Stayokay Heemskerk - Hostel

The garden was incredible, and I’d love to visit again. The castle is beautiful and well maintained, with kind staff and volunteers looking after the grounds. The wall paintings are a bit funny, and the ceiling decorations are pretty.

Anna was the one bright spot of my stay. I met her in the morning, and she was kind, informative, and took the time to explain the area and help me plan my day. I’d booked this hostel because I’d always wanted to stay in a castle, but it was remote, with no basic guidance for tourists. When I asked a few simple questions as someone who didn’t know the area, I got blank looks, passive-aggressive replies, or half-answers that weren’t useful. I nearly got run over because nobody thought to warn me about the bike lanes. The other staff were unhelpful. If you hate talking to travellers, maybe a hostel isn’t the job for you.

The castle and its gardens in the countryside make for a fabulous setting, and in general it’s a good place to stay. Some staff were very friendly and helpful, especially at reception and the bar, though the people serving the food were less welcoming. The food was bland and not warm enough. The rooms also need more care when cleaning. I worked as a hotel room cleaner for many years, and could see that the nooks and crannies hadn’t been cleaned in a while.

The ride to Heemskerk strand was my favourite, through a friendly village and lovely, peaceful nature with sandy dunes. Strandwijk aan Zee was a less interesting bike ride, beside the highway. Heemskerk itself has plenty to do, from sightseeing and shopping in the village to cycling or walking in the dunes and on the beach. The castle is small, cosy and nice, and the gardens are well cared for. The staff were kind and helpful. Public transport was a bit of a hassle for me: it took a half-hour hike to get there, though the scenery made it worthwhile and gave me the chance to take some beautiful photos.