Last summer we regularly went to the beach at the Sloterplas some beachy vibes, close to home. Or go to the Sloterstrand, as the sandy strip on the north side of the lake is now called, to hang out for a few hours in a freely rented beach chair (us) or float on an inflatable donut (the kids). The fact that we will certainly find our way to Nieuw-West aan Zee again next year is partly due to the arrival of the wonderful Hotel Buiten.

The café-restaurant ('it's not a hotel here') has been open since last week for a perfect cup of coffee, homemade cake, very good flammkuchen, local beers and a hearty organic burger. Your mini can choose from different juices that are slightly different from the usual limo. The kiosk also opens in the summer and you can get a cone of fries or an organic ice cream here. We have also been promised a cozy play corner, high chairs and a place to change your baby. They are there at the moment, but everyone here is busy with the finishing touches. Next Sunday will be the festive opening of this already favorite on the Sloterplas.

This everything-but-a-hotel was created thanks to crowdfunding and the operators designed the building together with a group of local residents. Old shipping containers form the basis, there is an enormous glass facade (so light, and that view!) and felled trees from the Vondelpark were used for the bar. Recycled material has also been used as much as possible for the interior. A vegetable garden is being created outside and the little ones can play between the trees. And on the roof, we think you will catch a sublime sunset there in the summer of 2018.

Hotel Outside, TH J Lammerslaan 3, hotelbuiten.nl

x Jorien