Moeke Mooren — Hotel in West Maas en Waal

We decided on a Friday to visit the Keukenhof gardens and my spouse found this hotel online and booked it. The price was good and they had the room we needed for four people. It is located on the banks of the river and has wonderful views with a windmill just down the street!!!! There was a small issue with the room being set up correctly when we arrived (which was only about 7 hours after it was booked) and the staff was so helpful in getting the other beds set up and were apologetic. This was just the begining...the staff could not have been nicer every time we talked to them and interacted in any way...not just certain staff - all of the staff. We met the owner upon arrival and his spouse on the day we checked out...they built this hotel from the ground up and have done an amazing job. They set the tone for the establishment and they have set up a wonderful tone - all of the staff is friendly, helpful and ensures that you are happy and well taken care of. As we do not speak Dutch there were no communications issues, all of the staff speak English very well and do not make you feel bad that you do not speak the local language. The breakfast was amazing and the bar food it good (did not like the bitter balls but it is a local food..not good) but the cheese plate was great, the beer was cold and the sodas made my kids very happy!!! Oh, and there is a bowling alley in the basement with a bar and you cannot hear it in your room..but it was a lot of fun!!!! Overall this is a great place with a wonderful staff and we were there in April so it must be even more amazing during...

Weird place; absolutely humongous, which one wouldn't expect at this location pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

Service was incomprehensible: no one came to greet us and ask for drinks or to bring a menu. There weren't many other tables occupied, but others seemed to have the same issue.e We waited for a long time, then went to the bar area and asked for a menu. The woman there didn't want to give it, but asked a colleague through her headset to bring it. After another long wait, we went to the same person again and again asked for a menu. She did the same thing. After yet another long wait, we saw someone walking around with a menu, but without a clue where to bring it, so she started asking random tables, before finally ending up at ours.

This whole schtick repeated itself various times that evening, and even getting to pay the bill was an enormous effort on our part. Again no one came to the table, then we went to ask, then the first person just didn't have a clue, the second one wasn't authorized but enthusiastically used her headset to ask for someone who was, twice, and only then did we get to give our money.

All in all an experience we do not...

The hotel is in the middle of the countryside, very quiet, but only 15 minutes drive to Tiel. It sits right next the water and there are boat trips in the summer - I guess it is very popular in summertime (in Feb/Mar it is quiet). It is decorated in old Dutch style, and has some interesting pictures and artefacts around the bar/lounge. The rooms are comfortable and clean (can be a bit cold in the Winter, I think) and spacious. There is free internet but it seems a bit intermittent (drops off occasionally). The evening food is really very good and breakfast is simple but nice. The staff are all excellent - very friendly and professional! There are other facilities (snooker, bowling) and lots of walking and cycling in the area. The room rates make this a great...