Childhood
Peter Gillis helped out at his parents' Camping Kampzicht at an early age! This photo shows him in 1971, age 9. His parents later sold Camping Kampzicht, which now goes under the name Recreation Park D'n Mastendol.
Entertaining guests and developing the camping/ recreation business was and is his passion. In 1986, he started Camping Oostappen which grew into Oostappen Groep Vakantieparken.
The Dutch boy, helping out on the lawn mower, built his dream into the largest private short-stay recreation business in the Benelux reporting for 2010 budgeted turnover of more than € 35.- million, 500 hectares, 10,000 sites, 20,000 beds and in peak season 41,000 guests per day.
With the organization in place, Oostappen Groep Vakantieparken has been growing both in sales and ROI. Hence the decision to realize expansion of the number of rental accommodations at all 10 vacation parks. At the same time, management is exploring acquisition candidates that meet its criteria.
Peter Gillis riding his tractor/ lawn mower