Noordwijk is a popular seaside resort in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland, near Den Haag, Rotterdam, and Leiden (the latter is *definitely* worth a visit, one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands).

My wife and I went there on an extended weekend trip a couple of days ago. We had booked the Strandhotel through booking.com, at EUR 92,- / night, breakfast included. This is obviously not a real bargain but rooms are going cheaper off-season.

The hotel is on Parallelboulevard, which runs parallel (get it?) to the beach. Thus, the site itself is not a beachfront property but the sea is only 2 mins (on foot) away. Standard twin rooms are spacious enough, featuring two beds, a desk and chair, two armchairs, cable TV, and a small refrigerator (and a real one at that, not one of those horrible "minibar" contraptions). Ground floor rooms feature a private patio each, other rooms come with balconies. Apartments w/ kitchenettes are also available.

We were most impressed by the general cleanliness of the rooms and the staff's friendliness. Employees were happy to give advice on shopping, dining, bus timetables, etc., and always with a smile.

Public parking is available at EUR 1,- per day, inquire at the reception desk. If you are staying in Noordwijk or just planning short day trips to Leiden, etc., my advice is to leave your car parked for the duration of your stay, since shopping, dining, etc. are all readily available within walking distance. For trips to neighboring towns I can recommend the connexxion public transport network, a bus will e.g. take you to Leiden in about thirty minutes, roundtrips are between EUR 2.20 and 4.40.

Breakfast at the Strandhotel is tasty, with lots of choice (cereals, yoghurt, cocoa, tea, coffee, milk, fruit, eggs, cold cuts, cheese, rolls, bread, etc.). Guests may prepare lunch boxes for themselves, the surcharge is EUR 1,- per closed sandwich.

I have not found any other hotel in Noordwijk that offers the same value for your money. If you are looking for a few relaxing days on the Dutch seaside, the Strandhotel is definitely the place you should consider staying at.