The story of Center Parcs is one that continues to evolve, with many chapters still to come.
It began in 1968 near the village of Reuver in The Netherlands, when Dutch entrepreneur Piet Derksen opened a small holiday village called Sporthuis Centrum, where guests stayed in tents set within woodland surroundings. The concept was simple but transformative, offering people the chance to step away from daily routines and spend meaningful time together in nature.
That founding principle remains central to Center Parcs today.
As the idea developed through the 1970s and 1980s, tents were replaced by lodges and Sporthuis Centrum became Center Parcs. New villages opened across The Netherlands, Belgium and France before the first UK location, Sherwood Forest, welcomed guests in 1987. Elveden Forest closely followed in 1989, and Longleat Forest in 1994, each carefully integrated into natural woodland settings where people and the environment exist in balance.
In 2001, Oasis Lakeland Holiday Village in Cumbria was acquired and redeveloped as Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, bringing the woodland experience to the Lake District. That same year, our owners at the time, Scottish & Newcastle, separated the business into Center Parcs Europe and Center Parcs UK. The UK operation was later acquired by Deutsche Bank Capital Partners before being floated on the stock market in 2003.
In 2006, private equity firm The Blackstone Group purchased Center Parcs UK. Responding to growing demand for short breaks in natural environments, construction of a fifth UK village, Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire, began in 2012 and opened in 2014.
In 2015, Brookfield Property Partners acquired the business. Expansion continued with plans for Ireland, where a site was secured in County Longford. Construction of Center Parcs Longford Forest began in 2017 and the village opened in 2019, becoming the brand’s first location outside the UK.
Today, Center Parcs continues to build on its original foundation. Villages are designed to encourage exploration, create moments of discovery and offer space for what matters most, while protecting the forests that define them for future generations.
Looking ahead, a new chapter begins with the development of Center Parcs Scottish Borders, located between Hawick and Selkirk. With planning permission secured, the opening is planned for 2029. The project continues a long-standing commitment to creating villages where people can unwind, reconnect, and experience a place like no other.
