We used to live in the very pretty village of Bergen and come back on average once a year to visit family and friends. We have stayed in this hotel numerous times. Main reason of choosing this hotel is its location. It is situated in the centre of the village and all cafes, bars and restaurants are in 5 minutes walking distance. Also the beautiful woods are close by. The hotel used to be ok, not really a 4 star establishment but of an acceptable standard. Unfortunately this hotel is gradually declining and nothing is done about it. Rooms are looking very tired now and the decorations and soft furnishing in some of the rooms are plainly ridiculous. The TV sets are at least 20 years old and hardly work anymore. Housekeeping is appalling and if you stay for more than 1 night the only things what is done to your room is straitening the bed and changing the towels. Tea and coffee making facilities are provided but used tea and coffee is not replaced. During our recent 3 nights stay the bathroom has not been cleaned once (a dirty footprint on the floor was there when we arrived and was still there when we left), toilet paper was not replaced and one day the room was not made up at all. This so called 4 star hotel does not have a head of housekeeping so the work (if any) of the chambermaids is not checked.
Breakfast is adequate, although staff seems indifferent and at busy mornings guests are emptying and laying tables themselves! We did not have dinner in this hotel. Unless this hotel is changing directions and embarks on a major renovation project, we will give the place a miss in the future.

The so called "Royal Suite" we got had absolutely nothing in common with the Junior Suite shown on the hotel´s web site. The room was actually horrible, it had a filthy, floral 80th decor, worn-out mattresses, a porn style, self made, artificial wooden star-lighted heaven above the bed, dirty carpets, cafeteria-style ceilings and you can hear every sound from the floor above. After complaining we were "upgraded" to the "Art Apartment", which is furnished with a white lether sofa that is so worn and dirty that it should have gone to the salvation army at least 10 years ago. The masterbedroom is a coloured nightmere. Don´t trust the pictures on the web! Breakfast food is OK if you concider Dutch standards, but unless the sun shines you have to take breakfast in a cramped, dark hole that makes you feel like you are on a very cheap cruise-liner. Overall: far to expencive for what you get, only PLUS is the very friendly manager on duty

Due to business reasons, we have to travel to Northern-Holland nearly 10 times a year.

In the first years we mostly stayed in Bergen an Zee, wich is near to Bergen, directly at the See. The beach is very nice but there are many ugly buildings from the touristic boom in the 50s, 60s and seventies. And there is not much to do in the evening. So we had to drive to Bergen, if we wanted something else for Dinner or to go out.
So we switched around. Nowadays we stay in Bergen and drive to the beach by bike, so You are back in the evening and have a lot of places to go out.

After investigating the hotels, we choosed the Best Western Hotel Marijke, because of it´s location an the very good value for the price. Because of the location You can do everything by feet, you are everywhere in a few minutes.

Bergen is a extremely beautiful small village near Alkmaar, half an hour by car northwest of Amsterdam.
The beauty results mostly on the fact that there are only a few "modern"houses. Most of the houses are old in the typical cosy country style and there is a very warm atmosphere in the small streets, no matter what time of the year and weather it is. You feel always very welcome and a little bid like staying "at home".

Ok, now for Hotel Marijke:

The hotel is a family-owned hotel since a long time. Over the years, the owners purchased rooms an houses around the original main building to have more rooms.
In the high-season the hotel is booked out some months in advance. So be early, if You want to stay there between Easter and Autumn.

As often in these private-owned hotels, there are many different types and qualities of the rooms.
The rooms in the main-building are mostly relatively new and renovated, but the disadvantage is, that the doors slam.
So You can hear everyone that leaves or arrives. If You want it quiet, there are better rooms.

On the other side of the street, there is a small building, that contains three or four suites. When You enter the small house from the street-entrance, there are the rooms 116 and 117 that are not the newest ones, but very comfortable.
The bathrooms have a hot tub and the rooms are quiet big.
Because of the fact, that You have an own entrance and the room is on the ground floor with a small garden before it and big windows, it somehow feels, as You would live in a small house there, not in the hotel.
These two are our preferred rooms.
Another good one is the appartment (room 50, not sure) in the first floor of another building. It also has an own entrance and after climbing a steep stair, You have a really big home with kitchen, living-room and two bedrooms.
Also interesting in the summer, there is a big balcony with sun until late in the evening.
This is the best choice for families.

So far for the hotel-rooms; I can conclude that it is no 5-star-place, but You feel very comfortable if You get a nice room (!). Simply ask for a bath-tub ,then You get mostly a nice one, the other rooms have sometimes strange showers with water from everywhere ;-)

The bar of the hotel is in the typical nostalgic bistro-style with Tiffany-style-lamps and so on. With it´s open fire it´s nice if You want drink a beer or play games, talk and sit with friends before going to bed.

The hotel also features a bike-rental, if You want to visit the Dune National Park or the beach.

Last, but not least, some recommendations if You want to go out at night in Bergen:

For Dinner:
We mostly dine at "Fabels" near rests of the old church. It is very crowded and they don´t make reservations, but the atmosphere is worth the wait for a table while drinking a beer at the bar.
We like to share "Entree varieé".
For special events, we can recommend "Onder de Linde" next to the casino. Very good french-cuisine in a very cosy atmosphere. Ask for the menu!
The Restaurant "Gusto" is very nice with it´s Terasse in the summer.
That is also a good place to go later in the evenings at the weekends, there are always parties, often with live music and You can have a nice evening with Your partner and friends.
But before that You should visit "Wonders" another nice Restaurant and Lounge.
There are many other nice places, go and find out Yourself !

When first time in North-Holland, don´t forget to visit the cheese-market on summer-fridays in Alkmaar, Edam the cheese-town, Amsterdam...

You see, Bergen is worth a visit; once You have been there You will alway want to come back! Somehow it is the cosy center of the world for us.

We are already addicted!

Come to Bergen, stay at Marijke and You will love it!