Boutique Hotel Het Scheepshuys

We booked this place for our first business trip there, but the stay left us disappointed and we won’t book again. The employees were absent on check-in day, and although we had prepaid for breakfast, it wasn’t served on the first two days. The room was cold on the first day, and the floors and toilet were dirty. We also asked about renting bicycles and were turned down because, we were told, they had to be rented to a group. There was no group, and the bikes went unused throughout our four-day stay.

The worst part was how unwelcome the staff made us feel. When we asked an older woman in Dutch if we could leave our bags for an hour, she made a rude remark along the lines of, “Oh, they want to stay here? No, that is not possible.” We explained we only wanted to leave our luggage, but she still answered rudely. They eventually agreed, but we felt so uncomfortable that we left instead. My Dutch boyfriend also thought the service was terrible. We didn’t feel professionally looked after and wouldn’t return. The accommodation had a pleasant design, but wasn’t very clean, with spider webs around. The bathrooms seemed dated and the wifi was terrible. Breakfast was very budget-oriented: a little ham and cheese, some complimentary yoghurt, one bread, a tiny bit of fruit and a cheap muffin. Staff seemed unhappy at work and too focused on profit to make an effort for guests. For a boutique hotel, we expected more interest in looking after people. Some might call Dutch people direct, but this felt beyond straightforward communication. We think the owners should pay more attention to hospitality so guests can have a pleasant stay.

The owner was helpful and friendly when we arrived, and the accommodation was beautiful, clean and cozy. We had a very pleasant stay apart from one uncomfortable incident. A housekeeping staff member unlocked our door and walked in without knocking, then acted very unprofessionally after seeing me and my boyfriend in the room. After that, every sound outside made us jump because we worried someone else might walk in. A small sign on the doorknob to say “do not disturb” or “no room service” would have helped.

After a week of faceless corporate hotels, this cozy little place and its personal attention were a welcome change. The proprietor was friendly, helpful and understanding, and breakfast was awesome. We loved our stay and will definitely come back.