Why Local is called Local. Local Hostel Haarlem, The Netherlands.

Seems like an easy question, but in all honesty there are a million other concepts with corresponding names one might think of.

When you go to new places you always run into locations, people, interiors, drinks and foods that you love and inspire you. You want to take them home with you, put it in a ‘glass box’ in your living room to look at, to remember the great times you had. So you can, even if it is just for a second, be brought back to that one moment in time, that happy moment.

That is exactly what I had in mind when I decided to open a hostel. I wanted to make each room a ‘glass box’ with all my favorites I collected from visiting every continent. The idea for ‘Global’ was born; I would have an Asia room, a South-America room etc.

The good thing is; it takes damn long in Holland to start a new hotel is that you have all the time to think, think, rethink, check, double check and why not… triple check! And one beautiful summer day after a boot ride over the Amstel, we were having a Heineken in the sun with some ‘’bitterballen’’ and the best steak in the country. I realized; I don’t want ‘Global’ when I travel, I want ‘Local’. It’s about my hotel guests, not about me showcasing my ‘best of Saskia’s travels’. They too are travelling and looking for ‘glass box’ moments.

We asked ourselves the simple question: ‘Why do we travel’? ‘What experience do we hope to gain’? With the help of some Heineken beers we spent hours thinking about this and this resulted in the ‘Local’ concept.

Local is our ‘glass box’ of Haarlem and The Netherlands. Everybody that works with us has a story and is from the area. Even all the products you will find are local, from the paint to the door keys, from the cleaner to the furniture. All done by locals, for locals and the rest of the world. We have tried to collect interior design, food and drinks that we find worth sharing.

We hope you will love your experience at our Hostel in Haarlem and that your stay with us will inspire you in some way!

Opening February 2013, Local is a Boutique City Hostel in Haarlem, The Netherlands. But what’s in a name; hotel, guesthouse, bed and breakfast or hostel – Local is just a great place to stay!

The start of Local Hostels in Haarlem, The Netherlands

Years ago I wrote my Master Thesis on internationalization, at that time a huge trend. Now with internet and social media learning about what is happening on the other side of the globe is easy…just a couple mouse clicks away… but still that’s not the same as actually ‘being’ in a new place; smelling, eating, seeing and experiencing all you read about beforehand.

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION

I grew up living in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), London (England) and Nashville, TN (USA), and because my parents always thought we would only live somewhere for 5 years they did their best to have me and my brother see as much as possible in those countries and everything in a 1000 km radius. During university I got to spend time in Australia, Asia and South America. That is about the time my travel bug really starting going! And about then I decided I wanted to visit every country in the world before I die.

After university my job took me to Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. I was doing well on my ‘obtaining as much stamps as possible’ list. I got to live in hotels and I can tell you; I have stayed in all kinds of places. From dodgy hostel rooms without windows in the tropics, to a mud hut sleeping on hay in the middle of national parks, to the most picture perfect honeymoon getaways overlooking the ocean.

But as you might have experienced as well; love and growing up does strange things to a person. For me this resulted in 1) wanting to stay close to my loved ones and 2) wanting to have corporate career. But the seed that was planted in me years ago just wants to grow; that seed being the need to explore, gather new experiences, meet great people and find inspiration in the small things around me. That seed resulted in alot of travelling. For those who have travelled alot know that you can actually get tired of travelling, even if you are in one of the most beautifull places on earth.

Two years ago I made one of the most (that’s how it felt at the time) difficult decisions of my life; quiting my great paying job in the middle of a financial crisis. Why? To let my seed grow. And this time I am not going to let the wind blow me to what ever place on this planet, but to start a business that enables all the things I love without having to travel all the time.

After 3 years of finding my way through the maze of bureaucracy I can finally say: I am a Hostel business owner.

January 2013 I will be opening the doors of a Boutique City Hostel in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The hostel will be able to host 50 guests and I hope to welcome as many ‘stamps’ as possible!

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