The remaining six parks were added to CenterParcs: Loohorst (NL), Port Zelande (NL), Zandvoort (NL), Weerterbergen (NL), Hochsauerland (D) and Heilbachsee (D).Īfter the sale, five of the six remaining Gran Dorado Resorts parks were rebranded Sea Spirit from Center Parcs or Free Life from Center Parcs. After agreeing to a reduction in beds owned, CPE sold all but six Gran Dorado Resorts to Dutch Landal GreenParks. P&V brought Gran Dorado in the joint venture.Īs CPE was based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the Dutch and European Commercial Competition Authority did not approve of combining Gran Dorado and Center Parcs, as it would effectively control the European market. P&V owned Europe's largest (in terms of bed-count) bungalow-vacation-supplier, Gran Dorado Resorts, a Dutch former joint venture of Vendex, Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds, GAK and Philips Rentefonds. This was given the name Center Parcs Europe (CPE). In 2003, Scottish & Newcastle sold the Continental European sites to a joint venture of Pierre & Vacances (P&V) and DBCP, a German investment group. In 2001, the UK locations separated from the continental Europe locations and formed a separate company, Center Parcs UK. This brought the company into the sights of expanding brewer Scottish and Newcastle, which later bought the group. In 1987, Center Parcs opened its first UK resort at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. The park, De Lommerbergen, was successful, and the tents were quickly replaced by bungalows. In 1968, Derksen purchased woodland near Reuver so staff and customers could relax in small tents. It succeeded and Derksen expanded into 17 outlets across the Netherlands, and then added camping articles to the range.
Its name was 'Sporthuis Centrum', 'Sport House Centre'.
(formerly Center Parcs) is a European network of holiday villages that was founded in the Netherlands in 1968, and is currently operated by Pierre & Vacances and owned by Blackstone Group.ĭutch entrepreneur Piet Derksen started a sporting goods shop in 1953 at Lijnbaan, Rotterdam. There was a similar church at Sherwood Forest which has since been converted into a Starbucks. Because Derksen was a Catholic, he decided to build small churches at his parks. Wild water rapids at Center Parcs Het Meerdal (NL). Dutch Center Parcs entrance (at De Eemhof). While it is obviously disappointing that we will not be able to bring Center Parcs to this part of West Sussex, this decision demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility to the environment, as well as our ongoing commitment to enhancing the natural habitats in which our villages are located.An original Center Parcs Cottage (named 'Villas' in UK resorts), designed by the Dutch architect Jaap Bakema. Oldhouse Warren is an exceptional 550-acre ancient woodland and a rare gem, given that ancient woods now cover less than 3% of the UK.”Ĭenter Parcs’ chief executive, Colin McKinlay, said: “We have always been committed to only building our villages in areas where we can improve the biodiversity of the site. The proposals would have been disastrous for wildlife and see us lose irreplaceable habitat. It is why proper site assessments are needed in planning and no shortcuts. Jack Taylor, lead campaigner for the Woodland Trust, said: “All credit to Center Parcs for pulling out of plans to develop a new park in ancient woodland. Nature experts said the proposals would have been “disastrous” for wildlife, and would involve disturbing a “rare gem” of ancient woodland. It had been picked by the holiday company because of its good transport links to London. The development, which was expected to cost £350m-£400m, would have been on land home to rare birds including crossbills, goshawks and firecrests.
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