Dave J.
Yelp
We were initially drawn to staying here based on the hotel's unique design. Pictures do not do this property justice, you have to see it in person to believe it, and appreciate it.
We spent one night here before moving on to another hotel in Amsterdam, and I wish we had stayed longer. The staff, the room, and the location were all wonderful. The Inntel is steps away from the Zaandam train station, at one end of the quaint town's shopping and restaurant mall. A canal divides both sides of the mall containing various retail shops, banks, and restaurants. It's a quiet, and quaint hamlet, a short train ride from the historic hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.
We were warmly greeted and quickly checked in to our room. A $50 deposit was placed on the credit card, for incidentals and meals. We were refunded a portion of the deposit, since we chose to eat at their buffet breakfast on the morning of our departure.
The rooms are themed to products unique to Dutch culture. Our fifth floor room was dedicated to "Moestard Poeder", or Mustard Powder. A large, old fashioned Moestard Poeder advertisement hung on the wall at the head of the bed. A smaller advertisement was affixed to the room door and just inside the room.
The room was on the small side, compared to other hotel rooms I've stayed in. Two single beds were pushed together to serve as a double bed. The mattresses, pillows, and bed linens were clean and comfortable. Our room did not have the best of views. I opened the vertical shades to a view of the hotel's clay tile pitched roof, and the clock on the tower of the Zaandam train station. A small, flat screen TV provided the entertainment consisting mainly of Dutch language TV channels, though CNN International was also available. The bathroom was clean and modern. The shower was a bit of a challenge to operate, but once you got the hang of it, there was adequate water pressure and excellent temperature control. There was a half "door" on the shower side of the tub/shower unit, and if the shower wasn't aimed just so, you'd end up with a lot of water on the floor. Be sure to aim the shower downward! This environmentally conscious hotel utilizes a system where you insert your room card in a slot just inside the doorway to turn on the lights and power outlets. I thought I was charging my cell phone while we were away from the room and when I returned, I realized my phone hadn't charged, because I took the room key with me and the room's power was turned off.
There is a nice buffet breakfast in bar/restaurant area on the ground floor. I thought the buffet was a bit expensive for the food item offerings, but the quality of the food was good, and so was the coffee! The dining room is comfortable, and there is a nice patio to dine outside. It was a bit too cold for al fresco during our stay, but in the warmer months, I am sure it would be a nice place to dine or have cocktails. The patio overlooks the canal and is alongside the sidewalk leading from the train station to the town. If you choose not to have breakfast in the hotel, there are two cafes located on the other side of the canal from the hotel.
In summation, if you are looking for modern, comfortable accommodations away from the hustle and bustle of busy Amsterdam, but very convenient to transit, shopping, and restaurants, then Inntel Zaandam is THE place to stay. Zaandam is a quaint, clean, quiet town. The Inntel, with it's unique exterior design and close proximity to many shops and restaurants, should be at, or near, the top of your list of places to stay.