Amsterdam

De L’Europe Amsterdam

Hotel De L’Europe is an extravagant luxury hotel within the heart of Amsterdam. At your spacious suite you can enjoy the marble bathrooms with floor heating, bathroom TV’s and other luxuries. You’ll enjoy free wired and wireless internet, Bose surround sound systems and international power converters. The hotel has a spa, where you can enjoy the indoor swimming pool, the beauty salon, a sauna, the fitness studio and more.

The hotel has several restaurants and bars, including a canalside terrace restaurant, a two michelin star restaurant, for which it’s highly recommended to reserve a spot, and a cocktail bar.

Many rooms in this hotel have a great view over the Amstel river. If you follow the Amstel river slightly down you will come across the most beautiful canals and bridges of Amsterdam, such as the Blue Bridge and the Skinny Bridge.

Located in the heart of the city the hotel is right besides the shopping streets of Amsterdam at Spui Square. From Spui Square you will also find that trams go to every corner of the city. Right next to the hotel is also the Rembrandt Square, a popular center of restaurants, cinemas and nightlife activities in Amsterdam. Within walking distance you will also find the home of Rembrandt and Spinoza, which is the Jewish quarter. Here you will find the Hermitage Museum, The Jewish historical museum, the National Opera & Ballet, the Artis Zoo of Amsterdam and more.

Hotel De L’Europe is arguably the best hotel in Amsterdam, with top notch services, an ideal location in the heart of the city, a canal side terrace and a beautifully daring yet peaceful design. Certainly a recommended hotel to visit.

InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam

The InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam hotel is a grand hotel overlooking the Amstel river and landmark bridges of Amsterdam. The monumental building is beautifully decorated with a classical and Victorian design. The rooms in the hotels are unique, comfortable and spacious as they come with antique furniture, marble bathrooms with both a bath and a shower, free wifi and a great view.

At the hotels Health & Fitness club you will find a fantastic heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, fitness equipment, personal trainers and you can enjoy a massage. The hotel enjoys several restaurants and bars, including a michelin star restaurant and a terrace bar. The Amstel hotel owns a small fleet of saloon boats on which you can enjoy a culinary cruise over the canals of Amsterdam.

In front of the hotel stops a tram line that will effortlessly take you to all hotspots of the city. The hotel is located at a 15 minute walk from most tourist hotspots, such as Museum Square, where the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum is located, and Rembrandt Square, a restaurant and nightlife center of Amsterdam. Near the hotel you will find the Hermitage Museum, the Carré Theater and the Albert Cuypmarkt, which is the busiest day market / street market of the Netherlands and the biggest of Europe.

The hotel has housed plenty of royalties and stars in Amsterdam. From Queen Elizabeth to the Rolling Stones. The Royal Suite with it’s golden elements has been found suitable for Kings and Queens.

Canal House

The Canal House hotel has a modern luxurious design and is located in the famous canal district of Amsterdam, within walking district of the major shopping areas. The hotel is right around the corner of Dam Square, which is the city square and the heart of Amsterdam. It is here that you can find the longest shopping streets of Amsterdam. From Dam Square you can also reach every part of the city with ease by tram. If you prefer more boutique shops then you can go to the nine streets, which are several streets with boutique shops in the canal district, which are just south of this hotel. On top of that the Anne Frank house is right behind the hotel. So the hotel is certainly located at a popular spot.

The hotel itself has plenty of places where you can sit back and relax. It has a comfortable garden where you can sit down with friends or family, which is pretty unique in the heart of Amsterdam. It’s pretty hard to find some peaceful green space in Amsterdam, but here it’s included in the hotel. For the people who prefer to stay indoors there is also a comfortable lounge overlooking the garden, where you can sit down. And a cozy bar where you can sit down for some coffee or beverages like a typically Dutch gin.

Banks Mansion – All Inclusive Hotel

Banks Mansion hotel is a four star Art Deco hotel at a perfect location within the canal district of the historic city center of Amsterdam. The warm interior design is influenced by the styles of the Dutch architect Berlage as well as the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The hotel is near several attractions popular among the locals of Amsterdam, including The Dutch National Opera & Ballet, the Pathé Tuschinski cinema, the Rembrandt square and the Flower Market. The Rembrandt Square is a popular restaurant and nightlife area in Amsterdam, making this hotel perfect for an evening stroll. While the street of the hotel itself leads to two popular shopping squares, the Spui Square and the Koningsplein, which connect several popular shopping streets of Amsterdam.

What makes this hotel special compared to other boutique hotels is not only that it is housed in a former bank building, but also that almost all services that the hotel offers are included in the price of the rooms. Some examples of things included in the price are the extensive breakfast buffet, which of course include everything you need from pancakes to eggs, the drinks and snacks in the lobby area which are available 24 hours a day, the drinks from the minibar, the use of decanters with whiskey, cognac & gin and the Dutch and French cheese tastings between 5 pm to 7 pm. The hotel wants their guests to feel themselves more at home with this unique concept.

There are different types of rooms, but they all have air conditioning, free WiFi, free use of the Nespresso machine, a flatscreen television with films and sports channels and the bathrooms have a rainshower (and some even a bathtub). So you can be sure to all your needs are catered.

Of course as tourists guides ourselves we couldn’t help but the quiz the staff of the hotel. And the results were quite good. The professional staff of Banks Mansion is very willing to help you with your requests and has a great knowledge about the best places to visit in Amsterdam.

Hotel The Toren

Hotel The Toren is an award winning hotel located in two 17th century monumental buildings next to the canals of Amsterdam. Due to its luxurious decoration the hotel enjoys an intimate and royal ambiance with many classical elementals, giving the hotel a very warm atmosphere.

The hotel is located near the Anne Frank Museum on the Keizersgracht canal, within walking distance of the city center of Amsterdam at Dam Square and the shopping streets of the Nine Streets, making a stay at this hotel ideal for shopping trips.

The hotel has a wide array of rooms from larger luxurious rooms to smaller budget ones, so you can pick and choose what fits you. The staff has gone all out when designing the rooms by putting cozy bathtubs in many of them, where you can lay down, chandeliers hanging several rooms and of course the romantic designs. Of course the rooms also have a television, air conditioning and free wifi. The more luxurious rooms are equipped with spa whirlpool baths. There is also a hotel bar where you can enjoy some wine or a delicious cocktail.

As this hotel is located in an old monumental building it also has a small garden where you can sit down and relax. In Amsterdam many monumental buildings also have very narrow stairs that aren’t really suitable for wheelchairs and this building is one of them. But the hotel perfect for people who want to spend their days in Amsterdam shopping in a romantic setting.

Apollo Museumhotel Amsterdam City Centre

The Apollo Museumhotel can be found at the end of the most luxurious shopping street of Amsterdam, the P.C Hooftstraat, where you can find the latest high end fashion. The hotel is called the museumhotel for a reason. As this hotel is right in front of the Museum square, where you can find the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, which is the national museum of the Netherlands, and the famous IAmsterdam sign.

Within walking distance of the hotel you will also find the Leidseplein, which is both the cultural and nightlife center of Amsterdam. It is here that you will find the main Neo-Renaissance theater building of Amsterdam, the most famous dance clubs and of course many restaurants where you can dine in the evening. For people looking to escape the busy city life and who would enjoy a picnic in the heart of Amsterdam you’ll be happy to know that the Vondelpark, the biggest and most popular park of Amsterdam, is also right next door.

Due to its central location multiple trams stops can be found only a block away, from where you can explore the whole city. So if you are looking for a friendly priced basic hotel with friendly staff at a perfect location, this might be the one for you.

The characteristic hotel building actually consists of eight authentic monumental buildings that have been connected and has 188 hotel rooms. The Apollo Museumhotel and its rooms have a modern style design. The rooms aren’t that big, but in return you get a comfortable room, with a private bathroom, on a prime location. And it offers great facilities such as free wifi, air conditioning and a buffet breakfast.

If you are a light sleeper it is advised to ask for a room above street level as you are near the busy city center of Amsterdam. Everything considered this hotel offers great value for money.

No. 377 House

The No. 377 House is a three star hotel next to the charming Amsterdam canals. The hotel offers a modern, contemporary design giving it a peaceful atmosphere. The hotel has 15 quite stylish rooms. All of which come with free wifi and a flatscreen tv.

One of the key features of this hotel is that it lies right in the cultural and nightlife center of Amsterdam. But as it lies one street behind it all you will also be sure to enjoy a good night’s rest. It’s one street behind the busy nightlife area of Amsterdam called the Leidseplein, which is perfect for enjoying an evening out. The hotel is also within walking distance of the biggest museums of Amsterdam at Museum Square, including the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum.

The hotel is also well connected with the public transport. As when you head towards the Leidseplein you will also find plenty of tram stops that can bring you to the old city center within minutes. So all touristic sights of Amsterdam are at your fingertips.

Another great feature of this hotel is that it offers a great view over the canals of Amsterdam, which is one of the reasons why people go to Amsterdam in the first place. It’s not the biggest hotel, but if you are looking for great views, a good night’s rest and still being centrally located then it’s definitely worth checking out.

Hotel Sebastian’s

Hotel Sebastian’s is a warm and trendy hotel with very positive reviews. It’s located in the iconic Jordaan, a historic canal district popular among residents of Amsterdam who like to enjoy the true spirit of Amsterdam, while at the same time staying in the city center.

Right behind the hotel is the Haarlemmerstraat, which is a street where plenty of restaurants and bars are located. If you head south you will reach the Anne Frank house and a very notable canal shopping area called the nine streets. The hotel is also in walking distance of Amsterdam central station and Dam Square, the city center, which you can reach with a ten minute walk.

At the hotel you can rent a bike if they are available, so you quickly reach every corner of the city like a local. Of course every room also comes with free wifi and tv. The bathrooms are equipped with a shower, while the larger rooms offer a comfy bath.

Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel

The Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel is an authentic hotel that overlooks some of the most beautiful canals of Amsterdam. From your hotels you can enjoy the picturesque canals of Amsterdam with its bridges and house boats. The hotel has an excellent location as within walking distance you will find several major hotspots of the city.

The hotel itself lies on The Nine Streets, where you can find many boutique shops and unique items and galleries. If you go east you will find one of the most lively areas of the city, such as the Spui, where you can find countless of shopping streets in all directions. While if you go south to the Leidseplein you enter the cultural and and nightlife area of Amsterdam. Right below the Leidseplein is the Museum Square, where the Van Gogh museum can be found, and the Vondelpark, which is the biggest park of Amsterdam.

This family hotel is located in three lovely authentic canal houses, with original features like leaded windows, wooden beams and a very warm and homely feel to it. It’s certainly one of the older looking hotels on this list, which has its own charms. All rooms have a bathroom, so you can enjoy your shower or bath in private. On top of the television and free wifi the hotel also offers free warm drinks to its visitors.

Hotel Clemens

There is a shopping street right in between Dam Square, the city center of Amsterdam, and the Anne Frank house. It is here that you will find Hotel Clemens. It’s a picturesque hotel looking out over a shopping street. At a great spot in between the tranquil canal rings of Amsterdam.

As the hotel is not on street level, but above a shopping street, the hotel does have some of the notoriously steep stairs that Amsterdam is known for. But in return the hotel does have a neat balcony overlooking the streets.

The rooms of the hotel can differ a bit. All rooms have free wifi, cable tv and bathrooms are equipped with rain showers. But some rooms have some extras, such as a traditional fireplace or a balcony. The hotel is also clean and well maintained. And every morning you will find a proper continental European breakfast ready for you.

Hotel La Bohème

Hotel La Bohème is a hotel in one of the most lively areas of Amsterdam. It’s not the biggest hotel, but in return you end up right in the busy cultural and nightlife center of Amsterdam at the Leidseplein. With lots of restaurants, bars, some of the biggest clubs, such as the Melkweg and Paradiso nearby, one of the most popular smoking shops around the corner, cinemas and theaters nearby. And within walking distance of the museum square, the most luxurious shopping streets of Amsterdam and the Vondelpark.

The usual facilities such as a shower, free wifi and tv are available in all rooms. As with many 2 star hotels in Amsterdam we found the rooms of this hotel to be a bit on the smaller side, but everything was clean and had a modern feel to it. The stairs of the hotel were also quite steep, making this hotel especially suitable for younger people who are looking for clean hotel in a safe and central location.

The hotel is also well connected to the tram system of Amsterdam, so you can easily reach pretty much any place in the city by taking the tram from the Leidseplein which is right around the corner.

Tourist Inn Budget Hotel

The Tourist Inn Budget Hotel is conveniently located in the city center, between central station and Dam Square. It’s at a relatively busy location great for shopping and with lots of restaurants nearby. The hotel offers all the necessary facilities such as free wifi, tv, air conditioning, a proper breakfast and a couple available computers to internet on.

The hotel offers private rooms with private facilities for the regular travelers. But one of the distinct features of this hotel is that you can also get a shared room with shared facilities for up to six people for an attractive cheaper price, making it extremely suitable for backpackers on a budget.

Hotel Museumzicht

The name of Hotel Museumzicht means Museumview in English. The hotel is located in the cultural heart of Amsterdam right on Museum Square, where you can find the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, The Concert Building and more. A street behind it are the luxury shopping areas, the Vondelpark and the Leidseplein, which is the center of the nightlife in Amsterdam.

The hotel is easy to reach as the tram also goes to Museum Square. It’s a bit of a minimalistic hotel, with free wifi, located on the upper floors of an old Amsterdam mansion. As common in Amsterdam the hotel does have some steep stairs.

Hotel Corner House

Hotel Corner House is a budget hotel at a great location in the city center right behind Dam Square. The shopping streets are right behind the hotel. The hotel is also near a tram line in case you wish to travel across the city. Due to it being one street behind the busy streets it’s street is still relatively calm and you can still have a good night sleep. That’s why we love this hotel so much. You will also be well cared for as the hotel contains all the expected facilities such as free wifi, tv and a free breakfast.

Below the hotel in the lobby is a cozy Dutch bar with friendly personnel where guests can settle down after a day of shopping. It’s restaurant also offers some tasty international dishes and traditional Dutch food for the curious traveler.

The Hotel Corner House has won multiple awards for being the best hotel in Amsterdam in its class. So if you are looking for one of the best hotels in Amsterdam that offers the most value for your money, then you don’t have to take our word for it as the great reviews of this hotel speak for itself.

Police, fire brigade and ambulance in the Netherlands

Phone numbers starting with 0800, 0900, 088 and 112 could be called without an area code. The country code for The Netherlands is 0031. The area code for Amsterdam is 020.

– The European emergency phone number for police, fire brigade and ambulance: 112
– The phone number for police, non emergency: 0900 8844
– The emergency phone number of the family doctors in Amsterdam (Huisartenpost): 088 003 0600
– The phone number of the Public Health Service in Amsterdam (GGD): 020 555 5911
– The phone number of the Expat Medical Centre (and Tourist doctor services): 020 427 5011
– The phone number of the Dentist Mediation Desk: 0900 821 22 30 or 020 570 9595

Holidays and festivities in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a lot of quite unique holiday. On Kingsday for example the birthday of the Dutch King is celebrated. This is done by holding festivities across the country. And holding a nation-wide yard sale. All while wearing their customary orange clothing. The night before Kingsday students tend to go out drinking en mass to prepare for the holiday. As the weather also tends to be quite sunny and pleasant on Kingsday it’s a great day to visit the Netherlands.

The dates of most major holidays and festivities from the Netherlands and their dates are listed below. Some holidays or traditions have a date that varies per year.

Weather and climate in Amsterdam

The climate of Amsterdam is best described as an oceanic climate, which is due to its location near the North Sea. This leads to the Netherlands having four seasons which are considered quite mild. You usually won’t experience harsh weather in Amsterdam. The summers can be quite warm, but it’s usually still very tolerable. While the winters tend to be quite cool, but it won’t get far below freezing point. During every season you can expect some light rainfall. This makes Amsterdam a city that could be visited throughout the year, although the best time to visit the Netherlands is during the spring or during the summer, which is from March until September.

Opening hours in Amsterdam

Shops in Amsterdam are allowed to decide their own opening hours between 06:00 and 22:00 hours. So you will find that large retailers might be open until 22:00 hours, while small businesses might close down at 18:00 for dinner time. On the monday morning shops tend to be closed as trucks filled with new supplies arrive.

Opening hours of shops in Amsterdam are in general:

Be aware that on public holidays shops, post offices, banks, governmental councils, e.d. could have adjusted opening hours, or could even be closed for the day.

Passport and visa

Persons from an EU/EEA country and Switzerland only need a passport (or identification card) to have legal access to the Netherlands.

Check if your country is on the IND’s list with countries that require a visa. Here you can find the list of countries whose nationals need a Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days in de Netherlands.

If your country is on the list you need to get a Schengen visa, or a Transit visa.
A Schengen visa is required for a short stay for up to 90 days.
A Transit visa is required for changing flights in the Netherlands.

With a Schengen visa you are also allowed to travel to the other Schengen countries. But be aware that you have (copies of) the required documents needed to apply for a Schengen visa with you. It is possible that you need to show these documents at the border(s).

At the Dutch mission (consulate or embassy) in your country you can apply for a visa. If you also travel to other Schengen countries you should apply at the mission from the country where you will stay the longest.

Language spoken in Netherlands

The official language of Amsterdam, and the rest of the Netherlands, is Dutch. Which is a language that’s quite closely related to English and German.

The level of English fluency in the Netherlands varies from being able to answer basic questions to being able to speak fluent English. In general Dutch people are considered one of the best non-native English speakers on the planet, so most people do tend to speak English, at least to some extent. This means getting around should be quite easy for English speaking tourists. Dutch people are usually also quite happy to answer any questions from tourists, as the people are quite friendly and see those questions as an opportunity to finally being able apply their English skills. If you need any assistance its best to just approach a person, as Amsterdam is a very busy city where people are expected to just speak up if they have any questions.

Dutch schools put a large emphasis on learning foreign languages, so most people do speak at least one foreign language. A large portion of the population also speaks a third language besides English, which is usually German or French.

Tipping culture in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands waiters do not live off tips. However, it is common use to give a tip of about 5-10% in restaurants. If you have lunch giving a 1,5 to 2 euro tip should really suffice. In bars and cafés it is common for people to just round the price up to the nearest euro. Larger tips are not necessary, but will always be appreciated.

People in the Netherlands also tend to tip taxi drivers by rounding the amount up, although that isn’t a necessity.

Money and payments

The official currency in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands is the Euro. ATM’s are widely spread in Amsterdam, which makes it easy to get some cash. In the Netherlands most payments are made with debit card, cash or via internet banking.

It’s important to note that payments with credit cards are less common than in some other countries. Credit cards are necessary for hotel bookings or car rentals, but many shops do not accept them.

Fun facts about Amsterdam

Did you know that:
– Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands since 1808.
– Amsterdam has about 844.000 inhabitants.
– The metropolitan area of Amsterdam has about 2.431.000 inhabitants.
– More than 20.000.000 tourists visit Amsterdam annually.
– The largest part of Amsterdam is below sea level.
– With over a hundred kilometers of canals Amsterdam has more canals and bridges than Venice.
– Because of the abundance of canals and bridges the city center is made of 90 separate islands.
– Amsterdam Central Station is situated on three artificial islands.
– The Amsterdam Canal Ring is on the UNESCO world heritage list.
– Amsterdam has 8 windmills.
– Amsterdam has about 2.500 houseboats, which are used by people to live on water..
– Amsterdam has the most museums per square meter of all cities in the world.
– Amsterdam is the city with the most different nationalities in the world.
– English is the city’s second official language.
– Amsterdam has more than 30 parks.
– Amsterdam has almost 9.000 buildings and houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th century.
– For over 600 years only single women have lived at the courtyard Begijnhof.
– Amsterdam has the oldest stock exchange in the world, which was established in 1602.
– Amsterdam has more bikes than inhabitants.
– The bike is the most stolen object in Amsterdam.
– Every year about 15.000 bikes are removed out of the canals.
– Mokum is the byname of Amsterdam, which is Hebrew for city.
– Locals in Amsterdam city center prefer to have their curtains open (even in private situations).
– On warm summer evenings locals like to eat dinner on their doorstep or even on the streets.
– Amsterdam is a city built on more than 11.000.000 stilts.
– The Amsterdam Royal Palace on Dam square is built on 13.657 stilts.
– The canal houses are relatively small but very deep, because in the past taxes were based on the width of the houses.
– The smallest house of Europe is in Amsterdam at Oude Hoogstraat 22 and has a width of 2,02 meter.
– The Amsterdam Arena, home of football club A.F.C. Ajax, is the first stadium in Europe with an extendible roof.
– The Fo Kuang Shan temple at the Zeedijk is the first traditional Chinese temple in Europe.
– In Amsterdam a coffeeshop is not a café, they are licensed to sell cannabis products.
– Amsterdam’s three crosses on its coat of arms (weapon) symbolizes the crosses of St. Andrew and not porn.
– The Red Light District is one of the safest areas in Amsterdam, because of the continuous presence of police and security.

History of Amsterdam

The birth of Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a long and lively history. But compared to some other cities in The Netherlands like Utrecht (which was founded in the year 50 CE) and Nijmegen (founded in the 1st century BC) the founding of Amsterdam is still relatively recent. The floods of the river Amstel in the years 1170 and 1173 made locals decide to build a bridge and a dam at the Amstel river. These constructions ensured the name Aemstelredamme was given to the then still small fishing village. Over the centuries the name evolved into the current Amsterdam.

Amsterdam as a liberal refuge
Amsterdam prospered in the 14th century thanks to the trade with the Hanseatic League. De Wallen (which means the shores) area was founded in the 14th century and contains the Red light district. In the 16th century The Netherlands was known for its religious tolerance so Amsterdam attracted lots of people from foreign countries, including religious minorities, artists and philosophers. Examples are the Huguenots from France, Protestants from Flanders, Jews from the Iberian Peninsula and religious refugees from Spanish-controlled areas of Europe. The Jews gave Amsterdam its Hebrew name Mokum (which means “place”), a name which is still used by locals today.

The golden age
The 17th century became the Golden Age of Amsterdam. Amsterdam became the wealthiest city in the world and remained one of the richest cities for three centuries. It was leading in finance, spice trade and diamonds. Its port was also one of the most important ones in the world. The trading companies had a worldwide trading network from Amsterdam to all continents of the world. In 1602 the world’s first stock exchange market was founded in Amsterdam to fund the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch East India Company, which was headquartered in Amsterdam, became the richest company that has ever existed in human history, as it owned entire colonies and the biggest navy in the world. In this period the canals of Amsterdam were constructed to facilitate all the shipping of goods. The canal houses have beautiful gables and interesting architectural styles and facades which display the prosperity of that period. In the same period Dutch colonists settled on Manhattan Island in America and founded New Amsterdam, which was later renamed to New York on September 8th 1664.

Further expansion
Amsterdam had another important period of growth in the 19th century as the city became capital of The Netherlands and experienced it’s Industrial revolution. Furthermore the city had some major infrastructural improvements as a direct connection to the Rhine and a shorter connection to the North Sea was dug. This led to an expansion of the city where many new suburbs, a train station and museums arose.

The second world war
The Netherlands was invaded by Germany on May 10th 1940. During this period minorities were hunted down. Citizens exposed themselves and their families to great risks if they sheltered Jews. Nevertheless some citizens took that risk. One of the most famous stories of this period is that of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who wrote a diary while she and her family were hiding in secret rooms behind a bookcase. The damage caused by the Second World War and other events made it necessary to redesign large parts of the city. New suburbs were built and organizations were established to restore the city center.

Modern day Amsterdam
Nowadays Amsterdam is the most populous city in The Netherlands. The city has 825.080 inhabitants, the metropolitan area has 1.590.520 inhabitants and the city region about 2.431.000 inhabitants. As the Netherlands is quite densely populated the urban area around Amsterdam actually covers the entire Netherlands and extends all the way into Germany and Belgium. Yet the Netherlands has remained surprisingly green with it’s many grasslands, canals and farms. With 180 different nationalities, the city of Amsterdam counts more different nationalities than any other city in the world. Many buildings in the city center have become monuments and the Amsterdam canal district has been added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.