NL Hotel District Leidseplein

Guests don’t tend to interact much in this modern, 13-room hotel that’s contained in an authentic Dutch canal house on a busy street. The lobby has a striking appearance for a small space, with striped hardwood floors, black walls, and a bright orange reception desk. The lobby area doubles as the breakfast room, so it can get rather cramped during peak times. Like the staircases leading up to the upper floors, the hallways are narrow and a bit dark. Exposed brick along a wall leading down to the basement rooms reveals the historic building’s bones. It’s a relatively quiet hotel once everyone settles down for the evening, but it’s easy to hear other guests coming and going. Mostly vacationing couples stay here, but the larger, multi-bed rooms attract some families and larger groups on getaway weekends. 

The hotel is located in an authentic Dutch canal house on the busy Nassaukade. It overlooks the Singelgracht Canal that’s on the outer circle of the city’s Canal District. While not in the heart of the city, it’s still convenient to most attractions. A restaurant is next door, and many other shops and restaurants are a short walk away.

• Six-minute walk to lively Leidseplein Square and its tram stop
• 13-minute walk to Van Gogh Museum 
• 17-minute walk to Vondelpark and Heineken Experience
• 19-minute walk to Royal Palace and Dam Square
• 25 minutes on foot (or via public transit) to Rembrandt House Museum 
• 18 minutes by public transit to Centraal Station for tram and train connections 
• 20 minutes by public transit to where Red Light District tours depart
• 30 minutes to Schiphol Airport by public transit (20 minutes by car)

The rooms are decorated in a decidedly modern fashion using bright colors and artistic graphics. The Comfort Rooms we saw featured sky blue walls complemented by upholstered chairs, ottomans, and padded headboards with distinctive blue-and-white geometric patterns. Striped hardwood floors, huge tulip prints on some walls, and white duvets are standard design features. Bathrooms are the most attractive aspect, but the stylish frosted glass doors that separate them from bedroom areas don’t provide complete privacy. Handsome tan natural stone lines the bathrooms, which have roomy glass walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. The Family Room we saw had a separate tub and shower in its larger bathroom. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, safes, free bottled water, and flat-screen TVs. Upgraded Comfort Rooms with Canal Views and Family Rooms feature Nespresso coffeemakers and mini-fridges. The views from the Canal View rooms are quite nice, but other rooms face walls and basement rooms have small windows.

The rooms are generally clean and well maintained, but there were obvious signs of wear on some walls and furniture in rooms we saw. Several past guests also have reported minor issues with upkeep, ranging from sporadic housekeeping to broken light fixtures and musty smells. Ambient noise from the busy street, hallways, and other rooms is noticeable (earplugs are provided).

Amenities are limited at this small hotel in central Amsterdam. Continental breakfast with fresh fruit, yogurt, pastries, and cereal is served daily, but it’s not included in room rates. It can be included with the price of a room for a modest fee. The breakfast room just off the lobby has several tables, and it can fill up at peak times. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the hotel, and loaner laptops and pre-paid mobile phones are available. The hotel also rents bicycles for a small daily fee. No parking is available on-site, but staff can help arrange parking at a nearby public garage. Staff also can help arrange transportation and secure tour tickets. Please note that there is no elevator service, so guests staying on the upper floors of the four-story building must climb steep and narrow staircases.