From Leiden towards Germany's Eifel Nature Park
Our journey continued from Leiden, Netherlands, through Belgium and back to Western Germany, near the border of the countries. Before dusk, we decided to find a peaceful wild camping spot close to the magnificent Eifel Nature Park. The dense forests and surprisingly dramatic elevation changes of the area made the landscape impressive. Roadside signs also indicated battles from World War II. Tank barriers, trenches, and concrete bunkers still stood out in the terrain — a piece of the past in the middle of tranquil nature.
Our first stop proved to be a cemetery parking lot, so we continued our journey. Eventually, we found a small village called Wiesengrund deep in a valley, and we stayed for the night in a forest clearing nearby. The place was quiet, a small river flowed beside us, and the atmosphere was perfectly serene. In the evening, we cooked outdoors, and Jessika decided to cut my hair – amidst the forest scenery, using a cape made from a plastic bag. The combination of freedom and improvisation made the moment memorable.
Monschau – a fairy-tale village in the heart of Eifel
In the morning, we headed towards the village of Monschau, known for its fairy-tale old town, narrow alleys, and mountain streams. Monschau is located near the Belgian border and is also famous for its mustard (Monschauer Senf) and its Christmas traditions.
We parked the car within walking distance of the town center, which is situated at the bottom of a deep valley. The hills down were steep, and the slopes offered a magnificent view of the entire town. A river flowed through the town, around which life had once been built – the water flow had powered textile factory machinery for centuries.
Monschau is small but charming, and we explored it in about half an hour. We decided to stop for a meal at Café Weekend by the river, where we tasted local pizza and beer – both delicious. Monschau's pizza stands out from the traditional Italian version: it is rustic, generously topped, and rich in flavor, and it also uses many ingredients characteristic of the Eifel mountains.
Cologne – city pulse and church splendor
From Monschau, we continued towards Cologne, a major city we had long wanted to visit. Upon arrival, its vastness was immediately apparent – buildings and streets stretched as far as the eye could see. Initially, we had chosen a wild camping spot near the city center based on recommendations from the Park4Night app, but broken car windows and scattered glass on the ground prompted us to move to an official Stellplatz on the banks of the Rhine.
The spot was clean and safe, so we confidently parked our car and set off on foot toward the city center. At the parking lot, I also saw my dream camper van – a Hymer Venture S model – for the first time in real life. It drew admiration from passersby and fueled my own dream for Vanstoor's future fleet.
A walk along the Rhine at sunset was an impressive experience. Several churches rose on the city's horizon, and finally, the majestic Cologne Cathedral unfolded before us. Its interior stained-glass windows made us pause and reflect on times gone by. After the church, we headed out to eat, using Google Maps – a tried-and-true method for finding the densest restaurant area. We ended up at Hänneschen und die Pfeffermühle restaurant, where we enjoyed local delicacies. Cologne positively surprised us: it was vibrant, friendly, and full of energy.
We returned to the car using electric scooters – a convenient way to save time over long distances.
Towards Travemünde – last stops and the journey home begins
The next morning, we emptied the tanks and filled up with water before leaving, but the chemical toilet's automatic system refused to work, even though the coin went into the machine. The journey still continued smoothly towards Hückelhoven, where a new car awaited collection. The manager of Freizeitcenter Adolph GmbH handled everything exemplarily – the handover took only fifteen minutes as he had already prepared everything, including license plates and registration. In the yard, the salesperson confused his own vehicle to be handed over with the one we had arrived in, as they were almost identical.
After emptying the chemical toilet cassette, we continued towards Travemünde, with me leading and Jessika following in our own camper van. Initially, driving alone made Jessika nervous, but she soon found a good driving rhythm and followed smoothly on the Autobahn. The Waze app helped us avoid traffic jams, saving both time and nerves. We spent a peaceful night in the courtyard of a mountain manor in the village of Vlotho, which offered a magnificent view of the valley.
Often when looking for a wild camping spot, you find truly wonderful places that you would otherwise never have visited.
In the morning, we continued through Lübeck, which is always a pleasant stop before Travemünde. We had excellent salmon portions at Fangfrisch restaurant and enjoyed coffee at a cafe in the city center before heading to the harbor. The duty-free alcohol shop at the port was hidden in the basement level of the building, and due to the small trolleys, we had to make two trips for our purchases.
By ferry back to Finland
In the evening, we drove our cars onto the Finnlines ferry in Travemünde. The journey to Vuosaari takes approximately 30 hours, including one full day and two nights. We had booked meal packages in advance, so dining was easy at the ship's buffet. The day passed quickly with eating, resting, and working on the computer.
The ferry journey is a much more comfortable way to return from Central Europe than driving through the Via Baltica – especially outside the peak season, the prices are almost identical. Our trip for two people and two cars, including meals, cost a total of 940 euros.
In comparison, the Via Baltica route with one car would cost almost the same for fuel, food, and ferry fees, but would require many times more time and concentration (Costs per car and person: fuel approximately 300 euros, Muuga-Vuosaari ferry approximately 150 euros + food). The ferry journey offers rest and an opportunity to do useful things during the trip.
In the morning, as Vuosaari appeared on the horizon, we felt a touch of melancholy but also gratitude. Ahead of us was the return to everyday life and the Vanstoor office in Vantaa.
Summary: Motorhoming in Europe – freedom encapsulated
This trip was full of stunning landscapes, new experiences, and small coincidences that make traveling by motorhome so special. We managed to see several countries, mountains, historic villages, and the pulse of a big city – all in a short amount of time.
The freedom and rhythm of life on the road reminded us once again why van life is so captivating. Even though the summer would be spent working and on rentals, the next trip was already being planned as soon as we drove off the ferry ramp.
