Renee and Leonie grew up hearing stories about their great-grandparents’ hotel in Gieten. Both went on to study International Hospitality Management, and in 2022 they took over Camping Zwanemeer, close to where they grew up.
It was a chance to turn years of ideas about hospitality into something of their own.
Making the campsite our own
We wanted to create an informal, adventurous place that felt connected to the woodland around it. The new name, Boscamping Zwanemeer, reflected that direction: bos is Dutch for forest.
The changes came step by step. Wooden fencing, a wooden welcome sign and a green jumping pillow helped the grounds fit their surroundings. The old recreation room became the Woudlopersclub (Woodlanders Club), complete with an indoor oak tree and forest murals.
We developed the club into an experience for young explorers, with activities in nature and their own passport, hat and certificate. It brought together things we care about: being outdoors, discovering what’s around you and giving children room to explore.
New places to stay followed, from Tiny House Kees and the Forest Hut to the Treehouse Village, Log Cabin Lodges and the Woodland Room. We added a place to eat, drink and meet, bringing campsite guests and people from the village together. The reception became Het Welkomhuys, with automated check-in and our AI assistant, SjOERd.
The treehouse we’re especially proud of
The treehouse took blood, sweat and tears to get built. There were plenty of setbacks, and getting it finished asked a lot of us. But we got there, and it has become a beautiful focal point of the campsite.
We’re proud of the bigger picture too: bringing our concept to life and finding guests who feel at home in the kind of place we wanted to create. Seeing that connection happen has meant a lot.
There’s always something to do
For Renee, Leonie and Jaap, campsite life continues throughout the year. During the season, our days revolve around guests and keeping everything running. Winter brings maintenance, repairs and projects for the next season.
Family life runs alongside all of it. Working for ourselves gives us freedom to make choices, but switching off isn’t always easy. There is usually another job waiting or an idea we want to try.
We’ve built a lot here, and the campsite has taught us just as much: about hospitality, working together and finding a way forward when a project gets complicated.