7 Hostels in Amsterdam for the Independently Minded Traveller

Generator Amsterdam, which is just a couple of tram stops from Centraal Station, lies inside a building dating from 1916 that used to be part of the University of Amsterdam’s zoological department. A mixture of modern and repurposed original fixtures creates a very memorable accommodation choice. The 564-bed hostel in Oosterpark – in the up-and-coming eastern side of the city near De Pijp – has quads, doubles, twins and suites, all with en-suite bathrooms. Communal areas include a library and games room, TV lounge, café, basement bar and a striking bar formed from a former lecture theatre.

Calling itself a “boutique hostel”, this former brothel near Albert Cuyp Market and the nightlife of Leidseplein aims to offer the luxury and comfort of a hotel with the atmosphere and budget of a hostel. With impressive features such as lofty ceilings, a regal round staircase, marble entrance and original chandeliers, Cocomama has everything from private doubles and three-bed family rooms to dorms with two, four or six beds. Note that some dorm bathrooms are shared. There’s a cinema, kitchen, garden and living room. The hostel also organises social events, including a board games night, bar crawls and weekly family-style dinners, to encourage guests to socialise.

This colourful hostel has dorms with four, six, eight or 12 beds as well as doubles and six-bed rooms for families or friends. With an artistic slant, WOW Amsterdam gives a great insight into the local arts community, with artists in residence, contemporary art spaces and cultural activities galore. Communal areas including a patio, restaurant and urban farm in the inner courtyard to inspire visitors to mingle.

ClinkNOORD is a large hostel, with more than 750 beds. Originally a laboratory built in the 1920s, the hostel has kept many features. It’s well-appointed, sitting on the banks of the River IJ in the up-and-coming Noord area that’s a good deal quieter than the centre. ClinkNOORD offers dorms ranging in size from four to 14 beds as well as private en-suite single, twin, triple and quad rooms. Communal areas include a self-catering kitchen, café, bar, library and lounges. Artistic features include stained-glass windows, and bright colours liven up the space. Guests can reach the hostel via the free 24/7 five-minute ferry from Centraal Station.

This delightful and stylish eco-conscious hostel, sister to Cocomama, is in the pleasant neighbourhood of De Plantage. Situated within the heart of Amsterdam, by the Waterlooplein Flea Market, Ecomama boasts a café and lounge areas with stacks of books and a vinyl collection. There are seven types of rooms, including the double private deluxe, the “hipster” five-bed dorm and the “el-cheapo” 12-bed dorm. It also has a self-catering kitchen and a tipi showing films nightly.

Situated in the Oud-West neighbourhood, CityHub isn’t your typical hostel at all. It has several aspects representative of a hostel, such as a communal feel, shared bathrooms and luggage stored in lockers. However, there’s privacy at this futuristic enterprise, as everyone sleeps in compact, windowless, sound-proofed hubs, or pods, each with a queen-size bed and app-controlled speakers and mood lighting. Features are modern but minimalist, such as a vending machine and self-service bar.

It may be one of the largest hostels in Europe (more than 75,000 people stay over the course of a year), but the bright and spotlessly clean Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark is very central and is close to Leidseplein and some museums. Uniquely located within Vondelpark – Amsterdam’s most popular open space – the hostel appeals to the young, old, families and solo travellers. Stayokay has a variety of shared and private rooms, all with en-suite facilities. Communal areas are large, including lounge spaces, work zones and a bar and restaurant. For families, there are film showings, games and even an Easter-egg hunt.