HOTELS BY COUNTRY

Hotels in the Netherlands

holland, hotels in holland, hotels in the netherlandsFrom pristine beaches to dense forests and from vast flat countryside to rolling hills, Holland has much to offer as a holiday destination. The country is particularly famous for its flowers, gardens and flower auctions and visitors from all over the world are drawn to the world`s largest spring garden at Keukenhof for an unforgettable experience of colour and scent.

Open daily for just two months of the year from mid March to mid May, this former nineteenth century landscape park was acquired by the Royal Dutch Association of bulb Growers in 1949 and made into a spectacular bulb garden, covering an area of thirty-two hectares and situated between Haarlem and Leiden on the N208.

Combine a visit to the Keukenhof and nearby bulbfields with a three course dinner and overnight stay in the characterful Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg hotel for just £99 per person which includes entry to the Keukenhof. keukenhof in holland, hotels in holland

Built in the style of the Dutch Renaissance and set in large grounds modelled on the Het Loo estate in Apeldoorn, the five star hotel offers old-world accommodation with a welcoming ambience. The hotel is situated in Santport only twenty minutes from Schiphol Airport.

Later in the year, garden lovers should not miss the Majestic Het Loo Palace near Apeldoorn. Once the summer residence of the Dutch Royal Family and now a museum; the palace and surrounding gardens have been restored to their original glory. Stay in the two-star Hotel de Stoppelberg in Beekbergen from £42 per night.

With its townhouses and waterways and laid-back, laissez-faire atmosphere, Amsterdam has so much more to offer visitors than its famous red light district. Get around by tram, bike or "genie boat". If you have  £475 to  £1,700 per day to spare for standard to over-the-top canal view suites, the boutique-style Dylan Hotel will appeal. Set back off Keizersgracht, peaceful yet central to everywhere you need to be, the hotel has its own boat for canal trips and bikes to rent.

Windmills are another iconic Dutch image and in 1997 the Kinderdijk mills were placed on Unesco`s World heritage list. Here nineteen windmills are lined up in two opposite rows. The round brick windmills on one side drain the Nederwaard and on the opposite side, the octagonal windmills keep the Overwaard from being flooded.

During July and August all the windmills operate on Saturdays offering a spectacular sight. Stay at the two star Hotel Kinderdijk, Alblasserdam, a small atmospheric hotel with a view of the windmills. Hiking and biking enthusiasts will find plenty to suit them in the nearby surroundings.

A city break in that other famous Dutch city, Rotterdam could be even more memorable if you choose to stay in the Cruise Hotel, a cruise ship moored in Rotterdam harbour at 3e Katendrechtsehoofd 25, Rotterdam, 3072 AM. From £166 per room per night with all ship-board mod cons, the Cruise hotel is only 1.2 miles from the city centre!

Visitors to the Netherlands will notice how much the Dutch love children. Many local shops will hand out slices of Kinderwurst (a bit like luncheon meat) to customers` children, (which could explain why the young people in Holland seem so tall!). With an attitude like this it is no wonder that the Netherlands boasts one of the oldest theme parks in the world.

Opened in 1952 as a nature park with a fairyland theme, the Efteling has evolved over the years into a full-sized theme park to rival Disneyland and in 1992 received the IAAPA Applause Award for Best Amusement Park in the World.

The four-star Efteling hotel is situated right next to the Efteling and offers special rates for family rooms. As this is so convenient for the theme park it is often at capacity, so check out these other hotels too; Hotel Waalwijk (7minutes drive) and Hotel De Kroon (5 minutes walk).
2010-04-22
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