Sustainable holiday park in the Netherlands

There are solar panels at various accommodations, for example the Valley Chalets. These supply electricity directly to the relevant accommodation. We have large canopies with solar panels in the parking lot on Harremaatweg. There are 222 panels here. And another large canopy with solar panels that you can park under is at the back of the park. There are 285 panels here. The trampoline park is covered with 136 solar panels. Together, the roofs with solar panels generate 170 kW annually.

There are solar collectors on De Vallei and on sanitary building 5. These will help heat the swimming pools and the sanitary building. This means we need less fuel and save the environment.

Ackersate has its own wells from which it can provide drinking water for park guests. If necessary, this is supplemented with drinking water from Vitens. The drinking water is tested and monitored according to European regulations and is safe for consumption.

At the swimming pool we have to deal with renewal and wear of pumps, among other things, to keep the swimming water hygienic. We use frequency controllers to ensure that the pumps run at the correct speed and therefore extend their lifespan. An additional advantage is that this is more energy efficient.

We are increasingly studying the path that products have taken to the plate. We work with suppliers who are committed to a better product, which is also better for the customer and his environment. Are products almost expired? Then we donate them to the Food Bank.

A quantity of water flows out of the swimming pool. Even on a summer day, a lot of water is changed and carefully rinsed to maintain the quality of the bathing water. But it is a shame to simply let this precious water disappear into the sewer. That is why the water that flows away is carefully collected in a 'grey water' tank and then filtered. This filtered water, which we call 'grey water', is given a second life. It is not simply wasted. Instead, it is used for a purpose that is just as important: flushing the toilets in the sanitary buildings. By 2023 we will have saved almost 2.5 million liters of drinking water! With this approach we give the water a new purpose. It contributes to a greater vision of sustainability and responsible water use.

We also have sustainable ambitions in landscaping. We strive for ecological green management. The native flora and fauna are central. Every autumn many leaves fall from the trees. These leaves are collected and used as ground cover between the beds. This gives the weeds almost no chance to grow. Various animals such as hedgehogs, squirrels and insects live among the leaves. The leaf will eventually slowly decompose. This provides extra nutrition for the plants and the soil will dry out less quickly in the warmer periods. When placing new plants, we look at the species that are native to the Netherlands and those on the edge of the Veluwe. For example, conifers do not belong here and we will not plant new ones again

All accommodations are equipped with ICY Thermostats. These thermostats respond to the presence of people. When an accommodation is not rented or there is no movement in the accommodation for a longer period of time, the thermostat automatically switches to a lower temperature. There are different temperature settings that are used after a certain number of hours. For example, if a guest staying in an accommodation forgets to turn off the heating upon departure, the system will do this automatically. This prevents unnecessary heating.

You can also save a lot with lighting. For example, LED lighting is used throughout the park and in the accommodations. An LED lamp is approximately 50% more efficient than an incandescent lamp. The area lighting is switched centrally. There is a separation in the area lighting. Some burn all night long to ensure, for example, that guests can safely reach a sanitary building. Another part of the lighting goes out just after midnight and is only on in the evening for evening activities.

You see that gas is increasingly being exchanged for electric. We call this the energy transition. All new accommodations placed on Ackersate will be delivered fully electric. Cooking, heating, etc. is all done with electricity. We have charging stations for electric cars at various points in the park. You can find them at the reception, in the parking lot at the camping fields, in the second parking lot on Harremaatweg and in the parking lot on Brugveenseweg. Ackersate also has company cars that drive fully electric.

Everything regarding sustainability is recorded in the Green Key file. We keep track of all data here in order to do something extra for the environment. We go further than normal laws and regulations require of us. Even to the extent that we are Green Key certified!

We use a pellet stove to heat the swimming pool. This stove burns on wood pellets made from pruning waste or sawdust from timber companies. The pellet stoves are more economical, cleaner and lead to less CO2 emissions.