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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Westerbork
Come for the Kamp Westerbork memorial, not the village: half a day at the site, one night in Westerbork or Hooghalen, then move on.
Westerbork is a small Drenthe village of about 4,700 people whose name is tied to the World War II transit camp 10 km north, near Hooghalen. The camp site, its memorial centre and the reconstructed buildings are the reason to come; the village itself is a quiet base for cycling and hiking in the Drenthe woods and heath.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, wet, short days)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112 · Police non-urgent 0900-8844
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4 |
| Lunch main (sandwich, soup) | €7–14 |
| Dinner main | €12.50–25 |
| Beer, café draught | €3–5 |
| Bike rental, per day | €10–15 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GRQ · Groningen Airport Eelde
- About 40 km (25 mi) north; limited routes, check schedulesAbout 25 mi (40 km) north; limited routes, check schedules
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- About 2 h by train to Beilen, then bus 22
Typical fares
- Bus 22 Beilen → Westerbork
- about €4 single, about 20 min (check)
- Memorial centre shuttle to camp site
- about €1.50 single / €2 return (check)
- Train Beilen → Groningen
- about €10–12, about 50 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is small and walkable; a bike is the best way to reach the surrounding woods and heath. The memorial centre is 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the village and about 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Hooghalen. Motor vehicles cannot drive all the way to the camp site because of the radio telescope installations; park at the memorial centre and walk the educational path (about 2.7 km (1.7 mi)) or take the shuttle bus when the centre is open.The village is small and walkable; a bike is the best way to reach the surrounding woods and heath. The memorial centre is 6.2 mi (10 km) north of the village and about 1.2 mi (2 km) east of Hooghalen. Motor vehicles cannot drive all the way to the camp site because of the radio telescope installations; park at the memorial centre and walk the educational path (about 1.7 mi (2.7 km)) or take the shuttle bus when the centre is open.
See and do
Known for
- Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork
- World War II transit camp history
- Cycling and hiking in Drenthe
- Stefanuskerk
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kamp Westerbork memorial centre and camp site | Bus 22 from Beilen station, or drive and park at the centre, then walk or shuttle to the camp | About 30–45 min from Westerbork village |
| Assen | Bus or car via the N374/N381 to the A28 | About 30–40 min |
| Emmen | Car or bus via the N34/A37 corridor | About 45–60 min |
| Bourtange | Car via the A28 and N366, or a long bike ride | About 1 h by car |
| Groningen | Train from Beilen on the Zwolle–Groningen line | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Westerbork village centre
- Around Hoofdstraat and B.G. van Weezelplein; walkable, shops and restaurants, hotel and B&B options.
- Hooghalen
- Closest village to the Kamp Westerbork memorial centre, about 2 km (1.2 mi); quieter, fewer beds.Closest village to the Kamp Westerbork memorial centre, about 1.2 mi (2 km); quieter, fewer beds.
- Beilen
- Railhead on the Zwolle–Groningen line with bus 22 to Westerbork; useful if you arrive by train.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-don |
| Thank you | Dank u weldank u wel |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt u eng-els |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-vale kost ut |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met de kaart betalen?kan ik met duh kaart buh-tah-lun |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is het toilet?vaar is ut twa-let |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- The camp site is not in Westerbork village: it is near Hooghalen, 10 km north. Do not walk from the village expecting a short trip.
- Driving to the actual camp site by car is not allowed; fines apply. Park at the memorial centre.
- The Papercutting Museum opens mainly on weekdays in summer and during Dutch school holidays; dates change each year, so check before going.
- Some restaurants and the museum café keep limited hours outside the summer season.
Westerbork is a quiet, low-crime village and the main risk is practical: the camp site is 10 km (6.2 mi) from the village and the walk from the memorial centre is unshaded, so bring water and check shuttle times.Westerbork is a quiet, low-crime village and the main risk is practical: the camp site is 6.2 mi (10 km) from the village and the walk from the memorial centre is unshaded, so bring water and check shuttle times.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Westerbork yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork
- World War II transit camp history
- Cycling and hiking in Drenthe
- Stefanuskerk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Drenthe — Westerbork: www.visitdrenthe.com/
- Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork: www.kampwesterbork.nl/
- NS — Dutch Railways: www.ns.nl/en
- Wikivoyage: Westerbork, revision 5213561 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5213561
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Westerbork
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Westerbork; most are in The Hague or Amsterdam. Check your country's embassy for consular help.
The camp site is a place of remembrance: keep voices low and follow the rules on the grounds.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/westerbork). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.