Hi
Can anyone tell me what the Sunparks at De Haan near Ostend is like. We would really like to visit this part of Belgium but we do not know what this resort is like. We are big Centerparcs fans and I am worried that this might be not quite as good. Our alternative is to go into Holland and visit Port Zeeland Centerparcs. Hope someone can help me

Last went to Sunparks in De Haan 4 years ago, (been to Oostduinkerke and Kempense Meren since then), This is a nice area to use as a base to do lots of different activities, leave the car and catch the bus to Bruge, Boudevijn Park (Dolphinarium and theme park), Waalravasidje (World War 1 & 11 trenches museum). Efteling Theme park in the Netherlands about 1.5 hours drive away (well worth it). Usual sport facilities available. The park itself is very nice, well organised check-in, indoor centre with Pizzeria, McDonalds type food outlet, indoor swimming centre well maintained (includes wave machine). We are going back there this year

Friends of ours virtually live at Sunparks, so we decided to give De Haan a go last October. Wife and 2 children (9 and 11) arrived via Channel Tunnel. If you are used to Center Parcs, you will find the chalets and facilities similar but tired (although when we went they were building some new 'luxury' houses by a man-made lake). The apartments are clean and warm but the furniture was flimsy. The beds were not very comfortable at all. The leisure facilities are also very basic compared to Center Parcs although the pool/slides entertained my 2 girls for the 4 days we were there. The spa facilities seem to be what Belgiums/Dutch seem to be into more than we are and my wife found these facilities great....once she got used to mixing saunas!! I understand that the pool was 'inspected' over X-Mas 2007 with the intention that its refurbished sometime in 2008. We also used the park as a base to visit Bruge and also just get out into the local countryside. De Haan itself is a pleasant town, which I imagine would come alive in summer.

All in all we had a great 4 days - if you go there expecting Center Parcs i think you will be disappointed but if you take the place and the surroundings at face value you will still have a great time (although I did find the local vino helped sleeping on the rather flimsy beds!!)