Just back from 4 nights at Hotel Kasteelen it is true what they say the location, cleanliness and breakfast are all top notch. It's very good value and the staff are friendly and helpful they took care of our bags etc, helped us find a hotel for one night in Rotterdam and booked a good value cab to the airport.

It's in a lovely neighbourhood and is good value- highly recommended!!

There's a lovely casual restaurant in the neighbourhood called the Knipe they serve food into the late evening and is worth a visit.

My family and I stayed here for two nights in April 2007. This hotel has its pros and cons, though I believe the negative outweighs the positive. The hotel staff was very nice, although they did not know how to operate the safe in our room so we had to lug everything with us when we went out. The staff (really just one lady) seemed overworked although she was very pleasant.

The hotel is in an excellent location. We were able to walk throughout most of the city within two days. The tram stops about three blocks from the hotel and leaves you in the center of the city if you do not wish to walk. This hotel is located about three blocks from both the Van Gogh museum and the Rijkmuseum. There is a canal boat cruise that stops nearby as well.

The included breakfast buffet was served in a small dining area behind the lobby. The buffet consisted of cereal, breads and croissants, meats and cheese. A carafe of coffee or tea is brought to the table. One morning we were offered eggs. The breakfast room was understaffed (the same person working the lobby worked the breakfast room) resulting in breakfast foods and drinks not being replenished and croissants being burnt.

The hotel room was the part I absolutely disliked. For the price (about 220 US dollars/night) I felt the room could have been bigger and the view nicer. Our room was a double with a cot for our son. We could barely walk around the room. We had to open our suitcase on the stand by the entrance and pry our way around it to get out. The bathroom was very small as well. The water pressure was virtually nonexistent. The room had a large window that faced the backyards of some houses. We had to climb on the cot to open the window. One of these houses had construction going on that began early in the morning resulting in noise in our room.

Overall I would only recommend this hotel if you wish to stay near the museum district and do not mind sleeping in a tiny expensive room. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone else.

Stayed here for a four nights between Christmas and New Years and was very impressed with this hotel.

First thing to note this that this isn't a "hotel" as you might expect: no room service, no 24-hour reception. It is a small hotel with limited front desk hours, and obviously in an adapted row (terraced) house. As such, don't expect the services of a full service hotel.

Pros:

* Small, intimate hotel; very good and friendly service
* Great location very close to multiple tram lines (which are THE way to get around); easy walking distance to the musuemplein (Van Gogh & Rijks). Direct tram to centraal station.
* Very quiet residential neighbourhood (and a world away from the somewhat tacky tourist traps of Damrak downtown)
* Once checked in, you have 24 hour access to the hotel with your room key
* Excellent breakfast selection including fresh eggs
* A number of good restaurants within walking distance (on Van Baerlestraat)

Cons:

* Limited check-in hours
* Room was on small side (not unusually so for european cities, though); but bathroom was huge
* Unusual shower/bath combination - the shower "door" only covered half the length of the bath, so you couldn't help gettting water spashed over the (tiled) floor
* My first night was cold (but I think that was because they'd been closed for Xmas & Boxing day); other days and nights were pleasent
* In cold weather (which it was when I was there) the window area was cold; but the curtain was think and big enough to cut out draughts and keep the heat in the room
* A little expensive

Overall, highly recommended. I'd definitely stay here again on my next trip to Amsterdam.

after reading earlier reviews we were looking forward to our first stay in amsterdam and in particular hotel kasteelen,however this never happened. we had been delayed on our flight from coventry airport because of a diversion to another airport, we didnt land untill 22.00 hrs which was about 90 mins later than we should have been and the same time as the last booking in time at the hotel so I rang as soon as possible to inform them of our delay, the receptionist said he would wait another 30 mins. As this was our first time in amsterdam and unfamiliar with the local transport we didnt realise just how long it would take us to get to the hotel.after a train ride, tram and then a 10 min walk we eventually arrived at the hotel at around 23.15
we had to knock on the door as the hotel was obviously closed
and patricia the owner came to the door but told us we were too late to book in, after trying to explain our reasons for being late it was obvious we were not going to stay at the hotel and I would like to add not once did I raise my voice or get abusive,so we were left to find alternate accommadation at nearly midnight.
we eventually ended up in dam square and found a hotel (see my review for hotel citadel) so if you are thinking of staying at this hotel make sure you have plenty of time to get there or have alternative hotels in mind just in case