First up let me say that my review of the Hans Brinker Hotel is based on the fact that it is a "hostel" and not really a hotel as the property itself states.

A group of four of us stayed two nights during the weekend. Our two rooms were on the top floor of the building (4th floor) and it cost €35 per person for an ensuite twin room (a decent enough price for amsterdam).

Location is ideal not far from central station (five stops on the tram) and in very quiet area of town, away from all the partying of the red light district. The property has its own bar and even its own disco deep in the basement which is open till 5am on saturday night serving really cheap drinks.

For the money the Hans Brinker is a decent choice if one is looking for budget private rooms in Amsterdam, however don't expect the service or opulence of a four star establishment or you will be sadly disappointed

Just returned from my stay at the Hans Brinker hostel, seems I've had it easy in comparison to others. I stayed there with my college so didnt have the problem of staying with strangers. My inital reaction to arriving to the hostel 10.30pm sunday night was 'run-down'. I had imagined it to be posher! But having not stayed at a hostel before I guess I was a bit naive. The shock came when we saw our rooms-PRISON CELL! With just our bunk beds (which dont have ladders or railings) lockers, and railings across the window, we were shocked. However cant complain, we did have our own bathroom! For 'Hans Brinker' novices, the showers are like standing in light rain so might take a while to wash long hair, if youre on the top bunk try to put your mattress on the floor to avoid falling out the bed, and you have to show your key anytime you want to enter the hostel. There is a sign saying that but having not seen it, I just thought it was dodgy automatic door! Get a safe key for downstairs to put important items e.g money and passport. Bring earplugs for sleeping, people are very noisy at night. No matter how late it is! The rest of the hostel is quite good, the bar has interesting drawings on the walls and happy hour is 5-6pm meaning drinks are buy 1 get 1 free. Club has a dancing section with a pole! Breakfast is a bit strange-only the bread, ham and cheese is free! So not very healthy but suppose its what the Dutch do. Over all an alright experience at the Hans Brinker. To UCCA Canterbury students coming here Oct 2007-the hostel is fine if you dont expect luxury. Have fun!

This is quite simply the worst hotel on earth.
The inside decor is vile and mouldy. The staff are the most unhelpful I've ever come across. Most girls staying on their own don't feel safe... and the staff aren't willing to help them or move them to another room, so you have to stay in a room with any kind of men (usually who are high). Even though I stayed with 3 other girls and 2 men in one room, none of us girls felt safe.
The cleaner took away my own personal towel - then when I went to ask for a new replacement I was accosted by a member of staff who 'told me off' for taking a new towel. How rude.
You cannot relax in this place and can't enjoy it.
They also have weird jokes om postcards which just aren't funny... like a guy with a black eye saying I enjoyed myself at Hans Brinker. Very bizzarre. Don't stay there.

I was very disappointed with the Hans Brinker. I've stayed in budget hotels before, but this was the worst ever. I booked 5 days there and had to leave after 2 because I couldn't take it anymore. If you want to rest, forget it, the hostel is loud 24 hours a day. People yelling inside and outside, doors opening and closing at all hours, and at 10am, check out time, it gets even worse. The breakfast is barely edible. They run out of things quite fast, so you have to beg for more. There is constantly a huge line at the reception, whether for check-in, check-out, asking a question. They seem to be quite understaffed and the reception staff is particularly unfriendly (not all of them). We had a double room, but the sheets seemed to be for a single bed, so you were basically sleeping on the dirty mattress. The sheets and pillows don't seem very clean anyway. Our bathroom was large, but it smelled like a sewer constantly. Staying in the room was like being in a hospital or a prison, I can't quite decide. The hostel is in a great area, but right in front of it, there is loads of trash, even though there are two bins right in front of it! And what's more, the hostel is not even that cheap. It costs 70 euro for 2 people and you can get wonderful hotels, which are also close to everything for 80/90 euro. I must say that it is a party hostel, so for those looking for that, it may be an appropriate hostel. Other than that, I wouldn't recommend it - ever.