FRIENDS and family said we were brave, but probably thought we were foolhardy – seven nights in a mobile home with four children aged between 15 years and four months. Is that wise?

We scoured the Eurocamp brochure for hours looking for a campsite suitable, ultimately choosing Duinrell, in Wassenaar, Holland, a large site near the coast which boasted its own theme and water parks.

We had planned to take a ferry to Calais and drive through Belgium to Holland, but realised it would be much easier to catch an overnight P&O service from Hull to Rotterdam which would dock within half an hour of the site.

The ferry was certainly a holiday highlight, even on the return journey when the choppy North Sea made sleeping a challenge. The boys enjoyed sleeping in a cabin with a porthole nearly as much as they loved the cinema, games arcade and all-you-can-eat restaurant.

“Can I have fourths mum,” one greedy boy asked.

For adults, there were several bars with live music and entertainment, giving the boat something of a holiday park feel.

It was our first visit to Holland and we were pleased to discover that the cliche about everyone riding bikes was accurate. Pre-school children, heavily pregnant women and pensioners all prompted remarks as they peddled along busy roads – not one of them wearing a helmet.

The roads seemed hectic by British standards and we didn’t enjoy driving in the country one bit. It was a relief to arrive at the campsite where the friendly young Eurocamp couriers were happy to check if our mobile was ready despite our early arrival.

The mobile home was a Sunlight model featuring two bedrooms, two bathrooms and patio-style doors opening on to a wooden deck. There was plenty of space nearby for the boys to play badminton and park their go-karts, which you can hire on site.

The theme park, which Duinrell guests can use for free, was enjoyed by everyone.

As well as terrifying rollercoasters and water splash rides, it boasted a sedate train, ferris wheels, paddle boats and numerous other rides and attractions, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants.

The water park was not free, but was still popular with the children. Most of the slides and pools were under cover so it was a good option for a rainy day, although the attraction did get very busy during a weekend of thunderstorms.

We ventured off the site most days with a trip to the beach resort of Scheveningen the highlight. The sand stretched for miles and the trendy beach cafes were very inviting. The town itself was a little rundown but still compared favourably to most UK seaside destinations.

Nearby Den Haag, the seat of government in the Netherlands, was pretty and worth a visit, although there was little of interest at Europe’s biggest outdoor market on the edge of the city.

Our day in Amsterdam was hectic and illuminating for the boys. We would recommend the park and ride service and cheap trams but it would be wise to have your explanations ready if you are planning to walk the streets near the station.

After several family holidays in picturesque regions of Spain and France, we were less than impressed by the famously flat Dutch countryside, but the holiday was still a huge success because of the fabulous Duinrell site – which kept all ages happy – and fun on the overnight ferry.