Hotel Kooyk Amsterdam Review

Having stayed in the Hotel Kooyk on three separate occasions, I am pretty well placed to write a review on the place.

The Kooyk is a small and friendly family run hotel situated just round the corner from the Leidseplein (Square) which is a major tourist spot, especially at night. Although quite basic, the room rates are reasonable and I always found the rooms to be clean despite the comments some folk have left at TripAdvisor.

The hotel is run by a chap called Moonen and his wife who is actually Irish. They were both very friendly any time I stayed there before and the whole hotel has quite a relaxed atmosphere. There are nineteen rooms and showers downstairs (none of the rooms we stayed in before had their own bathroom or shower). Toilets are located on each floor and are clean but slightly cramped.

Breakfast was always basic but good any time we stayed at the Kooyk. It was the basic Dutch staple breakfast choices of bread, cheese and ham with fantastic coffee. Tea, eggs and cereals were also on offer.

The Kooyk's main selling point however, is the location. Just two minutes round the corner is the Leidseplein. The Leidseplein is a major tourist haunt at night and features street artists, performers and all manner of entertainment. A number of bars have seats outside looking on to the square and it's a pleasant place to pass some time in the evening.

Also situated close by is a stop for the Tourist Canal Boats as well as a point for hiring pedalos. There are many bars and restaurants within minutes of walking distance of the Kooyk. Around the Leidseplein there is a large range of international restaurants from Argentinian to Greek to Spanish. The Indonesian restaurants of which there are a few are particularly special. If you are feeling particularly hungry, try the 'ristafel' or 'rice table' which showcases up to thirty different dishes available from the restaurant.

The Kooyk is also well situated for some of the best museums in Amsterdam. The rijksmuseum is only ten minutes walk away as is the fantastic and world renowned Van Gogh Museum. You could in fact spend your entire Amsterdam holiday within the vicinity of the Kooyk quite happily and not have to venture further afield. The area is particularly suited to families and children and is a pleasant and safe area to wander even at night.