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We were lucky to be invited to spend a weekend at Hof van Saksen, enjoying every corner of the resort and checking out all the exciting and detailed renovations that have taken place in recent years. And what a glorious weekend we had!
The sun shone all weekend providing us with the most perfect backdrop. The large recreational lake, surrounded by trees that were starting to turn the scrumptious orange, reds and yellows of autumn, looked beautiful. As we enjoyed a morning coffee in the sun at the beach bar it was hard to believe it was nearly October!
We had use of electric bikes from the onsite bike rental during our stay which were fab. You can rent all manner of bikes including cargo bikes which are perfect for cycling with young children. Having a built-in storage shed for bikes and prams attached to our accommodation was super handy too. An easy 10-minute cycle by mostly designated cycle paths brought us to the local town of Rolde, where we even came across a windmill which you could pop inside. Bikes and windmills, it doesn’t get more Dutch than that!
For some thrills we headed to the pool area with the rapids and the breathtaking waterslides. Now when we say thrills, there were plenty of shrieks and squeals as we zoomed down the ‘Bombo’ the largest indoor waterslide in the world, closely followed by the 5th and newest slide, ‘Subito’ which, without a doubt, was full of surprises. What an exhilarating experience! We love that these slides along with the ‘Intenso’ and ‘Saltato’ are purposely designed to be ridden with a friend or family member and Bombo even takes four at a time. If speed is in your nature, then Presto is definitely for you. As people waited in the queue, they eagerly watched the screen which showed the speed of the rider before them, each hoping they would get the next fastest time.
In the play and activity centre, the ‘Brink’, there is a new stylish bowling area and great thought has been taken into how different areas flow through to each other. So, if you have children of different ages and interests, you still feel like you are close by each other but also have your own areas. There’s a super lounging area with arcade games and a large screen perfect for those teens who may want a bit of time to meet other children of their own age and hang out. This same building houses the brilliant fashion, woodwork and atelier academies as well as the Bounz trampoline park and the Clip and Climb.
The indoor play at Hof van Saksen is one of the best we have seen and seeing the new toddler and baby indoor play area first hand was impressive. This is an area which has been very well thought out; it’s spacious, interactive, allows sensory and physical developmental challenges and at the same time provides a lovely environment for adults to relax. This new area flows seamlessly through to the larger indoor and climbing area for children who have graduated from the toddler area. This again, has been fitted out with some very snazzy seating areas, inviting parents to unwind. After all it is your holiday too.
Without a doubt the facilities are super so what’s new with the accommodation? The already spacious, thatched farmhouses have all been renovated with beautiful modern kitchens, art work which reflects the natural surroundings, and the bedrooms too have new furnishings which extend the luxurious feel. Hof van Saksen have worked with Dutch designer, Studio Piet Boon, who is also responsible for the design of the restaurants, waterpark, wellness centre and spa, to realise these upgrades. We stayed in a renewed farmhouse 4CE with one large master bedroom and a second twin bedroom, also spacious. The renewed children’s farmhouses have been redesigned with either a water or adventure theme and come complete with child-sized furniture, toys and play equipment. Other accommodation types include large farmhouses for groups which sleep up to 24, a culinary farmhouse for 12 and super-duper luxurious waterfront farmhouses with an outdoor hot tub and sauna.
During our stay we got to experience the different restaurants at Hof van Saksen and it’s fair to say we ate very well. In each restaurant the attention to detail and quality of food was superb! When restaurants look as beautiful as those at Hof van Saksen you don’t necessarily expect them to be child friendly, but the messaging at Hof van Saksen is clear, it is a family resort and each family member is of equal importance. So, when you sit back and sip your glass of wine and can enjoy an adult conversation because your child/ren are busying themselves at a Lego wall or adjacent soft play it is just part of the Hof van Saksen experience. Even the adults and staff who teetered over the path laden with Lego pieces and children playing did so with a smile or stopped to admire their creations.
We were invited to attend this special celebratory weekend to toast the premium resort and all that they excel in and to celebrate the new investments. We were treated to a dazzling light show over the lake as well as an incredible ‘Chef’s walking lunch’ where we enjoyed dishes made from locally sourced ingredients whilst soaking up the outdoors. A clear message resonated throughout the weekend from the owners and heads of department that we spoke to, which was, as much as they are proud of their journey to date, sitting on their laurels is not in their make-up and they are continually looking for ways to improve and innovate the family holiday experience. We can’t wait to see what they do next!
We are very proud to be part of this journey in bringing Hof van Saksen to English speaking families looking for a high end yet affordable holiday, where we feel you get so much included in the price of your stay!
For more info about Hof van Saksen, or to book, please see below or drop us a line:
HOF VAN SAKSEN Contact Us
