Where to stay in Utrecht with kids: Hotel 26 Utrecht review

Utrecht is one of my favourite cities in the Netherlands and one of the best Dutch cities to visit with kids. With its beautiful historic centre, atmospheric canals, family-friendly museums and relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a city break in the Netherlands. Of course, it’s also famous as the home of Miffy creator Dick Bruna. On our fantastic summer trip to the Netherlands with kids we stayed a few nights in this beautiful city. We enjoyed a weekend in Utrecht, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the calm of the centre. If you’re looking for unusual places to stay in Utrecht, family accommodation in Utrecht city centre or a unique canal-side apartment in the Netherlands, Hotel 26 Utrecht is such a special option. This is our review of staying in one of Utrecht’s wharf cellars. An amazing apartment in Utrecht – Hotel 26 Utrecht. This is a really unique stay in the Netherlands and so much fun.

---

 

👩‍💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.

*AD / This post contains affiliate links & as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also have been compensated in this post either financially or with products / stays. To read more see our Disclosure Policy.

---

---

Hotel and Location – Hotel 26 Utrecht, Netherlands – a review

Hotel 26 Utrecht is linked to the Court Hotel just off the centre of historic Utrecht.

One of the things that makes Hotel 26 Utrecht so unusual is its location inside one of the city’s famous medieval wharf cellars, right beside the canals. If you’re searching for unique hotels in Utrecht or canal accommodation in Utrecht, this is the kind of stay you’ll remember long after your trip.

This is a self-catering apartment set in one of the historic wharf cellars that run alongside the canals.

The wharf cellars were created in 1150 by traders looking to store their produce and goods which had arrived by the canals out the front.

Once the goods were inside there were doors in the ceiling of the cellars that could be opened from the shops on the street level above and be hoisted up. So these cellars are located below street level.

---

---

Today these historic canal cellars are one of Utrecht’s defining features and part of what makes the city feel so different from Amsterdam. Staying inside one gives you a real sense of Utrecht’s trading history and atmosphere.

I was worried that this below-ground experience could feel claustrophobic. But it wasn’t at all.

Because the front opened out on to the canal footpath it felt incredibly unique and special and not too enclosed at all.

In fact, sitting beside the canal in the evenings watching boats drift past was one of our favourite parts of visiting Utrecht with children.

---

---

Hotel 26 Utrecht, Netherlands – Sleeps:

Hotel 26 is a perfect home from home. It’s a lovely self catering option in the city and worked perfectly well for us visiting with children.

For families looking for self catering accommodation in Utrecht, the extra space here makes a huge difference compared with a standard hotel room.

Within our apartment we had:

At the front a kitchen and dining area. This came with a table and chairs to sit and eat and all the facilities you need to cook up a feast including oven, fridge and utensils.

---

---

This led through to a lounge area which was really comfortable with large sofa, television and a sofa bed. We used this during our stay there so we could keep all of the children together in the main bedroom.

There was free (incredibly fast) wifi throughout the apartment. And also places to play music through our iPhones which was a nice touch.

---

---

The next room through was the master bedroom which another bed was set up in for our third child.

This was the perfect space to be able to put the kids to sleep in the evening and then we could sit in the lounge with a glass of wine and watch television.

Or join the neighbours who would move their table outside to eat along the canalside, candles burning in the summer dusk. It felt like a very friendly neighbourhood.

---

---

Finally at the end of the apartment was the bathroom. Kitted out with washer and dryer and a bath with shower over.

---

---

Having laundry facilities was especially useful during a longer Netherlands family road trip.

---

Food

Hotel 26 is entirely self catering but there are tea and coffee making facilities.

You could also make arrangements to have breakfast at the Court Hotel which we did one morning. This was a really nice treat to have breakfast out.

There was a good spread of cereals, fruits, pastries and cheese. The children loved that there were the typical Dutch breakfast treat of sprinkles to put on their toast.

---

---

One of the best things about staying in self-catering accommodation in Utrecht is the chance to explore the local food scene. There are supermarkets, bakeries and cafes all within easy walking distance of Hotel 26.

We loved wandering along the canals in the mornings picking up pastries and coffee before heading out sightseeing.

---

The Best Bits

We absolutely loved our stay at Hotel 26. It really felt like we were living in Utrecht rather than just being tourists visiting.

We got to stay in somewhere so unique and special. We had the experience of living like a local which can’t be beaten.

Because Utrecht is a really historic city it was also nice to experience that on another level. It was a really great stay.

---

---

The location is one of the biggest highlights. Staying directly beside the canals means you can walk almost everywhere in Utrecht city centre. Restaurants, museums, shops and attractions are all nearby.

We also loved how peaceful it felt despite being right in the middle of the city. In the evenings the canals became calm and atmospheric and it was lovely to sit outside watching Utrecht go by.

---

Worth Bearing in Mind

This isn’t a hotel stay so that’s worth saying upfront as the title Hotel 26 is a little misleading.

You do have to check in at Court Hotel up on the main street though. And they will help you to the apartment.

Utrecht is very car unfriendly. It is a city that actively discourages cars and there is a car park that can be used out of the city which is an easy walk in to the centre and the apartment.

If you’re visiting Utrecht with kids, we actually found the lack of traffic made the city feel much calmer and safer to explore on foot.

The only part of the apartment that didn’t seem to quite fit with the rest was the bathroom. It could have done with a little updating. It was absolutely fine, just not as beautiful or practical as the rest of the apartment.

Something it would be great if they would update in the future would be to install a dishwasher.

---

Child Friendly?

Hotel 26 is the perfect space for a family with plenty of areas to spread out and relax.

We loved the location, right in the centre of Utrecht. It was easy to wander out to see the sights and then easily get back again when little legs were getting weary. And we could rest a while before heading out again.

It’s also great to be able to prepare cheap and easy meals inside without having to rely on eating out.

The apartment was also really well kitted out for a stay with kids with cot and high chair available to use.

Families visiting Utrecht will especially appreciate how walkable the city is. Many of Utrecht’s top attractions for children are nearby, including the Nijntje (Miffy) Museum, canal boat trips and the Railway Museum.

The apartment gave us flexibility that’s hard to find in traditional hotels and made the trip far more relaxing with children.

---

---

We loved our stay at Hotel 26 and would definitely look to return next time we’re in Utrecht.

---

Why Utrecht is perfect for a family city break in the Netherlands

While Amsterdam often gets most of the attention, Utrecht is one of the best cities in the Netherlands for families. It has all the charm of Amsterdam’s canals but feels calmer, smaller and easier to navigate with children.

We loved how relaxed the city felt. You can spend the morning wandering along the canals, stop for pancakes or Dutch apple cake, then head to one of the many museums or playgrounds nearby.

Some of the best things to do in Utrecht with kids include:

• Visiting the Miffy Museum (Nijntje Museum)
• Taking a canal boat trip
• Climbing the Dom Tower
• Exploring the Railway Museum
• Cycling around the city like the locals
• Relaxing at canal-side cafes
• Browsing the independent shops and markets
• Enjoying the Speeklok Museum

Because Utrecht is compact, it works brilliantly for a weekend break in the Netherlands. We rarely needed public transport and found most places easy to reach on foot from Hotel 26.

The city also has a lovely balance between sightseeing and relaxation. Unlike some busier European city breaks, Utrecht never felt overwhelming with children.

Find all our top things to do in Utrecht with kids here.

---

FAQ – Hotel 26 Utrecht and visiting Utrecht with kids

Ready to book Hotel 26 Utrecht, Netherlands?

You can find out more and check availability here. And read more about our trips in the Netherlands with kids here including our top 10 things to do in Utrecht.

---