Groenpark Donkmeer, Zele

Approximately seven miles from Dendermonde, Groenpark's entrance is situated beside the road that runs through Overmere, near Zele and Berlare in East Flanders. A walk-through also leads through another camping park and leads to the main street alongside the Lake known as Donkmeer. The campsite has a shop with essentials (including cold beer) and staff that speak whatever happens to be your native language. There is a covered barbeque area. Pitches are mostly separated and can be in the open or in the shade of trees...depending on your preference. Sanitary, shower and washing facilities are clean - and all function. During our stay in August 2003, the site was quite cosmopolitan; Belgians, Dutch, French, Germans and even a few British were there. All were friendly and we had no complaints to make about anything. We took a tent (16 Euro's a night with no being herded off at 11:00 a.m.) but tourers and camper vans were just as welcome. If you want a little more, there are gorgeous wood-built chalets with accomodation for up to four people. The chalets are two-storey with balconies and have satelite TV (we know this simply because we saw the dishes...!). Chalets are 30 Euros a night. Within five minutes walk is the local supermarket and all the cafe's, bars, restaurants, shops and other attractions linked to the lakeside resort that you will need. Cycle hire at the nearby Information Office is very cheap...and gets cheaper if you hire for more than a day. Boats can be hired at the lake. The views around the entire area are amazing. Another lake - Nieuwdonk - has opened but we didn't have time to check it out, though I was told that it offers lots for everyone. The local delicacy is 'Paling' (Eel). There are too many cycle routes to list but the one that runs from Dendermonde to Antwerp takes you through an area inhabited by artists. You can cycle for an hour, take a boat across the river Schelde and cycle back down to Dendermonde. Within easy driving distances are Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Holland and the Flemish Ardennes. A further drive will get you to Luxembourg and the niceties of cheap shopping! Bars near the campsite offer a good range of beers at no more than the price of a can of coke. The supermarket sells a brand of Pils for the equivalent of 12p a bottle...! Yep - we're going back before the year is out!