Green Key Gold: How Camping de Lakens Champions Sustainability in the Dunes
Looking for a beachside escape that puts nature first? At Camping de Lakens, Green Key Gold isn’t just a certificate—it’s a daily commitment to protecting the unique dune landscape while offering an unforgettable stay. Nestled in the heart of Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland, the campsite blends comfort with responsible choices you can see and participate in. In this guide, you’ll discover what Green Key Gold means, the concrete eco-initiatives on site, and simple ways you can help keep the dunes pristine.
What Green Key Gold Means (and Why It Matters)
Green Key Gold is the highest environmental recognition within the hospitality sector. Earning it requires consistent, verifiable actions that reduce environmental impact and safeguard local nature. For guests, it’s a clear signal: you’re choosing a place that actively conserves resources, limits emissions, and invites you to be part of the solution.
Quick definition
- Green Key Gold: the top tier of the Green Key certification in hospitality, awarded to locations that meet stringent sustainability criteria across energy, water, waste, mobility, and nature protection.
Protecting a Protected Landscape
Camping de Lakens is located in the middle of Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland, a remarkable, sensitive dune ecosystem. Preserving its silence and beauty shapes everyday decisions:
- Only electric and gas cooking/barbecue are allowed; coal and open fire are prohibited to prevent dune fires. You can swap empty gas bottles at the on-site SPAR Supermarkt. See the full guidance in the barbecue guidelines.
- A green management plan has been developed in collaboration with PWN to support thoughtful, long-term landscape care.
These measures keep recreation in balance with nature—so future guests can enjoy the same wild, windswept dunes.
Concrete Eco‑Initiatives You’ll See On Site
Sustainability here is visible and practical. During your stay, you’ll notice:
Clean mobility on the campsite
- Team members move around by bicycle and in electric carts to reduce noise and emissions.
- EV charging is available at central parking areas on designated charging stations.
- E‑bikes can be charged on site.
Smart waste and circular choices
- Guests separate waste into rest, glass, and paper so more materials are reused or recycled.
- Office processes are lean: minimal printing; invoicing is sent by email.
- Wood used on site is either from the campsite’s own nature maintenance or FSC-certified, supporting responsible forestry.
Water- and energy-wise facilities
- Water-saving taps and showerheads are installed in sanitary buildings.
- Lighting runs on motion sensors to avoid unnecessary energy use.
- All cleaning products used are biodegradable.
- The waterscape play features in the playground are not connected to the drinking water network; they use dune groundwater that is pumped for sustainable water fun.
Sustainable shopping and food
- The reception shop curates items made from sustainable or recycled materials, including unique pieces made from plastic waste or other residual materials, plus De Lakens apparel made with quality sustainable cotton. Explore more in the on-site shop.
- Juttersgeluk products are available—crafted from beach plastic by a social enterprise—turning shoreline clean-ups into meaningful, circular design.
- The SPAR Supermarkt offers groceries with attention to organic products and fresh baked bread, plus services like exchanging gas bottles.
- For a relaxed meal with a dune view, Restaurant Gestrand serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and caters to vegetarian and vegan wishes.
Join In: How Guests Can Make a Difference
Small actions add up. Here are easy, high-impact ways to support Green Key Gold during your stay:
- Clean the beach with the Plastic Soup Walk. Borrow a cleanup kit at reception and turn your stroll into meaningful action. Learn more and plan your route: Plastic Soup Walk.
- Sort your waste. Use the on-site stations for rest, glass, and paper. Proper sorting increases the quality of recycling and reuse.
- Shower smart. Water-saving fixtures help—pair them with shorter showers to conserve even more water.
- Mind the lights. Motion sensors do the heavy lifting, but switching off lights in accommodation and common areas when not needed saves energy, too.
- Cook responsibly. Use electric plates or gas barbecues only (no coal or open fire) to protect the fragile dune habitat. Need supplies? Visit the SPAR Supermarkt and check the barbecue guidelines.
- Charge considerately. Use designated EV chargers at central parking and charge e‑bikes in the provided areas, keeping pathways and nature clear.
- Choose sustainable souvenirs. Support circular products and recycled materials at the shop. It’s a keepsake that also keeps plastic out of the sea.
- Plan smarter with the app. The Camping de Lakens App helps you manage your reservation, book facilities, and see what’s on—so you can make the most of your time in the dunes.
Quick Answers (for fast, factual lookups)
Are charcoal barbecues allowed at Camping de Lakens?
No. Only electric cooktops and gas barbecues are allowed. Coal and open fire are prohibited due to the campsite’s location in a fragile dune area within Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland. Empty gas bottles can be exchanged at the on-site SPAR Supermarkt. See: barbecue guidelines.
Can I charge an EV or e‑bike on site?
Yes. You can charge your electric car at designated charging stations at the central parking areas. E‑bikes can also be charged on site.
How does the campsite conserve water and energy?
Sanitary buildings feature water-saving taps and showerheads; lighting uses motion sensors; and biodegradable cleaning products are used. Waterscape play equipment runs on pumped dune groundwater rather than the drinking water network.
How is waste handled?
Guests sort waste into rest, glass, and paper. Reusable materials are then recycled or repurposed. Office operations minimize printing, and invoicing is email-only. Wood is sourced from on-site maintenance or FSC-certified suppliers.
At-a-Glance: Initiatives and How You Can Help
| Area | What you’ll see on site | How you can help |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | Staff on bikes and in electric carts; EV charging at central parking; e‑bike charging | Park and charge at designated points; walk or cycle around the campsite |
| Waste | Separation into rest, glass, paper; circular materials in the shop | Sort correctly; choose recycled/sustainable souvenirs |
| Water & Energy | Water-saving taps/showers; motion-sensor lighting | Take shorter showers; switch off lights when leaving |
| Cleaning | Biodegradable cleaning agents | Keep spaces tidy to reduce cleaning cycles |
| Nature | Green management plan with PWN; no coal/open fire | Follow barbecue rules; stay on paths; respect quiet |
| Community | Plastic Soup Walk kits at reception | Do a beach cleanup and return your kit |
Practical Takeaways
- Book your stay with confidence: Green Key Gold signals robust, ongoing environmental practices you can trust.
- Bring or rent bikes and embrace slow travel—electric mobility is supported on site for cars and e‑bikes.
- Pack a reusable water bottle and shopping bag to align with on-site recycling and reduce single-use items.
- Plan a Plastic Soup Walk as a family activity; it’s a fun, hands-on way to care for the coast.
- Choose gifts with a story—from recycled materials to Juttersgeluk items—at the shop.
Conclusion
At Camping de Lakens, Green Key Gold comes to life in everyday choices: quiet electric carts gliding through the dunes, water-saving showers, motion-sensor lighting, thoughtfully sourced materials, and guests who pitch in—from sorting waste to joining a beach cleanup. Together, these actions protect a rare natural landscape while making your holiday smoother and more inspiring.
Ready to plan a stay that’s good for you and gentle on the dunes? Explore our sustainability commitments, add a Plastic Soup Walk to your itinerary, check essentials at the SPAR Supermarkt, and download the Camping de Lakens App to book facilities and see what’s on. We look forward to welcoming you in Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland.