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.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Here’s what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
Café Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davie’s Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (it’s not ketchup, and it’s better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what I’d skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
There’s a version of Gatlinburg that’s all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then there’s the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Here’s everything worth doing downtown, in the order I’d do it: 🏔️
✨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
✨ Walk the strip mid-morning when it’s still manageable
✨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: don’t skip it)
✨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
✨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isn’t your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. It’s more of a “here’s what I’d actually do if I had one solid day” kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. 🔗
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
I walked into Goo Goo Cluster in downtown Gatlinburg thinking I’d spend five minutes and leave with a small piece of candy. I was wrong on both counts. 😅
You build your own chocolate cluster at a kiosk: caramel, sea salt, pretzels, cocoa pebbles, you name it, and then watch them make it right in front of you. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and costs $15.
The caveat? This is not a snack. This is a full-size brick of chocolate that I was still eating two days later.
If you’re already walking the Gatlinburg strip, this is an easy yes. Especially if you have absolutely no self-control around caramel. (Asking for a friend.) Full experience breakdown linked in bio. 🔗
Your Knoxville Airport survival guide, from someone who’s flown through TYS 100+ times is now up on my blog🛫
Parking, TSA wait times, where to grab food before your flight, rental cars, all of it, from someone who actually knows this airport. No guessing, no googling at the last minute.
TYS is small, easy to navigate, and honestly one of the less stressful airports I’ve been through. You just need to know a few things going in.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗
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