Amsterdam is one of my favorite capitals in Europe – it is small, it is buzzing, it is cute, it is stylish. Amsterdam just has a unique flair, it’s not trying to be a hip capital, it just is. Bikes and flowers, herbs and cheese – that’s what I like to be surrounded by. What better place to spend the weekend than in one of the city’s hippest hostels, ClinkNOORD?
This hostel chain opened their Amsterdam location in an old laboratory opposite of the central station – the perfect location for a city trip, as there is a ferry for pedestrians and bikes (duh!) going from the station to the other side of the river Ij 24/7 FOR FREE. Gotta love Amsterdam 🙂 It basically takes you 5 minutes to get to the city centre, and you even get a nice view and fresh breeze.
If you’re arriving with public transport, the ferry will be the best way to get to the hostel, it’s just 400m walking distance from there. Since I was driving, I asked at the reception and they directed me to free parking, a 15min walk from the hostel. In case you don’t know Amsterdam’s parking situation and prices, this is AWESOME! The Check In was super easy and friendly – I received my key card and a bracelet for the included breakfast for me and my Mom (they were kind enough to let her join me in my sponsored double room).
The hostel is HUGE and consists of different areas on different levels, like chill lounges, a bar and a café. Everything is super clean and well organized. I didn’t get a chance to check out the dorms, but my double room was impeccable, not exactly spacious but totally fine for a weekend.
A few notes: It is not possible to open the windows, there is a ventilation system in place though, so you can control the temperature and it’s not getting stuffy inside. Smoking and vaping in the rooms, the entire building and the entrance/stairs outside is not allowed, there will be a fine of 50€ if the smoke detector catches any smoke or vape. Each of you also has to show their keycard if you want to get in the building in the evening, and drinking in the rooms is not allowed, as well as drinks from outside. This is a huge hostel with many guests, so there are many systems in place and it’s very organized.
In the evening, the Zink Bar opens and you can share your day trip adventures over a beer and a burger. You even get one free drink voucher! There’s always some kind of program and special events, so you won’t be bored for sure. It almost feels like a hotel, but you still have access to a kitchen for self-catering, so you don’t have to spend too much money on eating out.
In the morning, the lower level turns into the breakfast area (you can choose if you want to have breakfast for an extra fee). I was pleasantly surprised about the quality of the food, usually hostels tend to serve a cheap and very small selection, but I actually liked the breakfast at ClinkNOORD. It’s worth paying the few extra €’s for! From Quinoa to Baked Beans & Scrambled Eggs, even vegetarians like me will be happy with the variety, and vegans have some options as well!
In summary, I would say ClinkNOORD is a great place to explore Amsterdam for a weekend. Most of the staff is very friendly and helpful, everything is organized and clean and the breakfast is quite tasty. Since it’s a big hostel, there are lots of people around so you can easily connect even if you’re a solo traveler.
If you book directly on their ClinkNOORD website, you can usually snag some great discounts and save a few bucks. Enjoy Amsterdam, you’re gonna love the city!
Wanna see what my day in Amsterdam looked like? Check out my Instastory-Video on FB here!
My stay at ClinkNOORD was sponsored. Nevertheless, this is my honest opinion about the hostel.
