ClinkNOORD

ClinkNOORD is a hostel in a 1920s Art Deco laboratory building right on the bank of the IJ in Amsterdam-Noord. The waterside location, directly across the river from Central Station, gives it a different feel from hostels in the old centre: more space, wide views over the water and a relaxed neighbourhood around it, while the city's main sights remain a short ferry ride away.

The hostel offers a full range of beds. Mixed dorms have between four and 14 beds, with en-suite bathrooms in the four- to eight-bed rooms and shared bathrooms in the larger ones. Female-only dorms of four to ten beds are all en-suite. Private rooms include singles, doubles, twins, four-bed family rooms and private four- to six-bed dorms, all with their own bathrooms, which makes it practical for families and groups of friends as well as solo travellers.

Reception and the café are open 24 hours a day, and the bar opens daily from 4pm to midnight, giving guests an easy place to meet others in the evening. Bookings, questions about facilities and special requests are handled through the hostel's online chat service.

ClinkNOORD suits backpackers, students and budget travellers who are comfortable with a short daily ferry trip and appreciate a calmer base. It is also a good choice for anyone interested in the creative venues of Noord. Book the type of room you need early in the summer and around big events, when demand is highest.

Getting into town is simple: the free ferry from behind Central Station runs across the IJ in about five minutes, and the crossing, with views of the harbour and skyline, soon becomes one of the pleasures of staying here. On the Noord side, the A'DAM Lookout and the Eye Filmmuseum are a few minutes' walk away, and the NDSM wharf, a former shipyard turned arts and events area, is reached by another ferry or by bike. Central Station itself, with trains to Schiphol and beyond, is the hub for the city's trams and metro, so the rest of Amsterdam is quickly within reach. Grocery shops and cafés in the surrounding streets of Noord cover daily needs.