Hotel Abdij De Westerburcht

The celeriac main was the standout for us: a whole, perfectly oven-cooked celeriac arrived in a huge, colourful dish with oyster mushroom, radicchio, freekeh, cashews, feta and purslane. I was amazed when it came out. More of the mushrooms' deep umami flavour would have made it even better. The vegan options here clearly get real attention, from snacks and sides through to desserts, and the menu looked more interesting than the other restaurants near our holiday home in Exloo. My girlfriend, sister and I ate vegan, while the rest of my family had spareribs. We shared mushroom soup and a beetroot starter. The soup was nice and comforting with bread and vegan butter, though nothing out of the ordinary. The beetroot dish brought cooked beetroot together with date confit, orange, balsamic syrup, vegan creme freche and sugared walnuts. The mix worked beautifully, though the beetroot itself could have had a little more flavour so it wasn't the main focus. We also tried a dry, meagre vegan "green chef" burger. At dessert, we forgot to ask for the plantbased option and were served the wrong one, but the waitress gladly exchanged it for the vegan version, beautifully presented with caramelised pear and four sorbet flavours. My decaf oat cappucino went well with it. The room had a lovely feel, decorated like an old abbey with stained glass and lots of wood. Cosy lighting, lively atmosphere and tables spaced far enough apart for privacy and staff to move around. A little soft music would have been nice. The staff were welcoming, sweet and professional in their communication. It was a very sophisticated meal, and they handled dietary needs happily. Well worth the 30 minute detour, and a memorable part of our Drenthe holiday.

We had another fantastic three-night stay, our second year here, and it was just as good. The hotel and rooms were wonderful, and the staff were kind, friendly and professional, going out of their way to make us feel welcome. Reception was especially helpful whenever we had questions about transport, and they always knew the answer. It's close to bars and restaurants, and the number 23 bus takes about 25 minutes to Assen town centre, with lots of shops, bars and restaurants there. I can't recommend it enough. We're already booking for next year. Many thanks, Robert Cooksey.

I came down with a cold during my stay. The hotel staff set the temperature for me, but the room never got as warm as I wanted. I slept in the cold because the bathtub was in the room. I think the hotel may be trying to save money, and guests can't set the temperature they want themselves.

The room was sparkling clean, and the food was tasty. The beers and wines were great too. Staff were consistently helpful and friendly, always smiling and making us feel welcome. A lovely place to relax.