Green initiatives
Sustainability at Westerbergen
Sustainable accommodation with Green Key Gold
Nature-rich Westerbergen
At Westerbergen, we are connected to nature, surrounded by heathland and our own 15-hectare woodland. Our core value ‘Nature-rich’ reflects our commitment to sustainable business practices. On this page, you can read all about our sustainable initiatives, ensuring that both current and future generations can continue to enjoy this beautiful environment.
Green Key Gold
In 2026, Westerbergen was certified as Green Key Gold, the leading sustainability label for the tourism and leisure sector in the Netherlands. Gold is the highest level. This means that, together with you as our guest, we go beyond what is required by law in terms of sustainability. Would you like to contribute your ideas? We love it when our guests get involved. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Did you notice anything during your stay at our holiday park that could help us improve our environmentally conscious approach? Or do you have a tip? Please let us know via info@westerbergen.nl.
Sustainability
Solar panels
With the installation of no fewer than 675 solar panels on the roof of the Entertainment Centre in 2024, we are reaffirming our commitment to environmentally conscious business practices.
The 675 solar panels have a combined peak capacity of 283 kWp. Thanks to this addition, the park is 21.6% self-sufficient in its energy requirements. This project, in collaboration with Agrisun, represents an important step for Westerbergen in its efforts to reduce its ecological footprint and embrace sustainable energy solutions.
Sustainability
Using water responsibly together
Water is a precious resource that we use with care at our park. We invite you to join us in using water wisely during your stay. Small changes make a big difference! Think about turning off the tap whilst brushing your teeth or simply being mindful of your water use in the kitchen. And have you spotted the sticker in our accommodation or private toilet facilities? Scan the QR code to access the shower playlist with a water theme. Which song is your favourite? Finished singing, finished showering!
Thanks to our joint efforts, we can save thousands of litres of water. Your contribution counts – together we’re ensuring a more sustainable future, whilst enjoying a relaxing holiday. Will you join us? Together we’ll keep nature stunningly beautiful and water usage as low as possible.
Sustainability
Deposit return point for KWF Cancer Relief
A deposit refund is more than just a refund: it’s an opportunity to do something good together. At Westerbergen, you can return your empty bottles and cans to the deposit refund point in the supermarket. The choice is yours: have the amount deducted at the till or donate it to KWF Cancer Relief.
With every donation, you support vital cancer research. In this way, you turn a small gesture into a big help for people who desperately need it. At the same time, you’re helping to keep the park cleaner and reduce litter. Together, we make a difference to the world around us and to one another.
Sustainability
Tree Planting Day
On 9 November 2024, we celebrated our 60th anniversary with an initiative that symbolises our commitment to sustainability: the Westerbergen Tree Planting Day. Together with guests, staff and local partners, we planted trees that not only contribute to a greener Westerbergen, but also reinforce our promise to cherish nature and the environment.
Trees play a crucial role in creating a healthier living environment. They improve air quality, provide shelter for countless animal species and help promote biodiversity. Our Tree Planting Day is not only a celebration of our history, but above all a promise for the future – an invitation to everyone to join a green movement from which we all reap the benefits.
Sustainability
Charging facilities
The Netherlands’ sustainability targets ensure that the number of alternative-fuel vehicles – vehicles that run (partly) on non-fossil fuels – is increasing significantly. Holiday park Westerbergen therefore has electric charging points for cars. We also have charging points for electric bikes. By providing these charging points, Westerbergen encourages their use.
Sustainability
Getting to know nature
A holiday at Westerbergen means enjoying a unique stay in the heart of a beautiful woodland and nature reserve. We would love to share this special connection with nature with our guests.
To bring the younger generation closer to nature in a playful way, we developed the Stropersjacht in 2024. During this free puzzle trail, children, together with our mascots Winck & Blinck and Forest Ranger Berend, go on an adventure to track down poachers in our extensive wooded grounds.
The route takes them through the woods and across the heathland of Westerbergen. Along the way, they must solve riddles and puzzles using the Poachers’ Hunt Activity Book and a number of puzzle boxes with accompanying videos.
Sustainability
Electric transport for staff travel within the premises
Clean and sustainable (electric) transport. Our colleagues in the Technical Services & Cleaning department drive around in electric vehicles every day. These are whisper-quiet, emit no CO2 and are energy-efficient. This makes them less harmful to the environment than vehicles that use conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel. In addition, a large proportion of staff travel around the site by bicycle.
Sustainability
Environmentally conscious cleaning
At Westerbergen Holiday Park, all accommodation and sanitary facilities are cleaned using sustainable cleaning products. Harsh chemicals and materials are avoided. For example, we only use sustainable cleaning products with quality labels such as Cradle to Cradle and the EU Ecolabel.
In addition, efforts are made to reduce water and energy consumption during the cleaning of the accommodation, and microfibre is used extensively. The use of microfibre means that fewer cleaning products are required.
Sustainability
Energy saving in accommodation
All our rental properties are equipped with the Eco Green Box. This system has been developed to automate as many functions as possible and save energy. By using various sensors within the property, this system is able to learn the guest’s lifestyle patterns. This enables the system to adjust energy requirements, thereby minimising energy wastage without compromising on comfort.
The Eco Green Box saves energy by, for example, lowering the temperature or switching off the air conditioning when external doors are left open unnecessarily, or when guests leave the property.
Sustainability
Bed and bath linen
All our bed and bath linen for our rental properties is cleaned in an environmentally friendly manner. The laundry uses a steam-free method at lower temperatures and with neutral pH values, utilising less water and innovative chemicals (detergents and bleaches). This method significantly reduces energy consumption whilst maintaining quality.
The laundry also uses the cleaning agent HiGLO, which is biodegradable and does not harm the environment. The wash water is heated using vacuum tube collectors. These are glass tubes that work like a thermos flask. Inside the tubes is a copper pipe filled with glycol. Because sunlight can heat the vacuum between the glass and the copper pipe extremely quickly, the copper pipes soon reach a temperature of 90 degrees, which is sufficient to heat the wash water.
Sustainability
Fuels
Sustainable fuel is becoming increasingly important. With our environmentally friendly Gulf Diesel Green fuel, we reduce CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions, amongst other things. Gulf Diesel Green ensures better combustion, lower fuel consumption, increased power, reduced CO2 emissions and a cleaner fuel tank and system. As a result,
Westerbergen Holiday Park reduced its CO2 emissions by 1,853 kg in 2022 and received the Sustainability Certificate from Gulf Netherlands. In doing so, we have made an effective contribution to a better environment.
Sustainability
Local produce
During your stay at Westerbergen, we invite you not only to enjoy our home-cooked dishes and products, but also to discover the diverse local produce of South-West Drenthe. Our region is teeming with artisan producers and farm shops where you’ll find authentic delicacies made with care and passion. From freshly baked bread and pure honey to locally produced meats, cheeses and speciality beers. Fancy a bit of indulgence at Westerbergen? Pick up a local beer pack from our supermarket!
Fancy a little outing? Then why not visit one of the farm shops or artisan producers in the area. Visit Avereest Brewery in Dedemsvaart. Just a 20 km cycle from Westerbergen, you can enjoy a guided tour and tasting with brewer Joepjan. This way, you support the local community and get a real taste of what our region has to offer. Of course, you’ll also find a selection of products in our own supermarket, so you have the convenience of enjoying local produce right at your fingertips.
Sustainability
Biodiversity
When you think of sustainability, you naturally think of greenery and biodiversity! Plants, flowers and trees, and the diversity of life in the park. Westerbergen Holiday Park is surrounded by a rich natural environment of woods and heathland. Thanks to its location on the edge of Dwingelderveld National Park, the park is a valuable habitat for biodiversity.
Many different birds live at Westerbergen, such as woodpeckers, swallows, magpies, starlings, robins, pigeons, owls, songbirds and more. The combination of woods and open land makes it a perfect place for them to live. There are also all sorts of trees and shrubs, such as oaks, pines, spruces, birches, willows, rowan trees, bird cherries and hazel trees. These not only create a beautiful environment, but also provide food and shelter for animals. As well as birds, other animals live here, such as rabbits, squirrels, roe deer, hedgehogs and many species of insects. Their presence shows that nature here is thriving. The history of the site also contributes to the unique biodiversity of Westerbergen. The landscape features, which date back to the Ice Age, laid the foundations for today’s varied natural landscape.
Sustainability
Deep-frying system
From February 2026, the catering facilities at Westerbergen Holiday Park will be using a new, sustainable frying system. We are switching to high-quality frying oil supplied in bulk. A change that is barely noticeable to guests, but makes a big difference behind the scenes. Sustainability is not limited to visible measures at the park. Everyday processes, such as deep-frying in the catering facilities, are also being critically reviewed to reduce the environmental impact and improve working conditions for staff. What exactly is changing?
🍟 Less plastic Whereas previously hundreds of individual buckets of deep-frying oil were used annually, we now use a single central storage system. This saves approximately 588 kilos of plastic per year.
🚚 Less transport Bulk deliveries are replacing the many small deliveries with individual packaging. This leads to less freight traffic and lower CO₂ emissions.
💚 Healthier frying The oil used contains no palm oil and has a lower saturated fat content. Snacks absorb less oil, resulting in lighter preparation without compromising on taste.
👩🍳 Better working conditions Thanks to the bulk system, oil is pumped directly from a buffer tank into the deep fryer. This prevents heavy lifting, spillage and unnecessary physical strain.
🌿 Small choice, big impact The annual CO₂ savings from this switch are equivalent to the carbon absorption of around 70 trees. A practical example of how structural choices contribute to a more sustainable and future-focused park.
Sign up for the newsletter
Protected by reCaptcha, Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
