One year in prison for large-scale tax fraud, problems surrounding the sale of holiday parks and alleged assault. It was a year full of lawsuits for campsite owner and reality star Peter Gillis. In an interview with Omroep Brabant, he looks back on ‘an eventful year’. “I thought: damn it, it can’t be true.”
At the Blauwe Meer holiday park in Lommel, Belgium, one of the three remaining parks, Peter Gillis is sitting on the edge of his Winter Wonderland thinking about 2025. “This here is a bright spot in an eventful year. We have created an ice skating rink and Christmas market here. You have to hang the streamers yourself.”
How does Gillis look back on conviction?
The year started for Gillis with the lawsuit for large-scale tax fraud. Peter Gillis heard in April that he would receive a one-year prison sentence, six months of which would be conditional. The court sees him as ‘the driving force behind the fraud’. This includes, among other things, illegally renting out chalets and destroying administration. But Gillis appealed and so the whole case starts all over again.
“That conviction was very disappointing,” says the campsite owner. “I didn’t think I would have to sit behind bars.” Gillis goes back to April 14, the day of the verdict. “Then you get a cold shower. I thought, damn it, it can’t be true. I don’t think I deserve it.”
According to Gillis, his trial was not fair. “I thought it was an unprofessional judge who was biased. You can see that from the fact that statements I made at Omroep Brabant ended up in the judgment. That is a bad thing.”
Gillis sees himself as a victim, because the Public Prosecution Service is doing everything it can to catch him. “I am a hard-working entrepreneur. I may be on the edge every now and then, but I am not a criminal. The court and the media do portray me as a criminal.”
In recent months, Gillis has not thought for a moment about what it will be like in prison. “No, we will first go for a fair trial in the appeal. I have confidence in that.”
How much does Gillis spend on his lawyers?
Gillis sighs that he is a regular customer at the court. “I sometimes have three court cases a week. It is of course not good if you walk into a court and all the employees know you. I am not yet greeted with sausage rolls.”
It concerns tax fraud, matters surrounding his ex Nicol Kremers, the sale of his parks and legal battles with municipalities and the Public Prosecution Service. “I will continue to fight. Fortunately, I have good advisors and lawyers,” says Gillis confidently. But that does come at a price. “In 2024 I would have spent three million euros on lawyers. This year it will increase to four million euros. Despite the costs, I am very grateful to them.”
Problems with the sale of Dutch parks
In February it became clear that Peter Gillis had sold his nine Dutch parks for 185 million euros. “I haven’t really said goodbye to it yet. Of course I sold it to Mr. Dijkstra. He had to pay on April 1, but he didn’t.”
“That’s how you drink champagne and that’s how you drink black coffee,” Gillis laughs cautiously.
In summary proceedings, the judge ruled that the buyer must pay Dijkstra. But to this day the sale has not yet been completed. “The penalty has now risen to the maximum amount of one hundred million euros. We are in discussions with Dijkstra. I assume that we will still be able to reach an agreement,” says Gillis. “I want to go to the notary, collect euros and say goodbye to the Netherlands.”
Holiday parks in Croatia only after sales in the Netherlands
In the meantime, costs at the nine parks continue and owners of the chalets cannot take a holiday. “I still employ many people at the parks, but the parks are closed. This is not a healthy situation.” Chalet owners have been hoping all year that the sale will go through and that they can go there again. “This is a very sad situation for those people who often have their savings invested in it. A new owner is the best for everyone. But nothing can be said about when that will happen.”
The sale that does not take place in the Netherlands has consequences for the planned holiday parks in Croatia. “I bought plots of land there, but with the condition that I can pay when I have sold the Netherlands.” Gillis wants to build new holiday parks in nine places in Croatia. “But that is now at a standstill. If we can start later, it will take another two years.”
Abuse of Nicol Kremers
One case that Gillis cannot yet say too much about because the case is still ongoing is the alleged abuse of his ex Nicol. “It hurts,” Gillis begins. “A relationship ends, we went on holiday as friends and when a new woman came into my life, she suddenly started reporting abuse. I don’t understand it.”
In mid-December, Peter Gillis, through his lawyer, denied any accusations of assault in court. In addition, camp Gillis has doubts about the authenticity of photos showing injuries. This case, and the appeal on tax fraud, will continue in 2026.