Groningen · Netherlands
Camping De Helleborus
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
Run Away from this place they have bed bugs. I got bitten as you can see. The worst part is I showed the staff I picture of the bed bugs to ask for for a different bed, and they refused to give ot to me. Disgusting place 🤮
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Confirmed Hostelworld
BED BUGS EVERYWHERE !!! I had bed bugs in my bed. This is because the campsite does bot use inflatable mattresses, instead they use regular mattresses. I notified the staff I had bed bugs. They told me its normal to have bed bugs, and that they dont sting, which i knew was a lie. They refused to give a a non-infested bed. I got stung 3 times on my arm. I told them the bed was insalubrious, and they told me it wasn't their problem. They knew the tent had lots of bugs and think it is NORMAL.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Booked a night through Booking.com and YES... there was a clear policy for cancellation (50% of the full amount is charged) and YES I read it and knew about it. However I was happy to see Booking provides an easy way to communicate and come to an agreement with the owner to wave the cancellation fee in some cases. I booked in the evening, turned ill overnight and had to cancel my trip to Groningen. I had the courtesy to inform the owner asap (within 12h) about the situation. However, this was no reason for the owner to accept a waver --> I had to pay full cancellation fee for my one person stay. I would have wanted to come back a few weeks later when I will be recovered to this place, because the concept seems nice. But after this experience I won't. Especially after reading the other comments here about the breakfast issue (again money based!), nearby noisy highway, bedbugs, fleas, rats, mosquito's,... My first bad experience via Booking in the past 10 years. Had to make a note of this. Sorry guys.
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Possible Google Maps
Een hele leuke plek, uitstekend ontbijt, helaas de volgende dag thuis heel veel last van vlooienbeten/bedwantsen gehad!!!
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Confirmed Booking.com
Unfortunately two of our group came home covered in bites that the doctor suspects were from bed bugs. We came for a concert and found that our price was more than twice the regular price. That felt vastly overpriced (and in particular after we discovered the bites)
HostelPunk native reviews
First-party field notes
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Vibe Analysis
Camping De Helleborus is a colorful eco-camping setup just outside Groningen, with tents, caravans, yurts, and small house-style spaces tucked between trees, paths, lights, flowers, and little sitting areas. It leans more handmade glamping camp than classic hostel: warm beds, outdoor cooking, fire pits, and a loose green-haven mood. The heated blankets are a real part of the experience, especially on chilly nights. Beds are often set up with proper bedding, power, lighting, and extra comfort touches, so the place can feel cozy even when the weather is doing Dutch weather things. The social life is built around the outdoor kitchen, evening fires, group seating, BBQs, and shared meals. Breakfast can include homemade sourdough, jam, yogurt, fruit, and garden produce, while dinners may be available if arranged. Bikes can be rented, and Groningen is reachable by bike or bus, making it workable for city trips without sleeping in the city. This is best for travelers who like nature, DIY charm, eco toilets, open-air facilities, and a slightly alternative camp rhythm. It is not a polished hotel-style setup, and the highway nearby is a serious part of the soundscape at night.
Signals to check
- The nearby highway can be clearly audible at night, even from a distance.
- Eco toilets, outdoor sinks, and open-air facilities may not suit anyone wanting conventional bathrooms.
- Rain and cold can make the camp feel more rugged, muddy, or exposed.
- Breakfast, hot tub use, firewood, towels, bedding setup, or other extras may add up.
- There have been cleanliness and insect complaints, including serious bed bug complaints in 2025.