I recently attended a conference in Alkmaar, NL just north of Amsterdam and we stayed in the Van der Valk Hotel Akersloot/A9. It was excellent in every way. The obvious reasons are that the facility is very well equipped and maintained, and the staff is always professional, courteous and knowledgeable. Some of the highlights include the excellent food and beverages.The breakfast buffet with a massive selection of fresh, high quality options and superb coffee machines is my personal favorite, but they also have a very nice menu for lunch and dinner Service by staff throughout the hotel is always prompt and proficient. The facility is well appointed from the lobby to the rooms. They have a wonderful bar, multiple dining areas and even a small pastry counter. The meeting rooms we used were very well situated with Audio/Visual needs, power outlets, comfortable seating and ample food and beverage catering. The gym and pool/sauna/hot tub were fantastic. The rooms are also excellent with exquisite bathroom including separate tub and shower and towel warmer, TV and workspace, plenty of power outlets, large bed, ample closets, coffee/tea selections, quality toiletries and other details that are too many to list. Some rooms also offer balconies with seating and courtyard view. Overall it is the value of the stay that is most appreciated. Where some hotels charge luxury rates and give you ostentatious gilded decoor like fountains in the lobby which then give way to pealing wallpaper and faded carpets in the room, the Van der Valk brand and especially the Akersloot property focus on practical luxury investing in the customer experience only where and everywhere it matters.They are truly a great representation of the traditional Dutch trait of pragmatic diligence and exceptional quality.