My stay at the Hotel Jansen in Amsterdam was one of the most unique hotel stays I’ve probably ever had.
Instead of being just a dedicated hotel, though there are a few rooms for super short-term guests like myself, the Hotel Jansen preaches the slogan “Not For Tourists” and is designed more as a short to medium term stay for students or business visitors to Amsterdam.
On the ground floor there are a few hotel rooms but they’re specialized in providing reasonably priced accommodation for those living in Amsterdam for a month or longer.
However, this didn’t change the fact that I enjoyed a wonderful two nights at the “hotel” and I’m also on board with their monthly rentals as well.
The rooms are also catered more towards students and young professionals so I was able to meet and interact with a lot more people closer to my age compared to at a more typical hotel where no one really talks to one another and the age gap can be quite wide.
After speaking with Klaus (I hope I’m getting the name right) about the hotel I came to learn more about how the staff focus on providing a welcoming space for visitors and short-term guests to the city.
Jansen is a very popular name in the Netherlands and it’s meant to seem like you’re returning to a familiar place rather than simply showing up somewhere new.
Even the restaurant on the ground floor takes on a very warming and family-like name – Mama’s.
So as you can probably tell it’s not a very typical hotel and for some people this could present some concerns during a visit to Amsterdam but for those with an open mind the Hotel Jansen makes for a comfortable, reasonably priced, and welcoming place to stay in the city.
In this post I want to share the experience that had while staying at the Hotel Jansen and I also want to provide an in-depth review of my stay so that I’m further able to show other travelers why this hotel is one of the best in the city if you’re hoping to visit Amsterdam on a budget.
A Hotel Jansen in Amsterdam Review
Check-In and Interior
After walking off of the street, into the hotel, and straight through the small restaurant into the “reception” area I immediately knew that my stay at the Hotel Jansen was going to be different.
There wasn’t anyone at the check-in desk so after waiting for a few moments I walked into the restaurant to ask the staff about checking in.
The cook came up to me first, who then said something to a young lady making a coffee drink, who followed up and then introduced me to the general manager, Klaus.
Klaus greeted me and we sat down for a quick chat where he explained to me that the Hotel Jansen wasn’t like your typical hotel and that it’s “not for tourists.”
Despite this slogan I still find that it’s a great place for tourists that are willing to trade a few of the comforts of your typical hotel for something more personal and friendly.
Eventually Klaus lead me to my room and although the ground level interior of the hotel itself was quite bare – remember it’s actually a short-term residence – everything was clean and it was a straightforward process getting into the room.
Not having the reception desk constantly being manned by somebody actually turned out to be a good thing because I didn’t have to constantly go through that awkward greeting when you return back from exploring the city or when you leave and have to interact with the receptionist every time.
After getting into my room I didn’t have any interaction at all with any staff members of the hotel for the duration of my stay and I actually preferred this overall.
The Room
My room at the Hotel Jansen was perfect for what I needed as a base for exploring Amsterdam.
It had a very outdoorsy/nature design to it with paintings of birds and trees on the walls, faux-grass on the seat of the desk chair, and reclaimed wood making up an entire wall and the desk.
I really liked the natural vibe and the reclaimed wood made it seem much fresher and more comfortable compared to your standard, uninspiring hotel room.
Thanks to the two large windows there was plenty of natural light getting let into the room, even though I was on ground level, and this also helped make it seem more spacious and comfortable.
Up against the wall was the bed and it had one of the most comfortable mattresses that I’ve ever slept on before.
The desk was large, sturdy, and throughout the room was plenty of storage space for my small travel accessories and luggage as well.
One thing I noticed is that were also quite a few different power outlets throughout the room.
Usually when I stay at a hotel I have to move the bedside table or hunt around the room just to find one or two outlets but at at the Hotel Jansen there were quite a few scattered throughout the room.
This meant I was able to keep my devices charged and not have to worry about jumping out of bed to check my phone at the other side of the room like I sometimes have to do.
Also in the room was a small fridge and a little coffee making station along with a menu for the breakfast, lunch, and dinner options available at Mama’s Restaurant.
Overall, I found the room to be perfectly suited for my needs as a base to explore Amsterdam from and I would say that it was a suitable size for one or two people.
The Bathroom
The bathroom at the Hotel Jansen was just as nice as the room and the rest of the hotel.
It had a motion-sensor light so I never had to worry about turning on or off the lights when I was using the bathroom.
The walls featured paintings of different people and birds and this also helped to continue the unique and welcoming vibe of the property.
Towels were provided and there was also some soap and shampoo available as well.
One issue I had was that the water temperature wasn’t constant so sometimes it would maintain its temperature but other times it would get extremely hot or cold.
Other than the water temperature issue I didn’t find anything else wrong with the bathroom and I found it to be quite well-designed and spacious overall.
The Details
Cost
There aren’t actually that many hotel rooms available at the Hotel Jansen so I would recommend booking as soon as you have confirmed your travel dates.
Rates for the hotel start at around $110 USD per night.
I also noticed that there are rooms for the hotel available on AirBnb so you can check there as well if you don’t notice any availability on other hotel booking sites.
Given how expensive Amsterdam can be I find that this is quite a reasonable price per night for a hotel, especially given how comfortable the rooms are and how good of an experience I had staying here.
Although, for a similar price you could find an AirBnb or hotel room closer to the city center.
Location
For many people the location of the Hotel Jansen is going to be the biggest drawback.
It’s not located in the city center at all and the nearest tram stop to get into the tourist area of Amsterdam is about 10-15 minutes away on foot.
Getting to some of the main things to do in Amsterdam is going to take about 20-30 minutes depending on where you’re going, how fast you walk, and how lucky you are with the tram schedule.
Public transportation from the central station can take anywhere between 40-60 minutes.
Thankfully, using public transportation is pretty easy in Amsterdam and it makes it straightforward when it comes to getting around the city.
There also aren’t really any restaurants or small shops nearby to the hotel and you’re going to have to walk for 10-15 minutes to find something to eat or to grab a drink at a cafe.
To get around faster and easier it’s a good idea to consider taking Uber as this would make it much easier to get into the city center or to the central train station.
On the other hand, I didn’t find this to be a problem at all.
It was an enjoyable walk from the hotel to the nearest tram station through a quiet natural area and at night the area was extremely quiet so I wasn’t woken up by screaming tourists, church bells, or the sounds of traffic.
If the location is something you’re able to deal with or overlook then this is otherwise a great hotel for a much more competitive price than you would find directly in the city centre.
Wi-Fi
The wireless internet at the Hotel Jansen was amazing.
I didn’t have any issues connecting, the signal strength was strong, and it was very fast even during peak hours.
I was able to upload photos, upload videos to Youtube, use video streaming apps, and browse the internet without any problems at all.
This is another thing you don’t run into too often at typical hotels, where the internet is usually slow and the speeds really start to choke during peak hours, and I was quite pleased with the wi-fi all around.
Parking and Accessibility
Since I arrived at the hotel from the train station I’m not too sure about the nearby parking.
I would imagine that because of its location that it would be possible to find on-street paring – otherwise I recommend checking out the options available for parking in Amsterdam.
As for accessibility, like I already mentioned it’s about a 40-minute or so tram ride and walk from Amsterdam Centraal so if the weather isn’t good or you don’t feel like figuring out public transportation then you’ll want to consider ordering an Uber to reach the hotel.
None of the main tourist sights are located nearby and you’re going to have to use public transportation or Uber for getting around.
Final Verdict
I really enjoyed my stay at the Hotel Jansen and it was one of the best and most unique hotel stays I’ve ever had despite staying at plenty of 4 and 5 star hotels throughout Europe.
There’s nothing too dramatic or over the top about it – but that’s where the beauty of the hotel lies.
The staff are very welcoming and you’re able to enjoy a comfortable, well-equipped, and spacious room for a reasonable price without having to deal with all the formalities of staying at a typical hotel.
The biggest complaint of mine is that I wasn’t able to spend even more time at the hotel!
Overall, if you’re looking for a great hotel in Amsterdam that’s competitively priced and makes for a great base to explore the city from then I would definitely recommend checking out the Hotel Jansen.
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