10 Best Hotels in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ideal for the eco-conscious traveler who appreciates modern design, this bright and airy hotel on the west side of Vondelpark features furniture made from recycled materials, bio-certified linens, eco-smart showers, bicycle rentals, an organic breakfast buffet and a lobby store selling eco-products like snacks and travel accessories. Good-size guest rooms feature Coco-Mat beds, and some have small balconies with city views. Additional locations include Westerpark and Museumplein.

An urban industrial look permeates this hip hotel in the former Volkskrant newspaper plant, which has been completely transformed into an affordable space to stay, work, drink, dance, do yoga, and even get your hair cut. The rooms are cool but basic, with a mod red-black-and-gray color scheme, and sleep up to four; nine of them are “special rooms” designed by artists-in-residence—like the wacky “White Bike Room,” where you sleep in a big bakfiets (a Dutch bicycle cart) in a room decorated with bikes, and two white bicycles are included in the price of your room. You'll find creative types on their computers in the large workspace off the lobby, chatting over drinks in the adjacent bar or unwinding in the seventh-floor restaurant, club, and terrace with panoramic city views. 

The rooms at this early-20th-century house opposite the Concertgebouw are more simple than stylish, but they're spotless, featuring neutral tones and photographs of famous jazz and pop musicians. They also come in a range of sizes, with single, double, triple, and quadruple rooms. The main museums are within walking distance, and the Jordaan is only a few tram stops away.

A touch of the 19th century still hovers about this family hotel, which is located on a quiet street in Centrum, but recent refurbishments mean that everything looks spick-and-span. Clean and contemporary guest rooms are split between singles and twins, decorated in a color scheme inspired by the large reproductions of famous artworks on the walls---most of which can be viewed in the nearby Museum District. There’s a lovely lounge area to relax in, with comfy chairs, molded ceilings, and chandeliers.

This sleek, modern hotel has industrial accents like metal rails, tall windows, and polished concrete that pay homage to its former use as a tram depot. The rooms have a relaxed, Scandinavian feel and modern design accents along with comfortable Coco-Mat beds and leather headboards; suites include spacious Jacuzzi tubs. Guests can hang out the intimate Red Bar, with colorful couches and decor, or dine at Remise47, the “urban bistro” serving classic French-international cuisine downstairs. Or simply stroll around the corner to choose from the many eateries at De Foodhallen.

On the site of a former penitentiary in one of Amsterdam's newest neighborhoods, Bajeskwartier, is a new "home-hotel hybrid" that offers stays from one day to six months---it's a good option for those looking to combine the community-feel of a hostel with the privacy of a hotel. Rooms exude an industrial-chic vibe but are fairly basic, with a subdued color scheme. Concrete walls recycled from the demolished prison cells are adorned with arty prints of Amsterdam's modern landmarks. All rooms have a comfy queen size bed, a kettle and coffeemaker, a small fridge, a work area, and a private en suite bathroom with a rain shower and luxurious Marie-Stella-Maris bathroom amenities. Guests have access to communal kitchens and fully equipped pay-per-use laundry facilities and there's a large café off the lobby.

At this budget hotel most guest rooms have shared bathrooms, but etchings hang on the walls, much of the furniture is antique, and the Rijksmuseum looms just outside the windows. Functionally furnished with vintage pieces (not in a hip way, mind you), the small rooms look dated, but they come equipped with modern box-spring beds and free Wi-Fi. A free continental breakfast is served in the cozy breakfast room/lounge, which is filled with Delft blue tiles, antique collectables, and vintage board games. Note, though, that the hotel occupies the top floors of the building, and guests must climb a narrow and very steep stairway to the reception desk and the rooms—the owner highly recommends traveling light. During busy periods, there's a two-day minimum length of stay.

If you've always wanted to stay in a hidden room behind a library bookcase or sleep inside an old tram car, this quirky budget hotel, inside a large brick complex in the up-and-coming De Baarsjes area, is for you. Artists from the Eindhoven Design Academy have built out concepts like the Casa No Casa (in the style of a Spanish villa) and the Printed House Room (where much of the decor, down to the comforter cover, has literally been printed) to create 23 unique places to sleep—although that's pretty much all they are, since each is only big enough for a bed or two, very spare, and (most) share a large communal bathroom reminiscent of a hostel. That said, guests are encouraged to spend more time hobnobbing in the sleek, industrial bar (cheekily named Kevin Bacon), lounging in the comfy couches in the sitting area, or exploring nearby restaurants.

The well-designed public areas and guest rooms are a pleasure to experience, a hip showcase of contemporary furnishings that lend a spacious and welcoming atmosphere to this good-value boutique hotel on the edge of the Eastern Canal District. The staff are openly passionate about Amsterdam and keen to point guests to the latest nightspots and best new eateries. The popular De Pijp area and the world-famous Museum District are an easy walk away. When you're done exploring, settle into the massive leather couch in the lobby to enjoy a drink.

Once merchants' abodes, these three quirky, charmingly lopsided 17th-century canal houses, near Centraal Station, now welcome guests in comfortably modern though fairly simple rooms with spare furnishings and black-and-white-photo print wallpaper of old Amsterdam. Single travelers take note: Singel Hotel still offers single rooms, a rare feature in Amsterdam hotels these days. Rooms in front have a view of the Singel canal through large sash windows. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.