Stayokay Heemskerk Heemskerk Hostel Review and Information

What sets them apart?

Hostel Personality

• Community Atmosphere

Who's staying here?

• Female Travelers
• Solo Travelers
• Couples
• Gap Year Travelers
• Families with Kids
• Small Groups (<8)
• Large Groups (>8)
• Students
• Young Professionals

Insider Tip

Stayokay Heemskerk

It's not often you get the run of a 15th-century castle for hostel prices. Behind the castle is a formal garden that is run by a separate organization, so it is not always open to visit. From the breakfast room, you get a beautiful view over the gardens for when they are not open. The staff are friendly and the abundance of communal space is great for rainy days.

The Facilities

Dorms

Bunk beds line the walls in various combinations. Because this is a historic property, the rooms are all a bit random in their layout. Bunks have storage drawers under the bed for luggage and backpacks. Some of the rooms also have sinks. Dorms have ensuite bathrooms, too.

Private Rooms

Private rooms still use all bunk beds, so there isn't much different between these rooms and the dorm rooms. The private rooms are really for families or groups of students that want to stay together.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are spartan but clean. Sometimes the lighting is a bit dim, so it can be hard to see what you're doing. Each one is equipped with a squeegee for cleaning up after yourself. Towels can be rented at the front desk if you didn't bring your own.

Bar

The bar is a cozy room in one corner of the ground floor, with a precarious old stone spiral staircase going up to the upper floors. You can take your drinks into the dining room or the larger knights hall, complete with armour and pennants.

Restaurant

The dining hall operates as breakfast room and it is also where you eat dinner. Evening meals are themed, and served buffet style. You can purchase wine or beer from the bar, which is just in the next room, and eat while looking out over the formal gardens. Meals are plentiful and of good quality.

Common Areas

There are several communal rooms on the ground floor, including the dining hall, a second larger dining hall, a games room with board games and puzzles, the bar, and the front desk area. All of these rooms are open throughout the day, so you're welcome to relax with a book anywhere, or get some work done.

Outdoor Space

There is an inner courtyard with tables and sun umbrellas for the nice weather, and the formal gardens behind the hostel, although these are not always open. There is a big open space in front of the hostel, with the original gravel drive running up to the front gate.

The Location

Heemskerk

What's Nearby?

The small town of Heemskerk is not particularly interesting, but you can rent bikes from the hostel and ride to the beach in about 20 minutes. It is the North Sea, so it is unlikely to be very warm! However, it is quite scenic.

Nearby Transportation

The Heemskerk station is on the Netherlands rail network, and a short bus ride will take you to the hostel from the train station.

Activities

The staff organizes occasional activities, usually around the theme of the history of the castle. They have kids activities and things to do for school groups, too.

• Local Walking Tours
• Group Dinners

Amenities

An excellent Dutch breakfast is served here for free. They also have Wi-Fi, bike rental, luggage storage, parking, a pool table, and plenty of other nice amenities that are typically found at hostels and hotels in Europe. They have a ping-pong table, playground, gardens, and other fun things to do as well.

• Wi-Fi
• Breakfast (Free)
• Bike Rental
• Bike Parking
• Luggage Storage
• Safety Deposit Box
• Towels
• Housekeeping
• Reading Light
• Vending Machines
• Pool Tables / Foosball Tables
• Board Games
• Bed Linens
• Security Lockers
• Parking

Staff

The staff are very helpful and friendly. They keep the hostel very clean and well organized, and make sure that any problems are tended to immediately.

Heads Up

The beds in this hostel were not the most comfortable, and as it is a very old building, it is not well soundproofed. We had a school football team staying above us one night and it was quite loud for a few hours.

Stayokay Heemskerk

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Reviewed By

Erin is a Canadian freelance writer based in southern Germany with her family. She loves exploring castles and open-air museums particularly, but cute towns and villages are a close second. Follow along at Erin at Large, and witness her procrastinating in real time on Instagram Stories.