Stayed for two nights at Hotel de Draak in Bergen op Zoom, drawn in by its rich history and beautiful public areas. And indeed, the location is excellent, the entrance is grand, and the bar is truly lovely. Unfortunately, the charm ends there.
The room—labeled a suite and pitched as an upgrade from our originally booked room—was a major disappointment. Despite the “upgrade,” we went from a queen bed to two singles, something not clearly communicated in the email offering the paid upgrade. The suite itself felt more like a collection of mismatched furniture than a coherent design.
Lighting in the room was absolutely dire. Besides the bedside lamps—both hanging on by a thread and neither of which provided usable reading light—there were only two more light sources in the entire room. The overall effect left the space dim and gloomy, barely brighter than twilight.
Maintenance across the suite was poor. There was a nightlight in the bedroom that couldn't be switched off, and the bathroom, while functional, featured a bathtub with a shower overhead and a flimsy three-piece folding screen that wouldn’t stay in place—a trip hazard and a daily frustration.
Hotel de Draak may be the oldest hotel in the Netherlands, and while that history is worn proudly, it’s unfortunately also worn through the guest rooms. The public areas sparkle with charm and character, but the rooms are in dire need of refurbishment and better upkeep to live up to the hotel’s storied legacy.