“Spending a holiday at a naturist campsite is like a normal holiday, but even more comfortable. You get up naked and can get your baguettes right away without having to worry about what to wear. Nude recreation gives the ultimate feeling of freedom; you can be completely yourself. Everyone has imperfections. The atmosphere is therefore friendly and respectful. For many people it feels like coming home.”
Party
“For me it is my daily life; the campsite is my home and that of my whole family. In the 1980s, my grandmother Nelleke fell in love with the site, which at that time only contained a sheep shed. Together with my grandfather Benk she started the campsite, which my parents and uncle ran for years afterwards. I came here as a six year old girl. Since then, every summer felt like one big party; always fun, plenty of friends and a private swimming pool. Although it was sometimes lonely: at the end of the summer when the holidaymakers went home again, we stayed behind.”
Dream
“As nice as I was having it, I didn’t expect to stay here forever. I went to study in the Netherlands, traveled a lot and lived for a while in Thailand where my daughter was conceived. When my relationship with her father broke down, I suddenly felt very strongly where my heart was: in France, at the campsite. Just at that moment the second generation wanted to hand over the baton and so everything came together.
Now I run the campground with my brother and cousin. My current partner is also fully involved: he came to work here as a holiday worker, but I conquered him and he never left, haha! I now see myself growing old here, just like my grandmother. She is 90 and sees her life’s work blossom, how beautiful is that! My kids enjoy camping just as much as I used to. One day I hope they will take over.”
More WOMAN
This article appears in the new VROUW Magazine (every Saturday at De Telegraaf). As a premium member you can also read it online (sometimes earlier). Don’t want to miss anything from VROUW? Especially for the most loyal readers, we send an email every day with all our daily highlights. Subscribe here.