When we planned our Netherlands tulip trip, I knew I did not want to stay directly in Amsterdam the entire time. Between parking, traffic, hotel prices, and constantly navigating busy city streets, I wanted something quieter that still made day trips easy. That is what led us to Hotel Heemskerk Netherlands.
This hotel ended up working well as a road trip base during tulip season because it included free parking, sat within about 20–30 minutes of the tulip fields, and gave us access to smaller Dutch towns without feeling stuck in city chaos the entire trip.
If you are planning a similar spring trip, my 5 Day Netherlands Tulip Itinerary: Keukenhof, Windmills & Tulip Fields help map out the route we used during this trip.
It is not a luxury hotel, but for the price and location, it worked very well for what we needed.
Hotel Heemskerk is located in Heemskerk on the historic Marquette Estate, surrounded by trees, countryside, walking paths, and quieter residential areas.
One of the biggest advantages of staying here is that you can explore northern Holland without constantly dealing with Amsterdam traffic every single day. We were able to easily drive to places like Amsterdam, Haarlem, Alkmaar, Volendam, Edam, Zaanse Schans, and the tulip fields while still coming back somewhere noticeably calmer at night.
The location felt much more peaceful compared to staying directly in Amsterdam. After long sightseeing days, that slower atmosphere was nice to come back to.
If you like quieter evenings, easier parking situations, beach towns, biking routes, or having a little breathing room after crowded tourist areas, this area works well.
We also ended up spending time exploring nearby towns like Haarlem and Heemskerk during this stay, which made this location feel more practical than just staying in Amsterdam the entire trip. If you are planning similar stops, my Best Things to Do in Haarlem Netherlands guide may help.
This was one of the main reasons we booked it.
The hotel was about 20–30 minutes from the tulip fields depending on where we were going that day, which made early morning tulip field visits much easier. We did not have to fight central Amsterdam traffic first thing in the morning before even reaching the flower areas.
That ended up mattering more than I expected during tulip season because roads around Keukenhof and the surrounding fields can get busy fast once crowds start arriving.
The location also worked well for splitting time between tulip fields, smaller Dutch towns, and coastal areas without constantly repacking hotels.
The setting surprised me a little in a good way.
Because the hotel sits on a historic estate, the outside feels more traditional and surrounded by greenery, but the rooms themselves were more modern than I expected from the exterior.
The property itself felt quiet and residential instead of tourist-heavy. You are not walking outside into crowds, tour buses, or packed streets. It feels more local and relaxed compared to staying in the center of Amsterdam.
There are walking paths nearby, countryside views, and easy access to beaches, dunes, and biking trails around the area.
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The rooms were nice for the price.
They were simple, clean, and comfortable. The hotel offers different room types including single rooms, double rooms, family rooms, suites, and some rooms with balconies or terraces.
One thing worth knowing ahead of time: our room did not have air conditioning.
For many travelers, especially in cooler months, that may not matter at all. But I like sleeping cold, so by morning I was struggling a little. Meanwhile Europe collectively seems very comfortable sleeping at temperatures that make me feel like I’m slowly being oven-roasted overnight.
If you are traveling during warmer weather and also prefer colder rooms at night, it is something to keep in mind before booking.
Other than that, the room itself worked well for what we needed during a busy sightseeing-heavy trip.
One of the main reasons we booked Hotel Heemskerk Netherlands was the included parking.
If you are renting a car in the Netherlands, free parking becomes very exciting. Amsterdam parking prices alone can start feeling mildly aggressive after a few days.
The hotel also has EV charging stations, free WiFi, bike rentals, a 24-hour front desk, pet-friendly rooms, and complimentary coffee and tea available in the lobby. I definitely took advantage of that!
The bike rental option especially makes sense in this area because the surrounding region is very bike-friendly with paths connecting smaller towns, countryside areas, dunes, and beaches.
We rented a car for this trip because it made tulip season logistics significantly easier, especially when bouncing between smaller towns and flower fields. My Driving in the Netherlands (What It’s Really Like for Tourists) guide explains what driving there was like if you are debating whether to rent one yourself.
The hotel also offers a breakfast buffet with pastries, breads, fruit, yogurt, hot breakfast dishes, and coffee options before heading out for the day. We did not personally eat breakfast there during our stay, but it looked convenient for early tulip field mornings and sightseeing days where you want to get on the road fairly quickly.
If you want more local Dutch pastries during your stay, we loved Wim Koelman Bakery Review in Heemskerk (Best Dutch Pastries Near Amsterdam) while staying in the area.
I think this hotel works especially well for travelers who are planning a road trip through the Netherlands and want a quieter home base outside Amsterdam.
It makes sense for people who enjoy:
I would especially recommend it for travelers renting a car. Having free parking while still being close to major sightseeing areas ended up being one of the biggest advantages of staying here.
If your main goal is nonstop Amsterdam nightlife or staying directly in the middle of tourist attractions, you would probably prefer staying in the city itself instead.
Overall, Hotel Heemskerk Netherlands ended up being a very practical base for exploring northern Holland during tulip season.
The location made day trips easy, the free parking saved money and stress, and the quieter setting felt like a nice break after busy sightseeing days. I also liked having access to smaller towns, countryside roads, and coastal areas without feeling locked into Amsterdam the entire trip.
The lack of air conditioning was probably my biggest downside personally, but outside of that, the hotel worked well for the type of trip we were doing.
For travelers planning tulip season road trips, beach town stops, biking days, or exploring beyond Amsterdam, I think this area makes a lot of sense.
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The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
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Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
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