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.
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Masons in Kaiserslautern: Korean BBQ, Jamaican jerk chicken, raclette potatoes, crispy baked ricotta from Monaco, and the Belgian cookie cheesecake you’ll still be talking about the next day. €39-45 per person. Bring a group and pace yourself, because they charge for leftovers.
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This was my second trip, and somehow I liked it even more. Every visit adds another trail, viewpoint, or restaurant to the list, and the list keeps getting longer. This time I stayed near Airport Mesa, with sunsets right outside my door and none of the crowds.
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YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
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“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
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