We stayed in the Grand Hotel Alkmaar for 5 nights in July/August and I can't say anything negative about the place. The rooms were quite large for European standards and well appointed, although some(not us) might have objected to only showers- no baths- in the rooms.Modern, clean and cozy with a lovely brasserie and elegant restaurant on the premises.Breakfast was included and was very extensive for a hotel of this size- scrambled eggs,bacon, boiled eggs, variety of bread,cereal,yoghurt etc.The owners and staff were extremely accommodating and we could store our rented bikes indoors.The location is ideal- immediately adjacent to the main shopping areas. Be aware that on Saturdays there will be market on the street and for people who like to sleep in maybe a day of an involuntary early wake up call.Alkmaar in general is a great city to visit with teenagers -as we did- considering there are many things to do and it is a great shopping city as well- just a 20 minute train ride from Amsterdam.Can recommend the hotel without hesitation. The restaurant "Zegels" was not open often and the night we ate there it was only occupied by 6 diners( incl. ourselves). The food was good, but not up to the level that we had expected ( we are quite spoiled when it comes to dining) and the tasting menu was quite average.

The hotel is in a great location in the old part of Alkmaar, but you can win or loose depending on the room you get. The first time I stayed here I got a very good, spacious, comfortable room at the front of the hotel. This time around, I got a tiny room on the top floor, with an even smaller bathroom. I could hardly open the bathroom door, at it was touching one of the beds. However, on the whole the place is homely and comfortable, it is just that some rooms are much better than others.

Good location: Easy to find. Easy to drive to in largely pedestrian town center. Close to underground car park. Close to Kasswaag and Friday morning cheese weighing. Close to restaurants and shopping. Easy to drive in and out of town from hotel & car park. Manager helped find and make Dr. appointment for my ill wife. Breakfast excellent with many items and choices. Room nicely decorated.

On the other hand, there were problems: Hotel housekeeping (1) supplied room with only one small bottle of bath jell (only soap) and did not replace it on second day: and (2) threw away (or ate) bag of special pastries and chocolate truffles we had bought. Manager reimbursed the cost. (3) Shower floor deadly slippery; had to put down hand towel for traction. (4) Room #108 overlooked small inside courtyard where the garbage dumpsters were located. Very noisy late at night when kitchen and bar closes.

This is a lovely new hotel in a great central location. It is 4*. We paid extra fo in 5 days.r a superior room which was nice and big as was the bathroom but there were no facilities in it for the 4*. No advertised safe box,no fridge,no pen/paper. no iron/ironing board. not even soap to wash your hands !
Cleaning is practically non-existent especially in the public areas and we never got clean sheets in 5 days. Our room was never dusted,vacuumed or bathroom floor swept or washed. Outside the front door is littered with cigarette ends as are the areas outside the restaurant and brasserie ( staff quarters ).
It is a really nice hotel though if they could sort out the cleaning problems and put something in the rooms to justify 4*
Continental breakfast is included but served at your table so you just get what's offered and sometimes takes a while.