/ Hello I’m the FAQ

Got any questions? I’m happy to answer them personally. But some answers can be found below:

Book me

How can I book?
Through //Book Me you will arrive on my booking site. You can reserve a room with your credit card and pay when you arrive. Or choose the ‘non-refundable’ option and pay in advance with iDEAL, Bancontact or Sofort. Booking directly through my website is always 10% cheaper than through Booking.com or other platforms.

Can I book without a credit card?
Yes. Choose the ‘non-refundable’ option and pay with iDEAL.

Can I pay cash when I arrive?
Yes, you can pay cash at check-in. Just bear in mind you’ll need a credit card to guarantee your booking.

Can I cancel or change my booking?
If you booked the standard rate, you can cancel free of charge up to the deadline shown in your confirmation. Picked non-refundable? Then the name says it all — but feel free to reach out if your plans change and I’ll see what I can do.

Is tourist tax included?
No. Haarlem charges tourist tax per person per night, paid on top of your stay: €4.00 in 2026 and €4.10 in 2027.

Can I just book one night on a Saturday?
Haarlem has so much to offer, there’s no reason to stay just one night. On Saturdays and holidays I have a two night minimum, so guests who want to stay longer get that chance. Keep your eyes open for last minute openings for single nights.

How long can I stay?
I have a 10 night maximum stay.

Do you offer gift cards?
Yes I do! Want to treat someone to a stay with me? Just ask and I’ll sort it out for you.

Rooms & facilities

What kind of rooms do you have?
I have 19 unique rooms and 1 apartment, 84 beds in total. Every room has its own name and personality — Nachtwacht, Frans Hals, Pluk de Dag, ’t Wed, Van Lotje, Willem, Provincie, Duinlust. Each one has a private shower, some have their own toilet, and they’re all styled with Dutch design, local art and vintage finds. My rooms are small, but they are cute.

Do you have a women-only dorm?
Yes! Tante Leen (8 beds) is my women-only dorm. A safe, comfortable space with everything you need.

Do the dorm beds have privacy curtains?
No, my dorm beds don’t have curtains.

Are there towels?
Sure are, and they are free. All private rooms come with towels. Staying in a dorm and in need of a towel? Just ask my team at check-in.

Is bed linen supplied?
When you stay with me, your bed is made and ready to jump into for a good night’s sleep.

Do you have WiFi?
Yes. I did my best, but I’m made of 7 monumental buildings with thick walls. For the best WiFi, come and sit in my café or the guest kitchen.

Why is there no TV?
Because I’d rather you talk to each other. No TV in any room, no TV anywhere in the building. Instead: a fireplace, board games, a bar, a patio, and people from all over the world sitting next to you. I checked — nobody has ever asked for a remote.

Do you have air conditioning? And heating?
I don’t have AC. On warmer days I have fans for you, and you can always cool down in the shade on my patio. In winter there’s heating, plus a few extra heaters.

Can I lock up my things?
My dorm rooms have lockers under the beds. Bring your own padlock, or buy one from me for €5. My private rooms don’t have safes — if you like, I can keep your valuables in a locked room.

Do you have a laundry facility?
Yes, I have a washing machine and a dryer. I can do your laundry for €10 and get it back to you within 24 hours.

Is there a common area?
My living room is the heart of the hostel: fireplace, board games, books and a bar. My patio has a retractable roof and a fireplace too — perfect for sunny days or cozy evenings.

Can I cook my own food?
Yes. My guest kitchen has a 2-burner stove, a microwave, a water boiler, a coffee maker and a small fridge. Don’t expect anything fancy. Label your food with your name: anything without a name gets thrown out.

Do you have an elevator?
No. I’m made of Dutch monumental buildings, so steep stairs and no lift. If you have heavy luggage, my team will help you carry it up. But if stairs are a dealbreaker, I want you to know that before you book.

Food & drinks

Is breakfast included in the price?
No, but my café is open from 08:00 with all day breakfast — you can order from my menu whenever you like.

Can we have breakfast together as a group?
Yes, from 6 people. Choose the Hello Tafel (€11 per person) or the Hello Feesttafel (€15 per person), served to share at the table. By reservation.

Do you serve drinks?
Sure do! My café serves coffee, beer and cocktails — all local yummies. Haarlem has a huge number of cafés as well, and I’m happy to give you some insider tips.

Do you serve dinner?
No, I don’t do dinner. My café serves all day breakfast, baked goods and local snacks, and I prepare group lunch on request. Haarlem has plenty of great restaurants for dinner — ask me for my favourites.

Can I hang out in the café if I’m not staying at the hostel?
Of course! My café is open to everyone — locals and travellers. That’s what makes it special. Come in for a coffee, stay for the conversation.

Can I bring my own drinks?
Nope, can’t do. Bringing your own alcoholic drinks into the café or your room is not allowed.

Can I have food delivered?
You sure can! Just no alcohol, please.

Location & getting here

Are you in the center?
I am in the center of Haarlem, on the quiet side. It’s a 4 minute walk to the central square.

Is Haarlem a good base for visiting Amsterdam?
One of the best-kept secrets in the Netherlands. From me it’s a 15 minute walk to the train station, then a 15 minute train ride to Amsterdam Centraal. You get the charm of a beautiful Dutch city without the crowds and tourist prices — and Amsterdam is right there whenever you want it. Plan your trip on ns.nl.

How do I get here from the airport?
From Schiphol there is a direct bus to Haarlem. Bus 300 leaves every 10 minutes from Schiphol Plaza, and night bus N30 runs every hour. It’s a 45 minute ride to Haarlem station, then a 15 minute walk to my front door.

How do I walk here from Haarlem station?
When you exit Haarlem Central Station on the city center (Centrum) side, you see the bus terminal. Take the street on the left, the Jansweg. Follow it to the Korte Jansstraat and walk left. Go right to the Bakenessergracht and follow this canal to where it ends at the Spaarne river. Cross the Spaarne over the white bridge, the Gravestenenbrug. Then take a left, and when you come to another small bridge on the left, cross that too. Now you’re on Spaarnwouderstraat. I’m just across from the bridge at number 74.

Can I park my car?
You are welcome to park right in front of my entrance to unload, but I don’t have parking. My street and the streets around it are paid parking for a maximum of 3 hours. Free parking: navigate to Teylerstraat and take one of the streets to the left — Zuidpolderstraat, Vooruitgangstraat or Severijnstraat. WARNING! A sign ‘P Vergunninghouders’ means locals only. If it’s full, try the Amsterdamse Vaart. Not the easiest, but hé, it’s free! More on parking zones in Haarlem here.

I’m coming by bike — where does it go?
On my inner patio, which isn’t covered. When my theatre isn’t booked, your bike can sleep inside there. Every kind of bike fits, but you’ll do the walk of shame through my café. Tools and a pump are here.

Can I rent a bike?
I don’t rent out bikes myself, but there’s a bike rental around the corner.

How far is the beach by bike?
About 20 minutes to Zandvoort and the dunes. One of the best things about Haarlem — you’re in the city center, but the North Sea coast is right there. I can point you to the best routes.

Check-in, house rules & safety

What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is at 15:00, check-out at 11:00.

Can I drop off my luggage early?
I open at 08:00 and you are more than welcome to leave your bags while you go and explore. Your room is ready at 15:00. Feel free to leave your bags after check-out as well.

What if I arrive very late?
No worries — there is no curfew. Your keycard is also the key for the night entrance, and it has my emergency number on it. Arriving late? Let me know your arrival time and I’ll email you the emergency number before you come.

Is there a quiet time?
Yes. Quiet time is from 22:00 to 08:00. I have neighbours and I respect them. I trust you to do the same.

Can I bring people from outside the hostel?
Yes of course — bring your friends to hang out in the living room or on the patio. When the clock hits 22:00 my quiet time starts, and I’ll ask you to continue the fun somewhere else.

Can I smoke somewhere?
Not inside the building and not in front of the hostel. But walk 30 seconds to the water and you’ve got the best smoking spot ever, overlooking the Spaarne river. I take no smoking inside seriously — there is a €250 fine.

I am not 18 yet, can I still stay with you?
Only in a private room, accompanied by an adult. Otherwise you have to wait until you are 18. Even with an adult, under-18s can’t stay in my shared dorms.

Are kids allowed?
Yes, of course! I can’t host children under 18 in my shared dorms, but my private rooms are very suitable for families.

Are the rooms suitable for young children?
My rooms are cozy and compact, in a characterful old building. Some rooms have steep ladders to the top bunks — your kids will think it’s a treehouse. There’s no soundproofing between walls, no TV and no kids’ entertainment programme. What I do have: board games, a courtyard, and the kind of freedom where kids can just be kids. Adventurous families love it here. If you need a fully child-proofed environment, I’m probably not your place, and I’d rather tell you now.

Can I bring a baby?
Of course, in any of my private rooms. I have baby cots. Add the cot to your reservation in the last step of your booking. Everyone who fits in a baby cot sleeps for free.

Can I bring my dog?
Yes, in one room: Teyler, a private room with its own entrance. My other rooms are pet free.

How do I know a message is really from me?
WARNING: not the fun kind this time. Scammers sometimes pretend to be hotels and hostels to steal payment details or personal information. All official communication from me comes from mail@helloimlocal.com or +31 (0)6 1522 4027. I will never ask you to pay via a random link, a WhatsApp from an unknown number, or an email from a different address. If something feels off, it probably is. When in doubt, just call me.

Groups, events & the whole building

How can I book for a group?
From 6 people you book as a group. Head over to Plan a Call, leave your name and mobile number, and I’ll contact you within 24 hours. Tell me your dates, how many of you are coming and what you’re planning!

Can I book the whole hostel just for my group?
Yes! I rent out my entire boutique hostel exclusively for 6 to 50 people, with 84 beds, the zaal, two patios and a professional kitchen. Perfect for team offsites, creative retreats, or any group that wants the place to themselves. Head over to Plan a Call and let me know what you have in mind.

Which rooms are fun for a group of friends?
Friends love Old School, Klederdracht, Lennart Nijgh and Adriaan. Old School and Klederdracht are next door to each other. With 6 of you, take the apartment with ’t Wed next door, or Willem. Tante Leen, Pluk de Dag and Provincie each work as one space for your group.

Do you partner with Bikepacking Holland?
Why yes, I do! Planning to bike from city to city? My friends at bikepackingholland.nl help you organise your bikepacking trip and booking.

Do you host events?
Yes! My zaal is a former children’s theater with a stage, red curtains and local art on the walls. I host everything from comedy shows to breathwork circles, pub quizzes to movie nights, magic shows to workshops. Check my agenda to see what’s coming up.

Can I book the zaal for my own event?
Absolutely. My zaal works for workshops, performances, business meetings and more. Reach out and tell me what you’re planning.

What makes me different?

What kind of hostel is this exactly?
I’m somewhere between a laid-back hostel and a 5-star hotel. People call me different, but that makes me, me.

Is this a party hostel? Can we celebrate a hen party here?
No, I’m not a party venue. Quiet time runs from 22:00 to 08:00, so I’m the place to sleep and the city is the place to party. When my café closes, between 23:30 and midnight, it’s either bed or the city. The vibe here is more fireplace-and-board-games than shots-at-midnight.

Am I too old for a hostel?
There is no age limit at Hello I’m Local. I’m rated suitable for older travellers (50+) on Hostelz.com — which is unusual for a hostel, and I’m proud of it. I have travellers of all ages, from solo women in their 50s to families with toddlers. If you’re curious, open-minded and don’t need a minibar — you belong here.

Is this a good place for a woman travelling alone?
Yes — and I hear this a lot. I have a women-only dorm (Tante Leen, 8 beds), lockers under every dorm bed, no curfew but a night entrance with your own keycard, and an emergency number on that card. And a café where you have your morning coffee and end up talking to a local for an hour. Many of my best reviews come from solo women who say this is the place they wish they’d found sooner.

Why is everything “local”?
Because it’s in the name, and I take that very seriously. Everything at Hello I’m Local is local. My beers are local. My snacks are local. The art on my walls is local. My rooms are named after Dutch culture and Haarlem heritage, and almost everything here has a cool local story. I’m filled with curated vintage and design pieces, and I try to give you some history of the Netherlands and Haarlem without putting it in your face. When you stay with me, you’re not just sleeping somewhere — you’re meeting Haarlem.

Do you do anything for sustainability?
I do what I can without making a fuss about it. Eco-friendly cleaning products, zero-waste food preparation where possible, and I source locally. I’d rather do it than talk about it — but since you asked.