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#38112
Monumental Dutch terraced house, surrounded by nature and near culture: Amsterdam (20 min train) and Utrecht (15 min)
House • Hilversum Netherlands
Exchange types accepted
Hospitality Description: A hospitality stay voor solo-traveling women for 1 to 2 nights. My home is just 75 m², so it is quite cosy. When I am working I have irregular times because of evening and Sunday morning concerts.
Statistics
Listed October 2024
Views 3413
General Overview
My home is both near nature, Dutch heather/moorlands, forests and lakes (open swim water) and near the most beautiful Dutch Medieval cities Amsterdam and Utrecht. You can reach both cities by train in 20 or 15 minutes. The trainstation is either 5 minutes by bus, 7 minutes cycling or a 20 minute walk through Hilversum citycentre.
Barbecuing and sunbathing in my lush garden, or cooking with my extensive range of (fresh) herbs and spices and setting the table with beautiful crockery as if you are dining out.
☆ NO WIFI ☆
I do not have WiFi but there is a good 4g signal (and WiFi can be found in cafes around the corner). I do not have Streaming Services to watch television.
Lots to do for the young and young-at-hearts:
Art mazes, escape rooms, museums, boat rides, kayaking the canals, hiking, midgetgolf, castles, fantastic restaurants, (specialty beer)cafés, cycling...
I live 10 minutes from the Dutch Heather and you can do lovely hikes through Dutch nature.
I would provide you with lists with all the activities to be done and seen. Like for instance flower corso in spring, Kings Day and classical music concerts of my orchestra the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Music festivals or Terror Nights Halloween in an amusement park full of roller coasters.
What to do during a week in The Netherlands:
1. Amsterdam (Days 1-2)
🌷 Begin your journey in the capital city. Explore the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House. Take a canal cruise to admire the city's iconic waterways and architecture. Stroll through the Jordaan district and indulge in Dutch treats like stroopwafels and bitterballen.
2. Zaanse Schans and Haarlem (Day 3)
🌾 Visit Zaanse Schans to see traditional windmills, wooden houses, and a glimpse of Dutch heritage. Continue to Haarlem, a charming city with cobbled streets, boutique shops, and the Grote Kerk. Don’t miss the Frans Hals Museum and local craft breweries.
3. The Hague and Delft (Day 4)
🏛️ Head to The Hague, home to the Binnenhof and the Mauritshuis Museum, where Vermeer’s *Girl with a Pearl Earring* is displayed. Then visit Delft, known for its blue-and-white ceramics and historic canals. Enjoy a relaxing evening in its picturesque town square.
4. Rotterdam (Day 5)
🚢 Explore the modern architecture of Rotterdam, including the Cube Houses and the Erasmus Bridge. Visit the Markthal for a culinary adventure, and take a water taxi for a unique view of the city. Don’t miss a tour of the historic Delfshaven district.
5. Kinderdijk and Utrecht (Day 6)
🌿 Start your day in Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its 19 windmills. Then travel to Utrecht, where you can climb the Dom Tower for panoramic views and wander along its charming canals with wharf cellars turned into cafes.
6. Giethoorn and Hoge Veluwe National Park (Day 7)
🚤 End your trip with a visit to Giethoorn, a fairytale village known as the "Dutch Venice," where canals replace streets. Spend the afternoon at Hoge Veluwe National Park, where you can bike through serene landscapes and visit the Kröller-Müller Museum, home to Van Gogh masterpieces.
The Space
Warm, cosy and bright living/dining room with leather couches and a dining table which accomodates 8 dinner guests. Typical steep Dutch stairs, first floor with 3 bedrooms and bathroom with shower. (Shampoo, conditioner and body wash provided)
Guest Access
Main bedroom with a double bed (140x200cm), 2nd bedroom with a murphy/wall-mounted bed (130x190cm) and third small room with a wide single bed (120x190cm).
That way my house can sleep 4 to 6 guests, with four kids sharing the two smallest beds.
I do not have children of my own, but I have an outdoor table tennis table (ping pong table), lots of board games, 2 cats to play with and some pluche toys. (I have typical Dutch steep stairs, so I think my house is not well suited for really young kids)
My entrance door has two steps and the bedrooms and bathroom can be reached by (steep) stairs.
Notes
My two cats Ollie and Pizzi are indoor cats, they keep eachother company and are very low maintenance because of the Litter Robot, water fountain and automatic feeder. Under supervision they can play in the garden. I might also bring them to friends if you would like a catfree-home. They are Devon Rexes, cats with only under coats which are curly, they have minimal allergens and the house will be cleaned thoroughly.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
TV
First aid kit
Smoke alarms
Bed sheets
Towels
Toys
BBQ
Garden / yard
Bikes
Travel Styles
Weekend
Adventure
Budget
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Eco
Luxury
City
Village
Water
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
Last minute
Good public transport
Golf
Accessibility
House Rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Dog free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
My house is in a quiet green neighbourhood, but near to shops and greenery. The house was built in 1921 by a famous Dutch architect Dudok. Just around the corner you'll find the "Gijsbrecht" a vibrant shoppig street with cosy coffee shops, pubs, super market, French and Dutch bakeries, vegetable/cheese/olive deli's. Across the road you'll find a cemetery and a small park and 10 minutes walking takes you to the Dutch Heather. Ten minutes the other way you're in the city centre with quite some good restaurants.
Getting to my home
You can take a direct train from Schiphol Airport to Hilversum (25 minutes). From Hilversum Station it is either a 20 minute walk, or you can take a bus and 7 minutes walk or take a taxi. From my home to the trainstation the bus stop is just 1 minute walk.
Nearest airport
Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, just 25 minutes trainride
Getting Around
Getting around by foot, bicycle or bus/train. The lovely "Gijsbrecht" is a shopping street just around the corner with super markets, butchers, bakeries, French bakery, boutiques, drugstores and restaurants. Ten minutes walk to the nearest Heather fields, ten minutes to the citycentre, 5 minutes by bus to the train station or a 20 minute walk. By train you can reach Amsterdam in 20 minutes (4 times an hour) and Utrecht in just 15 minutes.
Map of Approximate Location
Feedback
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I had a wonderful 10-day stay at Meijeke’s place. Her cats are the friendliest and most affectionate companions - ❤️ I loved having them around, and it was lovely to have someone to talk to every day. I would have happily taken them home with me if Marije weren’t just as kind and delightful herself 🙂 The house is very high-tech, which made me a bit hesitant to operate things like the washing machine or dishwasher (!), but everything else about my stay was completely comfortable and enjoyable. The home itself is a delight for the eyes, beautifully designed and full of character. I honestly need Marije to help design my own flat 🙂 -
Marije was a great hostess, and her home is very pretty and convenient. It’s quiet and peaceful, and only a mile from the train station, an easy walk. The cats are sweet and well-behaved, although if you take them outside, they don’t want to come in - and the orange cat, Ollie, is a little bit of an escape artist! -
Dear Marije and Gerben, Thank you again for letting us stay in your lovely home. Its location was perfect — very accessible from the train station and close to food shops. Peaceful surroundings. We also loved spending time with your two friendly Devon cats; they were such a joy. Loved to chase the frogs together. The fruits in the garden were a treat, and we enjoyed using the fresh tomatoes and herbs from your garden in our cooking. We were also so lucky to have perfect weather throughout our stay. Best wishes, Laura -
We spent six days at Marije and Gerben's house at the end of July. This was our first PLU exchange, so we were a little nervous. Amsterdam and Utrecht, as well as other cities, are very easy and quick to reach from Hilversum. Marije provided us with all the necessary information in advance. Their house is very cozy and stylish. We found everything we needed in the house. We loved the wildly romantic garden. The beds are comfortable. The area is quiet. The train station is easily accessible. There is plenty of shopping in the area, as well as restaurants and cafes. We really enjoyed this week, it was a great first exchange experience. Oh and the cats: our vacation would have been less if they weren't there, it was hard to say goodbye to them. -
Staying at Marije and Gerben's home was just fantastic. Every detail was thought of and they are such a pleasure to communicate with. Hilversum is a wonderful city to explore and cycle, we had such a terrific time and are forever greatful. -
Our friends, Marije and Gerben! Thanks for letting us sleep one night on our way home from England! We said we didn’t need anything more than a bed to sleep in, but you served both tee and coffee, prepared breakfast and more. Invited us to a concert and did a wonderful boattrip on the canals. Wow, and your house is so nice with goose feather lamp, monkey lamp (you have to see it with your own eyes), and a forrest in the sleepingroom. Thank you so much! -
Marije and Gerben have such a beautiful home, with a wonderful sunny garden. We loved spending time with their cats and in their area of Hilversum. It was a really great location and home! Thank you for sharing with us. -
Thank you very much Erika! It was such a treat to receive your joyous photos of having fun during Kingsday! It warms my heart each time lovely people got to enjoy my home. Such a pity we could not meet, but we might perhaps someday in the future.
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We had a lovly spring time at Marije and Gerrys Home. Marije gave us lots of recommendation and we had a very warm welcome. The House is lovly decorated and we also enjoyed her cats Pizzi and Olli. Hilversum is a lovly little City 20 min away by Train to Amsterdam RAI where you have Metro Connection to the Center or Bus Connection to Keukenhof or go further to the Beach. We could use Maries bikes to get to the Trainstation Hilversum. The House provides everything you need. Thanks a lot Marie for this time we had! -
Thank you Monika for your warm words! It was lovely meeting you and your sister and being able to pick you up from the station. We are really looking forward to seeing you again in Austria and spendingour holidays at your lovely home.
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I had the most wonderful stay at Marije's home. I was lucky enough to be lent her car to explore rural Holland and enjoyed local visits via public transport to Amsterdam etc. Marije was great to contact with any questions and left me some lovely treats for me when i arrived. Everything was lovely and clean and homely. -
Thanks Molly for your lovely warm words. You being my first PLU guest, set the bar really high for all the guests still to come. I was happy I could meet you in person and pick you up from the train station. One day we'll get to love your home as well.
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