Hotel NH Waalwijk in the Netherlands Review

If you follow me on social media you will have seen last week we headed over to the Netherlands to soak up the last few days of the Easter break. It did also happen to be my birthday, so it was a fun way to do something a little different, and go to a place that the children and I had not been to before.

We were planning to visit the Efteling theme park in the Netherlands, just south of Amsterdam by about an hour and a half. And as you might imagine, there are a few hotels in the area close by to choose from. So we went to stay for two nights at the Hotel NH Waalwijk, a four star hotel only a few minutes drive away from the park.

First Impressions

For starters, the hotel was really easy to find, just off a main road, with plenty of free parking. The hotel is two floors high, and is quite large (120 rooms), so you wouldn’t miss it driving past. The entrance was large and welcoming, with some stylish chairs and furniture on display. It really struck me as being a classy and stylish hotel.

We checked in with ease, and the staff that dealt with us were friendly, helpful, and attentive. And the best thing for these typical British tourists is that the staff spoke perfect English, which is most helpful. The check-in process was quick, and we were off to our room pretty quickly. On our way to it, I did note that there was fruit on offer just around from the check-in area, as well as bottled water, fruit infused water, and mints. I love little touches like that!

Our Room

We headed straight to our room after check-in as we’d had the drive from Calais. It was spacious for a family room, with a double bed (well, two smaller beds put together), and bunk beds. The children were so excited about having bunk beds! I do find some ‘family’ rooms in other hotel often just means a rollaway bed for one of the children, which isn’t always the most comfy. Two proper beds in the form of bunkbeds is such a good idea for a family room and worked for the ages that my children are.

There was all of the standard things in the room, including large wardrobes, desk, chairs, mirrors, safe, and a hairdryer in the bathroom. The bathroom itself was a really good size too, with a bath / shower, sink, toilet, and vanity area. And I loved the decoration of it – the black and white checked floor was stunning. The room had everything we needed, including free wifi and plenty of plug sockets. Don’t ask me why but it is always something that I notice.

The Food

We arrived at the hotel around 6pm in the evening, on my birthday, and we didn’t really fancy heading out for food elsewhere, so we booked a table at check-in, which was simple and easy (they did have a room service offering too). The menu wasn’t huge, but just enough to have a variety to choose from. I am a vegetarian and I found that there were a couple of tasty choice for me too – I felt spoilt for choice. There was a children’s menu too, including things like pens and paper for them to colour in with.

The service was brilliant at dinner time, and the staff were very attentive to the children too. The service was quick and the food tasted great. The children were very happy with their meals too.

Ask anyone that knows me well and they will tell you how much I love a hotel breakfast, and the breakfast there was no different. I always like to see what other European countries like to have for breakfast, but as it was served as a buffet, there was plenty of choice. I liked that there was a free-from range, as well as your usual cereals, cooked breakfast, pastries, juice, and fruit. Again, the staff were all helpful and polite; no complaints at all.

Facilities For Children

When you first see the hotel, as we did, it does look fancy. The decor is modern and stylish. So I did think that although they have a family room, it wouldn’t necessarily be all that child-friendly. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The hotel had an amazing setup for children that I was really impressed with. Here are the things that really impressed me:

• At check-in the children were given a game to find certain things around the hotel. When they did, they got a prize.
• At breakfast, there was a specific ‘Kid Zone’ with cereal dispensers and a large step stool to allow them to step up and do it themselves. Something like that makes all of the difference.
• As part of the hunt around the hotel, they were given chef’s hats at dinner, and the staff took their time to explain them to the kids. It was lovely.
• There is a play room set up for the children. With things like a Wii, play house, table football, and dressing up, it was a great little space for them to play in. It is right by the restaurant too so there is an option to go there while you finish your meal or have a drink.
• The bathroom in the room had a bath, which is always a winner with children.

I think that the hotel gets the perfect mix of modern and stylish for couples or professionals, but there are still plenty of things for children. I was so impressed by the facilities.

Overall?

All in all I couldn’t recommend the hotel enough. It has a great mix of style, as well as substance, plus it had a great setup for children. It was comfortable, clean, friendly, and had everything that we needed. If you’re in the area or are thinking of going to the Efteling park, then I would completely recommend it.

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