The Netherlands, ZandvoortNovember 2, 2018, by Maartje

Sleeping on the beach all year round: Boulevard 5 Zandvoort (and dogs are welcome!)

By the sea, Weekend tip
The Netherlands, Zandvoort, November 2, 2018, by Maartje

Sleeping on the beach all year round: Boulevard 5 Zandvoort (and dogs are welcome!)

We are always looking for the nicest hotels on the beach where we can stay, if possible with all the stuff: husband, baby and dog (and myself of course). We recently discovered the wonderful thing in that category Hotel Boulevard 5 on the boulevard Zandvoort. 

Hotel Boulevard 5 Zandvoort

Hotel Boulevard 5 Zandvoort

So there is a hotel on the boulevard in Zandvoort Boulevard 5. Boulevard Paulus Loot number 5 to be precise. That's nice and convenient because even those who come by train don't have to do any antics to get there: the hotel is very centrally located on 'Amsterdam Beach' *wink*, with a view of the North Sea that we love so much. The hotel has been there for a long time, although it has only been Boulevard 5 for a year and a half: before that the hotel was called it Hotel Zuiderbad and it was run by the father of the current owner. She wanted to take over everything, but then things had to be completely different: first of all, Joleen and her boyfriend (who met at Ikea - I think it was nice) did not like the idea of, like fathers-in-law, working 80 hours per week as standard. having to work a week. And rightly so. A major renovation became the solution: they went from 26 rooms to 9 studio-style accommodations.

They were furnished both practically and tastefully: at Boulevard 5 you stay at least 3 nights in a row and the restaurant is not open for dinner, so there had to be a fine kitchen in every room. Plus a relaxing living room, an extensive (wonderful!) bathroom and of course a place to rest your head. There was carpentry, DIY, painting and renovation, much of it done by hand, and the result is impressive: the 9 accommodations are all equipped with all amenities and were particularly tastefully decorated (fun fact: Joleen and Bas were inspired by Hotel Vesper in Noordwijk, which we find a particularly good source of inspiration. Please note: inspire. It was a conscious choice to add a little more 'relaxedness'. Less design, less sitting. More living room, more coming home). Everything became light and sunny and you can't help but stare out through the gigantic windows (all of which can be opened almost completely) as the sun sets into the sea. Although we loved the view over the roofs of Zandvoort when the sun rose through the kitchen window just as wonderful. In your pajamas with a cup of tea, syrup waffles and gingerbread nuts with the anticipation of the beach day to come - wonderful.

In your pajamas with a cup of tea, syrup waffles and gingerbread nuts with the anticipation of the beach day to come - wonderful.

Speaking of the start of the day: that's it Boulevard 5 off to a particularly good start. Join hands for breakfast! Nice, for once there is no buffet. Smart too: it is a small hotel and there is much less waste when served at the table (if you want: you can also stay in your own living room with kitchen, which is also cozy, but then you will miss something). There will be a basket on the table with different types of sandwiches and pastries, there are jams and you can choose an egg any style. We took scrambled. Because we like it, but also because it is really not done 'well' everywhere. Yes here. Perfect egg, perfect bacon, everything delicious. Also plus points for that basket: delicious fresh products and no unnecessary excess, but just enough. And if you still want something more, just ask for more.

Later in the day you can join us for a simple but tip-top lunch – exactly that beach material: a full grilled cheese sandwich, a sandwich of the day, a sandwich with peanut butter plus and sandwiches with shrimp or mushroom croquettes. And for drinks: Bas and Joleen have done their best (with verve) to put together a nice selection of products that you can also buy. For your own room or as the nicest and tastiest souvenir for home. Everything local or with a good story. And delicious of course, that was also a requirement. There is Jopen beer from Haarlem, also the summer beach IPA from the label (At the Beach), there are four delicious wines (something for everyone, we loved the Cote de Provence rose), there is a nice selection of jenevers and gins from the neighborhood (Bas is happy to tell you about it!).

Although we liked it best that Boulevard 5 collaborates with the Zandvoort Green Sisters. So no, not the Green Girls, who blog about sustainable living (also nice), but the Green Sisters who have their shop around the corner from the hotel where they make all kinds of healthy, often gluten-free/sugar-free and so on goodies. The chocolate cake beckons, trust me. 

Moreover, Bas and Joleen contribute even more to sustainability, in addition to the good breakfast, the products from the area and the vigilance against waste: for example, the mushrooms of the aforementioned croquettes are grown on the grounds of their own Boulevard 5 coffee. Not in-house, but it is arranged that way. Great, right?

Finally: I already said it: dogs are very welcome (hehe, finally, so nice!), but Boulevard 5 is also a great tip for those who want to take the small stuff out: a baby bed is easily arranged, on every floor is a nice family room with one living room with kitchenette and bathroom and two bedrooms. For the small and slightly older kids there is a great play corner with books, coloring pages and more in the living room-style restaurant on the ground floor and everything just exudes that wonderful feeling of sweetness. And that on the beach. What more could a person want? There are also some nice reading books ready for you, if you have forgotten yours.

Boulevard 5 Zandvoort

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