Camping De Ikeleane in Bakkeeveen was to be our base for the next 2 or 3 days while we explored a little of Friesland. It was fine; the usual large grass fields around which caravans and motorhomes are parked; exceptionally clean bathroom facilities and; a small bar-restaurant (snack bar).
There’s not a great deal to Bakkeveen. It’s been described as a commuter village which feeds Friesland’s capital city Leeuwarden and, to a lesser extent, nearby Drachten but; there has to be more to it than that given there are at least 5 other campsites in the surrounding area? The whole area is flat and made up of forest and heathland (holding small herds of Friesian cattle and horses) and there’s water everywhere. This last feature can perhaps be explained in that Friesland has a very long coastline which stretches the length of the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer (Western Europe’s largest inland lake). It’s not unlike the Fens of East Anglia. There are a handful of other commuter villages in the area. Wijnjewoude was one we kept having to travel through but; otherwise, not much else.
Please don’t misunderstand me. There’s nothing wrong with the area. At first, it seemed a little remote (and I suspect it’s really quiet when all the campsites close over winter) but the two towns we most wished to visit (Leeuwarden and Harlingen) are within easy striking distance and, other than a decent campsite, that’s all we wanted.
And so to Leeuwarden…