Dutch Castles Offer Low-Cost Stays

Four Dutch castles will provide low-cost lodging for travelers next year. There are no age restrictions at the castles, which are operated by the Netherlands Youth Hostel Assn. However, older people should be prepared to share dormitory rooms with young and “young at heart” travelers.

Havezathe de Breckelenkamp Castle will be open Jan. 1 to Sept. 1. It’s at Jonkershoesweg 10 in Lattrop-Breklenkamp. On Jan. 2 Ridderhofstad Rhijnauwen Castle opens at Rhijnauwenselaan 14 in Buddnik. It remains open until Dec. 30.

Near the Sea

Kasteel Westhove at Duinvlietwe 8 in Oostkapelle (Domburg) is just a three-minute walk through sand dunes from the beach and sea. Open from March 26 to Oct. 23. Also near the sea and open for the same period is the Slot Assumburg Castle hostel at Tolweg 9 in Heemskerk.

Prices generally are less than $12 U.S. a night.

It’s cheaper to stay at the Netherlands’ 45 youth hostels if you have joined the International Youth Hostel Federation, which you can do through your local youth hostel associations.

The 1989 rate for dormitory accommodations, with breakfast, will be 22.50 guilders (about $11 U.S.). International federation card holders are given a 5-guilder reduction.

Dutch hostels that have individual rooms available will charge from 25 guilders for a single, 45 guilders for two bedrooms and from 60 guilders for three bedrooms.

Holland is a flat country of fields, forests, rivers, canals, picturesque villages and large colorful cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the nation’s largest city and the world’s busiest port.

During 1989 independent travelers can arrange to join Holland Safari packages, which offer mystery tours of the country.

About 10 people start off each morning for an unknown destination, working with maps, compass directions, puzzles and drawings. The mystery route leads to exploration by train, bike, canoe and foot.

The seven-night tours cost 398 guilders (about $195 U.S.) including meals, transportation and accommodations in youth hostels. Departure dates are July 15 and 29 and Aug. 12. Information: Future Line Travel at Prof. Tulpstraat 2, 1018 HA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Variety of Packages

Future Line travel offers a variety of economical packages for independent travelers including parachuting, golf, canoeing and sailing holidays. A three-night Amsterdam package, including youth hostel accommodations, two dinners, a one-hour canal cruise, a three-day transportation pass and a museum card is available for 175 guilders for travelers younger than 25, 190 guilders for travelers 25 and older.

Although the Netherlands is only 187 miles long and 125 miles across, it has 14 million people who own more than 9 million bicycles. If you enjoy cycling, take advantage of the nation’s excellent facilities, including bicycle paths throughout the countryside.

Many rail stations rent bicycles for about 7 guilders a day, 35 guilders a week.

There are 18 Netherlands Student Travel Service offices. They sell reduced international rail tickets for those younger than 26 and offer a variety of other travel bargains and services.

In Amsterdam you’ll find an office at Dam 17, Dam Square.