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A Bikers Guide to Europe

As we have had two trips to the continent this year, both via the DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, it gave us the opportunity to stay again at MotoCamp Het Dijke for two reasons, a) it is not too far from the ferry terminal at Ijmuiden (approx. 70mls), and b) the welcome is always friendly. On the way back from the Dordogne in June and again in July returning from Normandy we booked two rooms in the loft, mainly to save unpacking/repacking the bikes and putting the tent up for just one night. On the second trip we finally got to meet the owners, Joop and Dia de Jong, as on the previous times we had stayed there they had been away touring France/Spain and Scotland. When we were there in June the local Dutch Virago/Star owners club were having a weekend rally there and we were introduced to a local homemade Gin, (the name of which escapes me), but we found out next morning that that it gives you a world class headache. Really glad I didn't have to be at the ferry terminal until late afternoon. Also staying at the site in July were some Belgian bikers who were having a weekend rally, a Swedish couple who were on the early stages of a tour to Normandy and a couple of Dutch bikers who were touring on a couple of vintage BSA’s, (see photos below). This for me is one of the reasons I’m glad I’m a biker - you meet some really friendly people, of all differing nationalities and within a few hours, (especially after a couple of beers), it’s as if you had known each other for years.

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Jack’s Place

As we had a few spare days and I had long wanted to visit the old Nurburgring circuit we decided to try another Biker site at Simpelveld in southern Holland - Jack’s Place. As Simpelveld is right on the Dutch/German/Belgian border it seemed to be the ideal base to visit both Germany and Belgium whilst seeing a part of Holland we had never visited before. We had been told that Jack’s Place could be a bit lively - and so it was to prove. When we landed, although there were a couple of tents already there, no one was about so we just pitched tent, thinking maybe it’s not so lively after all. We had just got set up and were starting to unwind when there was a noise not unlike rolling thunder. Thinking at first that we were on an airport flight path it was almost a relief when through the gate came a convoy of German bikers on a collection of cruisers/choppers. They had obviously been to Jack’s Place before as it was like watching an aerobatic formation team as they swept in - half of them did a left circle of the site and the other half did a right circle and all met in the middle which gave them the complete bottom half of the camp site,(thought it best not to ask if they carried beach towels!). Thinking that the bar in the evening would not be so quiet after all we settled back again. About an hour later again came the sound of rolling thunder - this time from a group of Dutch bikers who occupied what was remaining of the camp site. It didn't take us long to notice that both the Dutch and Germans were really well organized. Both groups had no gear whatsoever except tents, plenty of beer and the clothes they stood up in. They had all pre-booked barbecues, and as it turned out, breakfast for the following morning. In the bar that night we had what turned out to be a really good night out. All were friendly, although the Dutch and Germans tended to be a bit reserved between each other, which we had been told about, we had a simply great night not leaving the bar until after 3:00am. We caused a bit of amusement by making a cup of tea at 3:30am before retiring but we explained that it was an English thing and a sure fire hangover cure (which it definitely wasn’t). Next morning, (Sunday), saw the Dutch and Germans leaving, apparently it is the usual thing to go and get ‘blitzed’ over the weekend and then back to work on Monday, so the site was pretty quiet after that. Shame we couldn’t have spent another weekend there - we were just getting into the swing of it. We spent the rest of the day watching the MotoGP from Donnington on the TV in the bar. Would definitely go back to Jack’s Place though just for the atmosphere.

NB: Jack’s Place has changed ownership and is now known as Herberg Het Ijzeren Paard which, I am informed, when translated to English, comes out as ‘Iron Horse Saloon’. See Biker Friendly Accomodation Page for link to web site.