📍 Zaandam, the Netherlands
I’ve wanted to visit the Inntel Hotels Zaandam for a few years now, and I’m so glad I finally did. This hotel is more than an Instagram thirst trap. It’s a comfortable home base for exploring Amsterdam and beyond for less.
Inntel Hotels Zaandam anchors Zaandam, a cute town I’m not sure I would have made the effort to discover otherwise. As a traveler of color, Zaandam is one of the most welcoming cities I’ve ever experienced. It has been home to Claude Monet and can make you feel like you’re walking through a painting. It’s also a bargain compared with what you get for the money in Amsterdam, a mere 13-minute train ride away.
Location
Inntel Hotels Zaandam is a three-minute walk from the main train station in Zaandam. From there, it’s about 15 minutes to central Amsterdam. Expect to pay around $3 a ride.
From Zaandam, it’s about five minutes by train to the windmills of Zaanse Schans. You can also take the ferry between Zaandam and Zaans Schans, but ferries only run every couple of hours. Amsterdam Schiphol is about 20 to 30 minutes from Zaandam by train.
Address: Provincialeweg 102, 1506 MD Zaandam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 75 631 1711
Website: https://www.inntelhotelsamsterdamzaandam.nl/
Support this site by booking through our partner link. We earn commissions when you purchase through our partner links, but this is an independent editorial review.
Vibe
This hotel is a work of art inside and out. From the outside, it looks like an 11-story stack of historic Zaans cottages, including a blue one you may recognize if you’re familiar with Monet’s work. While the exterior of the hotel depicts the facades of almost 70 cottages, inside you’ll find a grand staircase, modern rooms and amenities including a spa, restaurant, bar and gym.
This hotel is part of a chain, but it doesn’t feel like it. From its unique exterior to its unique interior, this hotel tells the story of this region. It’s a laidback spot that’s brimming with both character and convenience.
Rooms
Inntel Hotels Zaandam offers several types of locally-themed rooms. rooms. I booked a craft deluxe room, which gave me a whopping 300 square feet of space, a king-size bed and a bathroom with a separate tub and shower. There was also a desk with great light and a city view. For someone who did have a little work to catch up on, it was perfect.
I got more space than I would have gotten for the money in Amsterdam, and a room that told a local story. Each of the hotel’s craft deluxe rooms is designed to give guests a peek at local crafts that have helped define this area. Other room styles are homages to local food and the area’s manufacturing history. Whether it’s cheese or chocolate you love, this hotel has a room to indulge you.
Rooms feature black-and-white photography and modern furniture. They’re great for solo travelers, but glass windows to the sleeping area from the bathroom might make things awkward depending on your relationship with your travel companion.
The bathrooms are large enough to accommodate both a shower and a separate soaking tub. And while the tub is nice, the towels are basic and left me dreaming of plusher, more luxurious options.
Food & Drink
The hotel restaurant Puur Saen is on the pricier side but cheaper than the equivalent meal in Amsterdam. There’s a limited selection for vegetarians, but there is a veggie burger on the menu, and this hotel restaurant really knows how to do french fries.
Breakfast is available at the hotel, but I opted to become a regular at Bagels & Beans, the coffee shop across the street.
Bagels & Beans is a Dutch chain that serves breakfast, lunch and a huge variety of specialty coffees. The cappuccinos are the biggest I’ve ever seen, and the everything bagels are pretty good—even by New York standards. The coffee shop and its menu are vinyl-themed, and there’s lots of space to spread out with a laptop.
A couple of doors down there’s a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant that makes the best eggplant melanzane I’ve had outside of Sorrento. And it can be yours for under €10 at Vecchia Italia.
Bottom Line
This quirky hotel in Zaandam makes an excellent home base for visiting Amsterdam, especially for travelers accustomed to spacious rooms on a medium budget. Located between the train station and a major pedestrian shopping street, it’s also a good home base for experiencing Zaandam and Zaanse Schans.
Inntel Hotels Zaandam is part of a chain, but it doesn’t feel like it. It brings together modern rooms, historical accents and endless creativity to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience—and lots of great photos.
Support this site by booking through our partner link. We earn commissions when you purchase through our partner links, but this is an independent editorial review.
