Quirky places to stay outside of Amsterdam

Old Holland

Stay at a hotel unlike any other

You don’t even have to check in at the Hotel Zaandam before feeling the excitement of a stay there. That’s because one of its biggest draws is the statement exterior, which looks like it’s straight from the pages of a fantastical fairy tale – or that the builders stacked a load of multicoloured traditional Dutch houses on top of each other. Venture in, however, and you’ll discover a modern, 4-star hotel which boasts comfortable rooms (including the luxurious Tsar Peter suite), a large swimming pool, a spa, a restaurant which serves dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients and an interior which pays tribute to Zaandam’s industrial past. Also, it’s the perfect place to explore the windmills, churches and old-fashioned farmhouses of traditional Old Holland. 

Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam | Zaandam

Float downriver as you dream

When you imagine an overnight stay on the water, you quickly think of large cruise ships or a sailboat with a spacious cabin. But how about camping on a motorized raft courtesy of Flötten as you drift through the stunning Waterland region of Old Holland? Board your floating hotel from Uitdam and sail the raft through beautiful watery nature reserves. You can drop the anchor where you want to spend your night and set up the tent instantly - all without disembarking! You can choose packages and routes for one or multiple days.

Flötten | Uitdam

Outside Haarlem

Live like a king at a country estate

Every room has a story to tell at the magnificent Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg Country Estate. Built in the 16th century, this classic Dutch country house once belonged to His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, better known as William III, former King of England. Whether you fancy bedding down in a suite or even a patio room in the new hotel wing, you’re guaranteed a level of luxury fit for a king. There’s also a modern spa offering a range of cutting-edge treatments and a picturesque English garden to explore, and you’re just a stone’s throw from the exceptional natural beauty of National Park Zuid-Kennemerland and the Dutch dunes and seaside towns of Amsterdam Beach.

Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg | Santpoort-Noord, between Haarlem and Amsterdam Beach

Amsterdam Beach

Write your own (budget) fairy tale in a moated castle hostel

You can become the star of your own fairy tale during a stay at the magnificent moated Castle Assumburg without having to fork out a royal fee. With an array of fantastical turrets and towers, rich medieval-style interiors and extensive gardens to explore, guests at this incredible hostel genuinely feel like royalty. But don’t let the castle's grand guise fool you, as the hotel is, in fact, a Stayokay hostel and perfectly affordable for the budget-conscious. It also offers the perfect opportunity to explore the perfectly preserved traditional houses and windmills of Zaanse Schans in scenic Old Holland or the sweeping dunes of Amsterdam Beach. Make sure to check out the Amsterdam Area's other fantastic array of castles and gardens. 

Hostel Heemskerk | Heemskerk, Amsterdam Beach

Become a castaway in a coastal cabin

Few feelings are better than waking up to the sound of the waves lapping onto a beautiful beach. And though it’s no secret, most people don’t realise there are plenty of coastal gems to discover in the Amsterdam Area. Amsterdam Beach is undoubtedly that, a bustling place that boasts colourful hippy hangouts and a trendy crowd congregating at its cool beach bars and clubs. So for a stay somewhere just that extra bit special, where you can enjoy the wild dune landscape and sandy dancefloors. Why not book one of the quaint sea cabins, such as these beautiful sea lodges nestled in the dunes just beyond the beach. 

Qurios Holiday Park | Zandvoort, Amsterdam Beach

Live alongside nature in a real ‘tree house’

Fancy staying so close to nature that you can spot foxes and owls from the comfort of your bed? Then book a stay at Geversduin camping’s amazing ‘tree houses’ at Amsterdam Beach. Cladded completely with durable platowood - grown in sustainable Dutch forests - you’ll feel like you’re living in your own gigantic tree.  Each 'tree house' sleeps six, is centrally heated and has hot and cold running water. Their incredible panoramic windows look out onto the North Holland Dune Reserves – a scenic landscape with vast dunes punctuated with nature reserves. You’ll need a card to get into the area, but don’t worry; it’s included in the cost of the tree house.

Camping Geversduin | Castricum, Amsterdam Beach

Set up for the night in a rustic lodge

These unique floating lodges situated just outside Fort Uitermeer give immediate access to the River Vecht - ideal for visitors who need a tranquil overnight stay during a boating or cycling trip. Great for fishing and sailing trips or just enjoying the tranquillity, a stay here gives guests full access to the impeccable natural surroundings of the Castles & Gardens region. If you're interested in exploring the neighbouring creeks from the water, a special jetty is right outside, and canoes and kayaks can be rented for an additional fee. Bear in mind that this is a rustic stay, but each lodge includes a double bed with pillows, an eco-toilet, a limited solar-powered electrical supply and a gas burner for that morning cup of coffee. Further amenities such as bed linens and a breakfast can be ordered.

Waterfront Lodges | various locations

New Land

Sleep amongst the vines

Bed & Breakfast Life Contains Beautiful Things is a labour of love by a couple who met at a hospitality school. Their dream to open a vineyard with its own accommodation in a unique location on the Almere Oosterwold polder was realised in 2015. Each atmospheric lodge offers a roofed terrace overlooking the vines, surrounding forests and a swimming pond. This location makes the B&B suitable for walkers, cyclists and nature lovers as it has perfect access to New Land's sweeping vistas and national parks.

Life Contains Beautiful Things | Almere

Flowers of Amsterdam

Start your day surrounded by tulips

This green barn parked in the middle of a flower field doesn’t look much like a bed & breakfast, but the historical bollenschuur (flower bulb barn) turned cosy accommodation is a beautiful surprise. Dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, De Groene Bollenschuur, plonked in the centre of kaleidoscopic flower fields, will place you right at the heart of the bulb region. The rooms and public areas are light and spacious, with all the amenities for a wonderfully comfortable night’s sleep. The location is perfectly positioned near Amsterdam's city centre, the tulip fields that make the Flowers of Amsterdam region so famous, Keukenhof Gardens, and the coast.

De Groene Bollenschuur | Hillegom

Across the region

Test out your sea legs

Spending a night or two in a floating home is the most typically Dutch way to experience the Amsterdam Area and its waterways. Dive into a world of floating charm with a diverse range of houseboats on offer across the region courtesy of BookaHouseboat.com. Rest your head on a peaceful stretch of the River Spaarne - just outside Haarlem, surrounded by the lush green fields of Old Holland or atop the leisure lakes of the Castles & Gardens region. You'll find houses to suit larger groups and families or a cosy retreat for two. From authentic barges with characteristic wheelhouses to sleek, modern arks - your perfect water home awaits.

BookaHouseboat.com | various locations