Mieke Arendsen

This hotel is great - right across from the central train station. We had a room that overlooked the central station - very nice and interesting. Restaurants and shops are close. We could walk. They also provide a coffee/expresso machine in their lobby.

Berg's Bakery is amazing. It is a 6th generation family bakery. The owner, himself, did our workshop, and we enjoyed chatting with him about his journey in the stroopwafel industry.

Our 3-night stay at Huize Welgelegen within the ARTIS zoo was nothing short of extraordinary. The location was superb, with easy access to transportation and a plethora of excellent dining options nearby. The highlight of our stay was the exclusive access to the zoo after hours—a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe the animals up close and personal, with the entire zoo to ourselves. This magical experience was a huge hit with our children and left an indelible mark on our memories and our favorite stay while in the Netherlands. The daily delivered breakfast, thoughtfully left in our fridge, added a delightful touch to our mornings. The historic charm of the home, juxtaposed with its modern and remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, provided a perfect blend of old-world elegance and contemporary comfort. The spacious layout allowed us to relax and unwind, with the primary bedroom offering breathtaking views of the zoo. Every detail, from the comfortable beds and bedding to the overall ambiance, contributed to a restful and rejuvenating experience. We highly recommend Huize Welgelegen for those seeking a unique and unforgettable retreat, as it truly offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience that surpasses expectations.

Our stay at Wikkelboats Wijnhaven in Rotterdam was a fantastic experience that catered perfectly to our family of four. The well-laid-out accommodations made us feel right at home and garnered attention from passersby, giving us a touch of celebrity treatment during our vacation. The location was ideal, being conveniently close to all the amenities one could need in downtown Rotterdam. The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the hot tub, which provided a luxurious and relaxing way to unwind after a day of exploring the city. The comfort of the beds was much appreciated, ensuring a restful night's sleep for all of us. Overall, Wikkelboats Wijnhaven offered a unique and memorable stay that exceeded our expectations, making it a highly recommended choice for families looking for a truly special accommodation experience in Rotterdam.

Our stay at Daalder, the country cottage on Texel Island, was a delightful retreat that offered a clean and well-appointed space for our vacation. The presence of 1.5 bathrooms and shared laundry facilities was a convenient and welcomed perk, adding to the comfort and ease of our stay. The cottage lived up to its description, providing a peaceful atmosphere that allowed us to unwind and relax amidst the island's serene surroundings. While the location was tranquil and ideal for a peaceful getaway, it was a bit distant from most of the island's attractions and activities. However, this seclusion added a sense of tranquility to our stay, allowing us to truly disconnect and enjoy the natural beauty of Texel Island. The thoughtful welcome bag filled with Texel goodies was a charming gesture that added a touch of local flavor to our experience. The kids were thrilled to have their own room, adding an element of excitement and independence to their stay. Daalder on Texel Island provided a cozy and comfortable retreat that met our expectations and offered a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's a recommended choice for those seeking a peaceful and idyllic escape in the heart of nature.

AMAZING - Astrid was great with the kids, food preferences and overall made the experience fun for the whole family. The biking made us a little nervous at first, but in the end, it was a fun addition to the trip and we can now say we biked in Rotterdam. Astrid did an incredible job of understanding we were still a little jet lagged and the kids being tweens and them not being fully engaged at all times. We were concerned with it being a private tour that there wouldn’t be anywhere to “hide” if we didn’t care for a food selected, but that was never an issue. Astrid was very understanding that we may not like/enjoy every food we tried. That made the whole experience more enjoyable as we didn’t have to pretend what we liked/didn’t care for. This also allowed us to try everything and not feel forced to eat the entire portions given if we didn’t want to. The tour was certainly more than just about food - but a cultural experience with traditional Dutch food along the way.

This food tour was truly delightful, offering us valuable insights into Rotterdam. The transition from Texel to Amsterdam felt quite overwhelming, yet Jelte's expertise truly helped us feel more connected to the city and appreciate its history and charm. Our son has a passion for architecture, and it was truly fascinating when Jelte, who holds a degree in architecture, shared intriguing insights about Amsterdam's architectural aspects during our tour. Jelte also interacted wonderfully with the kids and was empathetic to the fact that we might not enjoy everything we tasted. The only drawback of the tour was the repetition of foods we had already sampled in Rotterdam. However, the silver lining was comparing our preferences between the same dishes from Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Jelte was fantastic in offering us a new item to taste when we mentioned we had tried and disliked herring (we hear the taste grows on you). We certainly appreciated his flexibility and attentiveness he gave throughout the tour.

Our private canal boat tour in Amsterdam was a truly remarkable experience that brought a unique perspective to our exploration of the city's iconic waterways. The boat itself was impeccably clean and well-appointed, with thoughtful amenities like sunscreen, and beverages available for us, ensuring our comfort throughout the tour. Our guide Julian was not only informative but also engaging, making the tour both educational and entertaining. His insights and knowledge of the city added depth to our understanding of Amsterdam's rich history and culture. What set this tour apart was the flexibility it offered—we had the freedom to request specific sights or let our guide lead us to hidden gems and must-see locations, ensuring a personalized and enriching experience tailored to our preferences. Cruising along the canals in the comfort of our private boat, surrounded by the charm of Amsterdam, was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the beauty and uniqueness of the city.

This hotel is conveniently located near the central train station. The staff was helpful and our room was clean and comfortable. The only drawback was that our stay coincided with a very warm spring day and the window in our room opened to another building only 6-7 feet away. As such, airflow was greatly reduced and our room was quite warm. Other than that, we would defintely recommend the Singel.

The Hotel Corps de Garde is a charming, characterful small hotel conveniently located just on the edge of the city center just opposite a canal. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and provided exceptional service. Our room had beams and a window overlooking the canal. Air conditioning as a welcome bonus. Best of all was the breakfast each morning served in the pleasant dining room overlooking the canal. Breakfast included eggs prepared to order, sliced meats and cheeses, a variety of breads and croissants, as well as cereals, fruit, juice and coffee or tea.

This is a large hotel located in the city center. Our room was on the ground floor with a door to a courtyard seating area. Unfortunately, this proved to be quite noisy in the evening. Additionally, the men in the room next to us were easily heard through the wall which kept us awake until 2 a.m. While the bathroom was spacious and clean, the rest of the room looked "tired" and in need of updating. The carpet was not clean. The redeeming aspect of this hotel was the breakfast buffet that provided a wide variety in a top-floor dining room with a commanding view of the city.

We had asked to have a room no higher than the third floor since we do not use elevators. Upon our arrival we were informed that our room was on the sixth floor. Although the hotel was fully booked, they were able to accommodate us on the fourth floor and even upgraded us to a comfort room. We were amazed at the size of the room - large by American standards, but positively palatial for Europe! Our room had a king-sized bed, a seating area with tv, a refrigerator, and a spacious bathroom. Breakfast was included for which we were provided 10 euro vouchers per person with which we could select a variety of breakfast pastries, juice, smoothies, cereal, coffee, tea, yogurt, and miscellaneous. The hotel staff were friendly and accommodating. We greatly enjoyed our time at The James.

Although this appears to be a somewhat non-descript hotel from the exterior, the interior is a highly polished with a modern, clean design. Many of the ground floor furnishings appear to be Herman Miller Eames design. Our hotel room was "pocket-size" but well-appointed with an i-Pad to operate the window shades and even the color of the lighting! Fun and funky decor and our room was spotlessly clean. Breakfast the next morning was buffet-style and included a wide variety of both hot and convenient grab & go options.

It allowed us to hop on and off busses, trains, subways and even a water taxi.

The sheer volume of flowers that are moved through this huge facility in a highly orchestrated fashion is nothing short of amazing. And the flowers were varied and beautiful!

Tamara, our guide, was informative and had a lively sense of humor. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her!

The tour gave us the opportunity to see one of the world's busiest ports in action from a vantage point that we would not otherwise have had.