Where to find public water taps in the Netherlands?
- By
- Aparna Patel
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- 27 Jul, 2023
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2021 update:
There are now several websites and phone apps available, this is just one of them. Googling for ‘water bottle filling’ or ‘waterflesje vullen’ should find you more.
(I have no connection with the site, just the first I found on internet.)
2017 update answer.
In the last couple of years, a lot of ‘get water’ points have been added in the Netherlands.
Often you find points to fill your bottles in front of stations, outside restaurants and information centers in nature areas but also in the middle of villages.
I have not yet found a way to work out where to find the points, it seems that every region has its own system and own logic in where to place the water points.
Remember that wild camping is not allowed in the Netherlands and much of the country has very many people and very little nature so it is not just a case of law but also a case of common sense. The new water points are for daytime use, to re-fill the bottle you brought from home to keep you going for a while longer.
The water points are certainly no showers and no places to camp.
Since you seem to have an interest to camp “in the bush”. You might be interested in what is called “paalkamperen”. The foresty department provides designated places at remote places where you can camp in the wild. Each of these place come with a water pump. The water is not for consumption, but perfectly fine to wash.
A map on the website of the department of forestry contains a map showing where the free camp zones are located.
The same initiative exists in Belgium as well. Here each camp site also contains a water pump.
Since, both website cater a local audience, the websites are Dutch only. Hopefully you can manage with google translate.
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The Netherlands certainly doesn’t have that many public taps as other countries. Maybe also because the regular tap water is of very good quality.
But the recent years more and more taps are placed. Mostly to advertise against bottled water, and help people who use own (recycled) bottles.
I know of two websites / apps which have a map of taps:
- Kraanwatertappunten (iOS 6.1+ and Windows 8+)
- Dopper (iOS 4+ and Android 2+)
The last one also lists private people who make their home tap available to anyone coming by.
Another option might be to ask water at a farmer (they usually have outside taps) or at a camping site (and maybe pay a little). See for example the ANWB camperen app (iOS 6+ and Android 2.2+)
PS: Vitens is one of the companies placing taps, but they don’t have a map available as far as I know.
PS 2: As Eugen said, note that camping is officially not allowed in public places.
Credit:stackoverflow.com‘