With an excellent location, extremely friendly and helpful owner and no major complaints whatsoever, the Heemskerk is easy to recommend, and it seems almost churlish to add a few buts...
As other reviewers have said, the location is great, in a refined quiet area with museums on the foorstep and excellent transport links via the tram system.
When you arrive at central station, just jump on a tram and for one euro 20 you are there in ten minutes. Dont get a taxi, its not worth it..
Our room was compact with a small bathroom, it had the usual items such as a mini-bar, TV etc, but you have to bear in mind this is in an old building which has been converted into a hotel and so there is not the space or level of comfort or furnishings that comes with modern purpose-built hotels. For many this may be part of the charm.
However, and here is my main sole reservation, while hotels in Amsterdam are expensive, and good ones on a budget difficult to find, this is no bargain. We paid approximately 140 euros a night and for an out of city centre location (though still conveniently close it has to be said) and for the level of comfort and furnishings, it is not cheap.
Again, I stress, Amsterdam is expensive for accommodation and undoubtedly, closer to Dam Square, there will be numerous hotels which are more expensive and less cosy, but compared to other European cities, and hotels I have stayed in, on the cost to comfort ratio, this does not particularly shine.
I have no hesitation in recommending it to people who are in Amsterdam for the museums etc, rather than the pot smoking and partying, and the owners etc are superb, just dont expect if you are paying 140 euros a night to come away thinking as well as good hotel, you have found a real bargain. That may be impossible to do in Amsterdam but I suspect if we return we may look again.
And one basic bit of advice, which is completely blindingly obvious but still - everything (food, drink etc) costs three times as much in the Dam Square area as anywhere else. Blindingly obvious, but dont sit down for a beer and find yourself paying 8 euros and being surprised!








