During 2014, 2015 and 2016 I have traveled to Netherlands for couple of times. I had opportunity to visit number of places like, Amsterdam, Ommen, Haarlem, Zandvoort, The Hague, Dordrecht. Accessibility for people with disabilities is quite good at many of the places I have mentioned. Especially speaking about accessibility in public transportation, infrastructure, streets and public buildings. Unlikely as other places that have many bridges and stairs to climb to cross these bridges, in Netherlands the bridges are wheelchair accessible. Accommodation In Netherlands you can find number of wheelchair accessible places to stay. I usually stayed at hotels which provide facilities for wheelchair users. Here are more details about the hotels I have been staying. |
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In Amsterdam we stayed in Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - Sloterdijk Station This hotel has good wheelchair access. The room and bathroom were enough spacious even for two wheelchairs. Next to the hotel there is a bus stop with many connections to the city center and around. Also just outside the hotel is the Sloterdijk train station which you can use to connect to many different places in Amsterdam or around Netherlands.
In Ommen we have been as part of training and the accommodation was in the Zeesse house. There is only one room on the ground floor which you can reach with the wheelchair. Unfortunately, the bathroom would not work for someone who is unable to stand up and walk while, because the bathroom it's too small.
Haarlem is very nice, small town located close to Amsterdam. We have been accommodated in Carlton Square Hotel which is not listed as wheelchair accessible, but for me was working just fine. There are no stairs to enter the hotel, and the elevator is wide enough. The room itself was spacious. The bathroom was too small to be able to turn around with the wheelchair, but it was enough wide to enter the bathroom, reach the toilet, sink and the bathtub.
In Zandvoort it was a bit of challenge to find wheelchair accessible accommodation. Apartment Strandvoort is located on the first floor of a hotel.The entrance is flat and the elevator is wide enough. No barriers to reach the apartment. However, the apartment itself its not completely wheelchair friendly mostly because of the bathroom. There is a small stair to enter the bathroom and the door is very small, so I needed to leave the wheelchair and walk to the bathroom. For someone who is wheelchair bound completely, this apartment would not work.
In The Hague we stayed in Mercure Hotel Den Haag Central. The hotel is on very good location, that you may reach the busy part, with many restaurants and shops in few minutes. The rooms are enough spacious to be able to move freely with the wheelchair. The bathroom is equipped with shower chair and wide enough to turn around with the wheelchair.
In Ommen we have been as part of training and the accommodation was in the Zeesse house. There is only one room on the ground floor which you can reach with the wheelchair. Unfortunately, the bathroom would not work for someone who is unable to stand up and walk while, because the bathroom it's too small.
Haarlem is very nice, small town located close to Amsterdam. We have been accommodated in Carlton Square Hotel which is not listed as wheelchair accessible, but for me was working just fine. There are no stairs to enter the hotel, and the elevator is wide enough. The room itself was spacious. The bathroom was too small to be able to turn around with the wheelchair, but it was enough wide to enter the bathroom, reach the toilet, sink and the bathtub.
In Zandvoort it was a bit of challenge to find wheelchair accessible accommodation. Apartment Strandvoort is located on the first floor of a hotel.The entrance is flat and the elevator is wide enough. No barriers to reach the apartment. However, the apartment itself its not completely wheelchair friendly mostly because of the bathroom. There is a small stair to enter the bathroom and the door is very small, so I needed to leave the wheelchair and walk to the bathroom. For someone who is wheelchair bound completely, this apartment would not work.
In The Hague we stayed in Mercure Hotel Den Haag Central. The hotel is on very good location, that you may reach the busy part, with many restaurants and shops in few minutes. The rooms are enough spacious to be able to move freely with the wheelchair. The bathroom is equipped with shower chair and wide enough to turn around with the wheelchair.
Transportation
Public transport in Netherlands in general its wheelchair accessible. In all the places we have visited, the buses were accessible, although there are different types of buses and solutions that they provide. Sometimes it can be difficult to get in or out from the bus. For example, in Haarlem, there were low-floor buses, but no additional ramp which can connect the sidewalk and the bus. So how easy you can board the bus would depend from the sidewalk, how low or high it is at that particular bus stop. I never used tram, although there are some trams that are wheelchair accessible. For me, using the buses and trains was working just fine to be able to reach each place I wanted. Nederlandse Spoorwegen- NS provides rail services on the Dutch main rail network. To be able to use their services you need to arrange assistance at least 24 hours in advance. It was a bit challenging because we needed someone who speaks Dutch to call Telephone +31 (0)30-2357822 or by booking directly on their website.There were times when we booked assistance just one hour before the trip and it was also fine, but its preferable to have the booking in advance and print out the details. |
Wheelchair access in the train in Netherlands |