Blue

The second medley overview of the past sauna experiences, chapter two: Netherlands. Following some of the experiences had (and still remembered) which haven't been published elsewhere on the site (such as Thermae 2000).

Our visits to wellness / sauna resorts in the Netherlands are usually unplanned, more a whim of thing. There's also no plan to visit all or try to be complete. As you will notice you'll see that most are in the south; most convenient to where we live, though still quite far away.

So our choice of where to go is mostly based on convenience, curiosity and /or budget friendliness of the resorts; sometimes I'm just a sucker for economical options.

Let's start this overview with a real oddity. 

In the Brabant town of Mill, near their inland harbour lies a 40m luxury ship which has been retrofitted as a wellness complex. With saunas inside and on the shore. Aptly named Blue Wellnessboot Mill, it consists of 5 different saunas, an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a number of jacuzzi's. 

Blue Wellness is a Netherlands based chain of wellness resorts, dare I say working near the bottom of the market. That makes it prone to persons seeking a cheap alternative, though in Mill the ship theme limits both the number of guests allowed while simultaneously encouraging others likewise curious.

My impression from a visit in 2020 was quite good, the setting of course surprising, it's also on board quite narrowish, but outside are also a sauna and hammam. Good overall, let's say eight, which in my world seems quite elaborate. 

Note the reviewers who seem to believe that the experience is getting less.

Google notes 4.1 stars (1300+ (!) reviews), most in Dutch, the odd German review. Recent reviews fluctuate, good and poor experiences I suppose.

Tripadvisor similar with 4 stars (260 reviews), most in Dutch with the past year showing very few positive reviews ...

Facebook more positive with 4.4 stars (500+ reviews), again not so positive concerning the last year; someone remarked that overall the place is not getting any better; many complaints concerning catering and maintenance.

Jouw sauna gids, a Dutch website, also has many reviews (without a note) who also have little positives to mention concerning recent experiences.

Blootgewoon, again solely Dutch and operating under the pretext of unclothed recreation is best (it is!) rates it an 8.5.

Staying with the Blue Wellness company, they also operate a smaller complex in the Trivium hotel cellar (also in Brabant) on the outskirts of the town of Etten Leur. With the same name Blue Spa Trivium.

Back in 2020, the sauna and steam room were ok, the coolish pool and the only jacuzzi were hardly sufficient for the number of hotel guests as well as guests from outside. Thus a 6.5.

Following our que possibly, Google indicates 3.7 stars (from 50 reviews), most in Dutch with remarks concerning small size of sauna. On Facebook, only 1 reviewer who wasn't very happy. Jouwsaunagids also with very little mentioned. Tripadvisor doesn't discern between hotel and wellness, so insignificant dealing with ratings.

Contrasts

Moving to the north of Netherlands, basically in a quiet and relative empty part of the country is the sauna of Het Friese Woud. Near the village of Boijl, it has five saunas, a hammam, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool.

As could be expected for this less centrally located sauna complex, all reviews are in Dutch. Google gives it 4.4 stars from 380+ reviews, all seem quite satisfied. Facebook 4.8 stars from 65+ reviews, again all positive. Tripadvisor: 4 stars from 20 reviews, not many recent. Jouwsaunagids is also positive. Blootgewoon similar with a very good rate of 9.1.

Our 2020 visit notes are a 7.5, noting the small rather dark catering area, good outdoor pool, good aufguss / infusion session.

Back to the south of the country, one of Netherlands new and shiny sauna paradises lies in a sparsely forested area north of the city of Breda. SpaOne opened its doors in 2019. Quite a few saunas (eight?) some with some very nice and original architecture. An indoor pool, outdoor pool. Steambaths, a saltwater pool, etc. Too much to experience within a single visit.

Google raves with 4.7 stars, 1000+ reviews. Again virtually all Dutch reviews, most very positive though some mention is made concerning the other more vocal guests, which I also tend to agree with; maybe the Dutch are less reserved.

Facebook likewise a 4.9  (from 350 reviews), while Tripadvisor a more modest 4.5 stars (19 reviews; are Dutch people yet to use Tripadvisor?).

Jouwsaunagids publishes a Top 10 for 2022, and 4 is the position awarded to SpaOne, while Blootgewoon believes it to be the best sauna of 2022 and rates it with a hefty 9.4.

Visited 2019, a nine, despite the mention above concerning other guests; maybe they were simply exuberant / enthusiastic.

Slightly different to the above examples is the sauna which stands on Athena Ossendrecht campsite. Small and rustic and it's slightly old, the single sauna offers a charm to the campsite, but maybe not as a one off experience.

Reviews on solely the sauna are unavailable, though the campsite garners good votes.

Visited early 2022, I would note a seven based on the sauna only. A stay here though is excellent, good catering, good facilities, nice surroundings.

Central in the sunny province of Zeeland, Sauna & Wellnessresort Goes has a rather unimaginative name for what they note as a luxury wellness facility. I wouldn't describe it that but it does do it's best. A sweat sauna, 3 different saunas, an outdoor / indoor pool, a couple of jacuzzi's and a large area for it's restaurant. Often good entrance-only deals are to be had.

Google reviews note a mellow 4.3 stars (527 reviews), the descriptions though tend to be more positive. Apparently if you don't expect first class, you charmed in by the other visitors / staff, while the facilities are adequate.

Facebook seems very much similar, 4.5 stars, 200 plus reviewers. Jouwsaunagids also likes this sauna complex. Blootgewoon notes 8.6.

Tripadvisor has only 4 stars to share, less reviewers too (80+).

We would give our 2022 visit an eight; not bad, but not exceptionally good either. Pity that some guests tend to stay as long as possible in the hotter baths / jacuzzi's. The aufguss / infusion was good, the system with cards handed out half an hour on forehand works better (aufguss sessions are so in demand that people will line up on forehand, 20 minutes), but now it's a run for cards! Maybe just ensure more aufguss sessions?

Apologies for the above, it does ramble on a bit. And no photo's to break the monotony; all photo's nowadays are all management / social media approved, thus added virtually nothing. Just close your eyes and imagine.