You’ve booked your tickets, learned about the trains, and made your packing list. But planning a trip is never complete until you know where you will stay. Luckily, when it comes to accommodation in the Netherlands, there are plenty of options.

Hotels

You will find a range of hotel offerings in the Netherlands. Even smaller towns tend to have a hotel or two. Prices vary tremendously depending on the time of year and the location. It is not always common for hotels in the city centre to have car parking facilities, so if you are bringing your car, be sure to check where the nearest parking location is. Equally, Dutch hotels usually don’t have swimming pools (there are exceptions of course). And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay in one of those beautiful canal houses on the water, these are old buildings often without a lift and much smaller in size than you might normally be used to. [clickToTweet tweet=”The Kurhaus in Scheveningen, the Netherlands was built between 1884 and 1885.” quote=”The Kurhaus was built between 1884 and 1885 by the German architects Johann Friedrich Henkenhaf and Friedrich Ebert. It consisted originally of a concert hall and a hotel with 120 rooms.”]

Hostels

If you are looking for a less expensive accommodation option in the Netherlands or just want to get to know some new people, then you might want to consider a hostel. In most hostels there is the option to book a bed in one of the dormitories and share the bathroom with other residents or to book a room with private facilities.

B&Bs

Dreaming of staying in a traditional Dutch home and waking up to breakfast complete with chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag) and peanut butter (pindakaas)? Then it sounds like a bed and breakfast might be the perfect option for you.

Apartments and Houses

Thanks to services like Airbnb and Belvilla, renting an apartment or house for your visit is easier than ever. Dive a little deeper, and you can find some interesting and unique properties to stay in.

Vacation Parks

If you want the privacy of your own property, but with activitiy and entertainment options, then have a look at the vacation parks around the country. Usually positioned in areas of natural beauty, these parks provide you with your own house, villa, or apartment. The grounds of the park have a range of activities (location dependent)—everything from restaurants to swimming pools and archery to boat rental. In the Netherlands, the main vacation park providers are Landal and CenterParcs.

Houseboats in Amsterdam are permanently anchored to a specific address and their permits are in high demand.

Houseboats

At one time, houseboats were a creative solution to dealing with housing shortages. Nowadays, the number of houseboats, especially in the bigger Dutch cities, is in decline. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay on one during your trip, however. There are a number of houseboat apartments and B&B options, as well as several boat hotels that give you that sleeping on the water experience. Truly an interesting option when it comes to accommodation in the Netherlands.

Camping

The Dutch are known for their love of camping, especially abroad. So it is no surprise that inside the country itself, there are plenty of places to camp. In general, the camping season runs from mid-March through to the end of October. Be sure to book an official campsite, as camping outside of these locations is forbidden in the Netherlands. That helps to protect the landscape and ensures you have access to modern hygiene facilities, electricity, and other services.

Accommodation in the Netherlands and the City Tax

Don’t be surprised to find that a couple of Euros have been added to your bill per person, per night when checking out. The city tax (also known as the tourist tax) is a general tax that a municipality can apply to those staying overnight in a hotel, guest house, caravan, apartment, B&B, or bungalow. The tax is intended to support municipalities cover the costs that extra visitors cause.

What is your favourite type of accommodation in the Netherlands to stay in?

Featured Photo Credit: T.W. van Urk / Shutterstock.com