We had a week's stay in The Keizershof Hotel in mid October and we couldn't have been more pleased we chose this property. Ideally located on one of the central canals, it is within easy walking distance of Amsterdam's main attractions and has an abundance of restaurants and shops in the surrounding vacinity.
We had the Charlie Chaplin third floor room overlooking the canal which was a pleasant sight to wake up to each morning. As others have mentioned, the trip up to the third floor does mean negotiating three spiral staircases but we soon got used to them and were virtually running up them by the end of the week! (slight exaggeration). Don't let it put you off. They're managable if you are marginally fit. The room was large, bright and airy and spotlessly cleaned every day.
Breakfast is served each morning in the De Vries family dining room and they are welcoming and knowledgable hosts. The food is plentiful and excellent - fruit, yoghurts, cereals, fresh bread, cheeses, omlettes, pancakes and of course, Dutch Apple Cake!
Amsterdam is a walking (or cycling) city and The Keizerhof is in a perfect location for exploration. Museum Square is a 15 minute stroll and The Hermitage (at the moment housing the Van Gough collection as the Van Gough Musuem is closed) is around 10 minutes, crossing the Amstel River at the bottom of Keizersgracht. Nightlife is also close with Rembrantsplein, Liedesplein and Dam Square easily walkable. In the week we were there, we only boarded a tram once on the way from the airport.
The De Vries are a mine of information about Amsterdam and are only too pleased to recommend what to see and where to eat. Ernest recommended we purchase a MuseumKart (available from all the major museums) which gives a years unlimited access to all museums in the Netherlands. At the cost of just under 50 Euro, it saved us a fortune as entrance to museums such as The Hermitage and The Rijksmuseum carry a hefty price tag. It also allows access to smaller, more intimate canal house museums such as Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (highly recommended) in the heart of the Red Light District, Museum Van Loon a few doors down from the hotel and the wonderful Dutch Resistance Museum in Plantage. Having the card also gives us an excuse to return within the next year!
This is an excellent hotel and we can't recommend it highly enough. Great location, a warm welcome, plenty of good food and insider tips to ensure your trip to Amsterdam is a great one.
- Also Known As:
- Keizershof Hotel Amsterdam
