This B&B is in a lovely terraced period building on the outskirts of all the main attractions in Amsterdam. A short tram ride takes you to the centre from outside the B&B, or it's an easy 5 to 10 min walk to things like the Van Gogh Museum. You make your own breakfast in a tidy little kitchen with lots of great retro pots and pans - my only complaint about breakfast is there could perhaps have been fresher bread each day! It's a nice idea though, as you can get out of bed whenever you like, and eat whatever you want - including fresh eggs from the owners own chickens he keeps in the garden. It's quite a strange set up, with collections of various miscellania, but quirky and different. The owner was very pleasant, friendly and extremely helpful, and not at all imposing. We had an enourmous bedroom, which overlooked the back garden. It was absolutely freezing outside, snowing every day, but the room was very warm and comfortable. I would recommend this if you like being independent, and enjoy something a bit different, but probably not if you are used to big hotel chains. A top for signtseeing - the I Amsterdam card is excellent value. We ate at Pasta e Basta, which was a fantastic and fun experience (the waiters and waitresses all sing) with very tasty food!

Every wonderful thing that has been said on this forum about Karel Poels and his Collector B and B is true and then some. We spent a week there in August of this year and could not have been happier. From the impeccably clean rooms to the access to a fully stocked kitchen to the kindness of Karl doing a load of laundry and providing extra packing material to protect an expensive vase for carrying home, everything was perfect. He has thought of everything to make his guest’s stay stress-free, but it is the little touches we noticed like a fully stocked first aid kit in the hall, a scale in the foyer to make sure your luggage does not weigh too much going home, free internet with a printer and all the wonderful food in the kitchen, etc. He has thought of everything to make your stay perfect. You can’t go wrong staying here.

It's a really nice place to stay, very comfortable and very quiet. The hosts are very nice people and helped us with everything. It's a little bit away of the downtown, but it will take you 5 min by bycicle to get there and it's worth it, because the neighbourhood is so quiet you'll love to wake up in the morning and see all those plants and the chikens in the backyard.

Javi&Vicky -- Barcelona

We spent 12 days at "The Collector B&B" (partly work and partly vacation) and this was the best experience we have ever had. Everything was perfect: location (both central and quiet), room (spacious, clean, and comfortable), breakfast (excellent choice of food, large well-equipped kitchen), and, of course, the host, Karel, who was always there when we needed him. I special feature of the place are all these wonderful collections everywhere (clocks in one room, musical instruments in another, and much much more just everywhere). We will definitely stay there if/when we go to Amsterdam again. I strongly recommend considering The Collector as the place to stay in Amsterdam. One warning: book early if you want to have a room.

Sergei Gelfand, Galina Kovaleva, Providence, RI USA