1980 - 1989

1980 Opening of De Eemhof, the first village with a Subtropical Swimming Paradise 
The opening of De Eemhof is a milestone in the company's history for two reasons. Firstly because it is the first village with a volume of some 600 villas and a comprehensive village centre, all built in one go. But most importantly, the now familiar Subtropical Swimming Paradise is introduced for the first time. 

1981 Opening of Erperheide 
The first village outside the Netherlands. The company turns its attention outside of the Netherlands for the first time. The first village beyond the Dutch border is Erperheide, located at Peer, in Belgian Limburg. 

1983 Opening of De Kempervennen  
Clustered round the former Eurostrand just underneath Valkenswaard rises the spacious De Kempervennen, the seventh village in the Netherlands. 

1986 Opening of Het Heijderbos and a change of name
Het Heijderbos opens in 1986, with the first white water course, on the extreme tip of North Limburg. With a view to international expansion the company also changes its name. Sporthuis Centrum becomes Center Parcs.

1987 Opening of De Vossemeren & Sherwood Forest
The first British village. Center Parcs expands into England, where the first British village is built: Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. At the same time De Vossemeren becomes the second village in Belgium, situated at Lommel in Limburg. A new element is introduced simultaneously with the building of this village: an enormous dome that covers all the central facilities. In future, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and the covered village centre will be a standard feature of every village. The dome ensures the facilities offered will be not be weather dependant. 

1988 Opening of Les Bois-Francs, the first French village 
An entirely new holiday concept is introduced into France with the opening of Les Bois-Francs in Normandy. 

1989 Opening of Elveden Forest. 
Scottish & Newcastle becomes the new owner. This second village in England is situated in Elveden Forest, Suffolk. Piet Derksen withdraws from Center Parcs and sells his shares to British brewers and retailers, Scottish & Newcastle giving them a 74.8% holding.