Eco hotel review: Cityhotel Wood

Have you heard of Middelburg, a small historic city in the Netherlands? (If you’re interested in exploring the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam, do check out this guide). I used to live in Middelburg when doing my undergrad. Near the end of my studies, an eco hotel called Cityhotel Wood opened its doors, and I have been wanting to stay there ever since! As Daniel and I celebrated our wedding in Middelburg, this was the perfect excuse to book 2 nights at Middelburg’s most sustainable hotel. Cityhotel Wood is located right in the city centre and within walking distance of the train station.

The rooms

Cityhotel Wood is definitely a luxury eco hotel. This is reflected in the price, but also in the beautiful design of the rooms. Fittingly, wood is the recurring theme in the design and furniture. What I really liked is that our room also had a small fridge, as we often travel with our own food for lunch or breakfast. Another unique feature is the Vairus air purifier, which is especially great for people with allergies. The air purifier uses non-harmful UV to filter bacteria, viruses, funghi and smells from the room. Because we had something to celebrate, we opted for a room with jacuzzi! Although that is of course not the most eco part about the hotel, the jacuzzi did not use much more water than a normal bath.

Basic sustainability measures

As you may expect from an eco hotel, Cityhotel Wood has covered the basics of sustainbility. When the hotel was constructed, they made sure to install clean energy installations (e.g. heat pump and solar panels), as well as high insulation. Inside the hotel, you will find hand dryers that are as energy-efficient as they get. The dryers also filter particles such as bacteria and viruses from the air. Toilet rolls are from The Good Roll, using recyled, non-bleached paper and donating 50% of its profits to a charity that build toilets in developing countries. The toiletries provided do not come in single-use packaging and contain only natural, organic ingredients.

Green details

The more you look, the more sustainable measures you find. Cityhotel Wood only provides free parking to electric vehicles (though you do need a Dutch ecotap card to be able to use their chargers). Around the parking area, there are several insect hotels to aid local biodiversity. And every day you refuse room clearning, the hotel makes a small donation to a local charity that plants trees just outside of Middelburg. Another way to support the local area is by displaying and selling art. Every 8 weeks, a new collection of art is put on display around the hotel. Next to the reception desk, you also find artsy jewelry for sale.

Restaurant and breakfast

I cannot write a review about this eco hotel without dedicating some words to The Green Room. This is Cityhotel Wood’s restaurant and breakfast area. The main star of the show on the menu are veggies. The basis of each dish is vegetarian or vegan, with the option to add meat or fish at an additional price. This is the exact opposite from how most restaurants operate: normally, you can get a veggie substitute for meat dishes. I really like this shift in mentality, where The Green Room presents meat and fish as unnecessary extras. The menu includes lots of local produce in flavourful combinations.

For breakfast, you can even get freshly pressed ginger shots to wake up! The only downside is that vegan options are not clearly labelled on the breakfast buffet. Things like pancakes should be able to veganise, but still contain egg and milk (which I had to ask about). Another big plus, though, is the near absence of single-use plastics. Everything is served in glass jars or on sustainable tableware that doesn’t use any toxic materials.

Deals

All in all, staying at Cityhotel Wood is a great experience! Staff are friendly and helpful, and the hotel has a lot of funky quirks. If you want coffee in your room, for example, the staff at the reception will ground some beans for you. You can then make the freshest coffee in your room. Another nice detail is the voucher for a free drink when you book your stay at this eco hotel directly via Cityhotel Wood’s own website. As said, the rooms are a bit expensive, so it is worth keeping an eye on the deals on their website. I opted for a package that included 2 nights in the hotel, 1 dinner and 2 breakfasts. If you find an option you can afford, I would definitely recommend staying at Cityhotel Wood. And don’t forget to explore the beautiful streets of Middelburg whilst you’re there!