15

Welcome to the forum, Tim.

**Frayed Knot** · 10-10-2015, 02:03

Welcome Tim. Glad to have you here. I love the Netherlands, so beautiful and clean. I was in Nijmegen for the big Road March a few years ago and I fell in love with the place and the People.

**brianb** · 10-10-2015, 05:27

Welcome Tim from Charlotte, NC, US. Does your troop ever go to the Eifel forest just south of Aachen? I used to live in Düsseldorf, and we would spend time there. I don't believe you can wild camp there, but it is a beautiful place. I remember Austria being more relaxed on wild camping. And France.

I do have one suggestion. If I had your problem I would contact farmers in the area you would like to visit. I believe if you explain who you are and that you're leading a group of boys, maybe send a photo or two, I would bet they would allow you to camp on their land. Maybe offer the boys to help with some project on his land for half a day.

Good luck. Brian