Urban Campsite Amsterdam – Unique Place to Stay in Amsterdam

EXPLORE NETHERLANDS IN 6 DAYS – DAY 5

Richie loves camping and I love boutique hotels and we both love anything that is unique, artsy. While we were planning for our trip to Netherlands, we came across this beautiful place where both camping and unique artistic objects meet – Urban Campsite Amsterdam (UCA). It is not a normal campsite though it has all amenities for its guest, but it is way more than that. It is differently beautiful and crazy. Special works of art has been furnished as a hotel room. Staying in such a piece of art is a lifetime experience. We had great fun!

Highlights of the Day

  • Urban Campsite Amsterdam (UCA)

Last Day in Netherlands

On our 5th day in the Netherlands, we checked out from the hostel we were staying at – Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen – at around noon after a night of deep and comfortable sleep. Oh yes, we packed too many places to see during the past few days. So finally, we chose to just relax on our last 24 h in Amsterdam, doing almost nothing, but that does not suit our style. Richie and I end up going out and do some or the other thing. To keep us engaged, we chose the most unique accommodation in Amsterdam – UCA.

Urban Campsite Amsterdam (UCA)
UCA is the best campsite for us till date – it kept us surprised and engaged all the time during our stay

Getting to UCA

We walked to Stationsplein from our previous hostel. We had our favorite Lebanese hummus and falafel wraps for brunch from our favorite Maoz Vegetarian Restaurant near Amsterdam Centraal station. Then we headed to the station to take the train to Science Park station. The train does not take more than 10 min, and the park is just 5 min walk from the Science Park station.

Their check-in time was between 3 PM and 9 PM, but we reached an hour ago, but there was always someone present at the reception of UCA to serve and look after you. Luckily, our room was ready by then. We had a full day of time in UCA as we were supposed to leave as per their check out time, which was 11 AM next morning.

 What Is UCA?

“Science and art are closely related. Science tries to understand the world and develops technology to change it. Art shows a world that doesn’t yet exist. Science needs imagination”.

The creative Dutch duo, Annette Van Driel and Francis Nijenhuis, have put together UCA, a destination where camping and art come together. Many architects, artists, and designers were invited to create temporary structures that form a sculpture park during the day, but also rooms where people can stay in the night. It is an art exhibition, that is held only during summers. This year, it is open from June 1 to Septerber 1.

This year’s exhibition theme was “The Art of Tech-Living” – the art of future life and living. Each room in UCA differs in size and ease of use. They all have clean and comfortable beds. There were sanitary facilities and showers on the campsite. Just make sure you bring your own towel and toilet bag. The rooms contain no electricity but you wil find a bedside lamp inside providing a romantic lighting.

Our room in UCA - Second Skin
We had booked Second Skin – yes, that’s the name – for us in UCA

Rooms in UCA 2017

After checking in to our abode, we spent the whole afternoon exploring each and every other room in the UCA. It is an art exhibition, so you are free to do that. We got to know more about the designers, artists, and architects behind every work, and what each of the art-cum-rooms represent. It was an amazing experience that I would love to share.

1. Second Skin (two person monastry) by Rob Sweere

Rob Sweere - Second Skin (two person monastry)
Rustic residence in a beautiful monastery-calm, wind and waterproof house, with a young oak as inhabitant

This is the room that we booked during our stay in the UCA. Rob Sweere is a visual artist, who designed Second Skin. It is a steel frame straightened with a new ultra-flexible plastic that feels like skin. Second Skin is actually a project in a series of plantations to improve the urban microclimate through a symbiosis between buildings and plants.

2. Universe 9 by Robbert van der Horst

Robbert van der Horst - Univers 9
This 360 degree rotating research ship has a pleasant private space, plus a public hangout for meetings with the unknown

Robbert van der Horst is a visual artist who has designed Univers 9 – a research engine with a comfortable stay inside. His work always interacts with the landscape, either in a physical, historical or social way.

3. Slow Tech by Refunc

Refunc - Slow Tech
Refunc transformed an electric car similar to the one used as a driving post office in 1970s into an electrifying ‘Slow Camper’

Refunc believes that anything can become anything else – shapes remain, only functions change. Even though we think electric cars are a new thing, but the first manufactured cars were electric. For example, The Spijkstaal, a Dutch brand, served as a driving post office in the 1970s. The Slow Camper is its modification. It is all about sustainability, circular economy, ready made, out of the box, and local.

4. TRU by Akko Goldenbeld & Miriam van Eck

Akko Goldenbeld & Miriam van Eck - TRU
A thermochromic pigment layer makes the TRU extra vibrant and creates an ingenious natural ventilation system: spring temperature during the day, great coolness at night

TRU means Thermo-Reactive Unit. Akko and Miriam created this in such a way that it responds to the environment, with the correct combination of welding and lasering.

5. Tubalow by Boomhuttenfest

Boomhuttenfest - Tubalow
A luxury bungalow made of a sewer tube, with a pantry and sleeping area, ideal for those who want to try everything in life

Furniture designer Sander Borsje and graphic designer Tobias Krasenberg form the Boomhuttenfest. They are known to create unexpected adventures like wild wildlife campers inventing solid solutions. Tubalow is a collaboration between Boomhuttenfest and Van Kaam, a family company in custom plastic pipeline technology, who made this sewage pipe from 100% recyclable polyethylene.

6. Fou Scope by Labor Fou

Labor Fou - Fou Scope
Star-loving research and sleeping lab in which you can observe and study everything and everyone – the sky, the passing trains, your neighbors, time, and more

A team of designers called Labor Fou have created the Fou Scope, which looks like a telescope. Labor Fou works with local and recyclable materials, with the aim of changing both the original character of the place and the outlook of the spectator. It is all about temporary craziness to excite, provoke, and inspire.

Labor Fou - Fou Scope
Fou Scope looks like a telescope and has a real telescope inside for the inmate to look at the sky and the stars

7. GigaBed by Studio Valkenier

Studio Valkenier - GigaBed
A pavilion between heaven and earth where you can stay offline from the digital media for a while, and get lost in day-dreaming, having good conversations, pillow-fighting, and staring at the stars

Studio Valkenier, the unconventional architectural firm of Wouter Valkenier, with his GigaBed, brings up the concept of social media for discussion and the technology that is available for everyone at all times. GigaBed is transparent as it shows the loss of privacy when everything is everywhere on digital media.

8. Waiting for Water by Stefanie Rittler & Sascha Henken

Stefanie Rittler & Sascha Henken - Waiting for Water
A humorous view on climate change – a residential object that drives on technical gadgets, in case the sea floods the country during the stay

Stefanie Rittler is a social designer and a lady carpenter who loves to work in uncomfortable spaces and social constellations. Sascha Henken is a designer of public spaces and sustainable products, who creates physical solutions for social, economic and political issues. Waiting for Water is their first joint venture, where they leave a strong message – “The sea water level is constantly rising. Should we wait or change something?”

9. Sleeping Pod by Studio Made By

Studio Made By - Sleeping Pod
In a capsule where previously young calves slept, special light and sound stimulation have a great effect on your brainwave – wake up reborn!

Studio Made By are Isis Hoos and Thijs Masthoff, who created “The Sleeping Pod” from reused materials. In huts where former calves, sheep, or goats used to lie down, now people can find their deserved rest, supported by soothing plants that purify the air and eliminate insomnia.

10.  Magic Box by Rick Abelen

Rick Abelen - Magic Box
Living and sleeping in a big camera obscura, which looks strange yet sober, and a magic lens inside the residence

Rick Abelen used processed wood to create Magic Box. It has a lens in a hole in the wall through which the outside world seems to be upside down – this shows visitors how other ways of looking can enrich life.

 11. Stacking Sticks by Oscar Sanders

Oscar Sanders - Stacking Sticks
This is a Leonardo da Vinci-inspired chestnut oak prehistoric tent where you can forget all the high tech and return to the simplicity of camp tech

Oscar Sanders is fascinated by domes, so he made Staking Sticks dome using European chestnut wood with the help of few other architects.

12. Dakloos (homeless) by Koele Kachels

Koele Kachels - Dakloos (homeless)
Stay in a wheeled waste container – the interior is cozy and equipped with a sliding roof, through which you can enjoy the stars from your bed

Koele Kachels is a company of Floris Moolenbeek. He is a city photographer and upcyclist, who has an intimate bond with fire. Before creating this sleeping accommodation with sliding roof, Floris used to make cool, wood-fired hot tubes out of waste containers.

13. BnB Foam Home by Kraft Architecten & Atelier Rick Tegelaar

Kraft Architecten & Atelier Rick Tegelaar - BnB Foam Home
Lightweight bed-and-breakfast made from self-developed biodegradable casting material – sleep and wake up in your own comfy big bubble

Kraft Architects are Arno Geesink and Joep Koenders, who created Foam Home. Biodegradable foam has a constructive and insulating effect after curing. Foam Home is a result of the research into the usefulness of biodegradable foam.

Tribal Toilet Tower by Atelier Van Lieshout

UCA had a unique type of self-sufficient toilet system designed by the famous Rotterdam studio Atelier Van Lieshout, called the Tribal Toilet Tower. It highlights the importance of water and sanitation in building up a successful society. It reminded me of the basic fact that the plant, which purifies water and composts feces, can function independently off the grid.

Atelier van Lieshout - Tribal Toilet Tower
The Tribal Toilet Tower is a spectacular two-layer sculpture, built up of toilets, showers, compost reservoirs, and septic tanks

Spa Landscape

UCA also had a spa landscape containing a giant hammock, a Science Park mud bath, and hot stone massage.

Spa Landscape
What else do you want? This was another surprising element for us – spa in the middle of these strange artworks

 Other Things We Did in and Around UCA

  • We bought few essentials from Spar supermarket, which was just 5-min walk from UCA.
  • We visited Indische Buurt, a neighborhood full of lovely shops, and the Dappermarkt, Amsterdam’s best street market, selling foods and goods from all over the world. Both of them were just 10-min away from UCA.
  • In the evening, we enjoyed dinner from Restaurant de Polder, which is just a minute away from UCA. We also had our breakfast there on the following day before we checked out. The food was delicious, and was economical.
  • UCA had a cozy community room built in collaboration with volunteers and refugees of Roof for Humanity. They served small refreshments, campsite coffee and tea, and also a drink on a regular basis.
  • We also relaxed in Anna’s Garden –  a wild garden of Anna, their neighbor, a unique piece of polder nature, an initiative of the Science Park Green team.
Selfie inside UCA
It was a great decision to do nothing but just relax on the last day, and UCA kept us on our toes with all the surprising elements in the park

I would highly recommend other fellow travelers to stay in UCA at least for a night or two during summers. We had an excellent time in UCA.

EXPLORE NETHERLANDS IN 6 DAYS – DAY 6

On the last day, we had to fly back to our home country in the morning. So we checked out early and left UCA for the train back to Schiphol Airport station from Science Park Amsterdam station.  We bought few stuff like bread and dips from the supermarket the previous night that worked out for our breakfast.

Make sure you have enough time in hand to get to airport, we literally had to rush. But thanks Emirates, they allowed us to board the aircraft even when we were insanely late. You cannot get lucky always, so please leave 3-4 hours before the departure time from anywhere in Amsterdam if you are boarding an international flight from Schiphol International Airport.

These last 5 days in Netherlands had been so awesome. We are taking many memories back home. We would love to come back to this beautiful country again, very soon.

NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN EUR)

Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 5-6 in The Netherlands – Urban Campsite Amsterdam.

  • Stay at UCA for twin sharing:  45
  • Food: 36
  • Public transport: 17
  • Miscellaneous: 10

Total expense (roughly): 108 EUR

For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.

If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!

28 thoughts on “Urban Campsite Amsterdam – Unique Place to Stay in Amsterdam”

  1. I have lived in Amsterdam for two years but I must admit that this is the first time I am hearing about the Urban Campsite Amsterdam. This is definitely a unique kind of experience and thanks for bringing it closer! 🙂

  2. Wow, I haven’t seen something like this before. I love the fact that you guys choose to just relax in Amsterdam on your last day since you were having a great adventure previously. I love the way you opted to stay in Urban Campsite in Amsterdam, it is truly a different kind of accommodation. Perfectly adorned with intricate designs and incomparable arts. The designer and the mind behind this must be really brilliant. I would love to experience this one in the future If I get the chance. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

  3. This is just so cool! I’ve been many times to Holland, but never ever seen anything like this. I love the fact they have a spa there too! I’m not a hostel person anymore, but would love to visit here just to see it for myself!

  4. Jane Dempster-Smith

    What a crazy group of accommodation! I have never heard of the Urban Campsite in Amsterdam. Not sure whether I could stay in the waste container, but seeing the stars would be fun. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Soumya Gayatri

    Hey this is so cool. As I read through your post, I felt like I was walking through a sculpture museum. Only difference is I could live inside the sculptures. That would be so much fun. This is indeed a unique concept. Actually I kind of like Second Skin. I would pick that too. 🙂

  6. I have seen such type of accommodation first time and believe me they look very unique and interesting. It would be nice to stay in some different style of rooms in this beautiful city of Amsterdam. Labor Fou looks great in the shape of telescope and also good to know that it is made up of some recycle articles too. Tribal toilet also a great way of recycling the waste. These kind of stays should be encouraged all over to encourage eco-tourism.

  7. I absolutely love Amsterdam! I’ve never heard of UCA before! What a cool and unique place. Accommodations are so important to me when travelling. I always try to look for the most unique experience with where I stay too. This definitely is it! I’m going to save this post because I’m sure I’ll be visiting Amsterdam soon since my fiancé wants to go very badly!

  8. storiesnimages

    An art exhibit AND an urban camping spot – wow, this looks awesome! I love your photos. It seems like these rooms are all comfortable and cozy…so interesting that there’s a respite like this in the middle of a busy city like Amsterdam. I’d love to stay here someday.

  9. What a cool idea – to have combined camping with art and actually make it happen. I am going to be in Amsterdam soon and would swing by for a look at this location. The architects looks like they have fun creating all the unique buildings. hmmm i just might try staying in a waste container !! 🙂

  10. I must say that there is so much more on offer around Amsterdam and surely priced it to me on my last visit to the Cory s month ago. Wish I had read your post before I went and would have stayed at UCA myself. A unique environmental friendly place like no other i have seen before. The rooms all different from each other. Good to know a SPAR not to far away to get your daily essentials. Overall a great place to spend a few days away from the mad rush of Amsterdam.

  11. How funny and interesting post! These people have sure been creative. I could see spending a night in a waste container just the sake of an experience but I don’t think I would return… ha ha. This could be a fun place to visit next time we go to Amsterdam. I will sure bookmark the post for our future travels.

  12. This is totally a unique staying alternative in Amsterdam. I am so wanted to do it when I go to Amsterdam. And price wise, it’s not that bad. And it is located not too far from restaurants or supermarket.

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