The Best and Most Unique Airbnb in Amsterdam 2024
Coley and I visited Amsterdam in April, and I miss it so much already! There's always something so magical and meaningful about visiting a country for the first time, and Amsterdam was no exception. From the beautiful canals to the endless frite spots, our week away in the Netherlands was one we'll never forget. That being said, I know we're all here for one thing and one thing only: to hear ALL about the best Airbnb in Amsterdam!
We stayed in our Airbnb for almost a full week, so I feel like I'm well-equipped to give a full review of the location. There were so many things I loved about it, and so many unique elements to share! But before we dive in, let's start high-level with how I even found this perfect place.
Why an Airbnb?
Okay, I won't lie to you all, I LOVE hotels. Like truly. I love that people come and change your sheets, I love having fresh towels, and I love everything about a hotel experience. But there are just some cities where a hotel just isn't it! Amsterdam is one of them. I checked out a ton of hotels in Amsterdam before deciding ultimately on the Airbnb route, and I'll tell you why.
Most of the hotels are by the airport (Schiphol), and it's such an inconvenient location. Also, a lot of them were SO expensive, and as much as I wanted to spend, I knew realistically I couldn't. I also thought about how Amsterdam is a city where I want to blend in with the locals as much as I can! I wanted the real experience of living by the canals, within walking distance of all the cute cafes. So with that in mind, we started looking.
Finding an Airbnb in Amsterdam
Not going to sugarcoat it, it was difficult finding an Airbnb for April in Amsterdam! We had picked our dates based on our own personal schedules, and we didn't take into account that April is one of the most popular times to visit Amsterdam. We learned later that this timing is so popular because the tulips bloom during this time and a lot of Europeans have school holidays during this month, so keep that in mind if you're looking to go in the spring! Coley and I are the definition of planners, so we also planned this trip super far in advance. I want to say we started looking at Airbnbs in August and started (trying) to book in September!
Keyword: trying. Okay, maybe Coley and I were trying to plan too far in advance, but it was soo aggravating booking Airbnbs with hosts who were unprepared! We tried to book this Airbnb and then this other Airbnb, but both times our Airbnb host rejected us because they had forgotten to change their April pricing. We would look at the bookings again, and the hosts had both jacked the prices up so high since apparently, April is a super popular time to visit Amsterdam to see the tulips. It was SO annoying and honestly felt shady.
We knew we wanted to be close to the Jordaan area, and this one was only a street over from that part of the city! Luckily, we found this gem, and our very kind hosts Romke and Matay accepted our request, YAY. I think everything happens for a reason anyway, and we lucked out with honestly the most perfect location and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
About Our Airbnb
This is going to be the longest section, so settle in. The original listing said: "Amazing canalview (55m2) ground floor space, excellent location on Keizersgracht (Jordaan district) with many specialty stores and coffee/restaurants. Private living room with large canal view and separate bedroom with courtyard view. Very convenient, no stairs in this authentic 17th century monumental merchants house. Beautifully furnished with design, huge bed 1,80m/2,00m, fridge, TV, BOSE speaker, Nespresso, water heater, towels, bathrobes, private bathroom, WC, notebook + fresh flowers." Now that we know what was advertised, let's break down the description to see if it was actually accurate!
I 100% back that it has an amazing canal view. Honestly, it probably was one of my favorite parts of the place. The central location allowed you to explore so much, from restaurants to coffee shops to shopping (I shopped so much haha). This Airbnb is also really close to the Anne Frank House and many other major attractions in Amsterdam. Things like the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum were only 15 to 20-minute walks, so I really felt like the entire city was at our fingertips.
It was definitely true that you get a private living room and a bedroom! For me I think I skimmed this part of the listing so I thought it was the entire home we got, but it was fine. The private room is right by the front door, so it's not like you're walking through a whole home before getting to your space. I will say if you're a light sleeper, you may wake up every time someone enters or exits the home. Even though you do not get a private entrance, it really does kind of feel like a private apartment. You get lots of natural light and I LOVED the high ceilings in this place.
The hosts Matay and Romke truly have the BEST interior design. It's a beautiful home, and really has so much character and thought put into it. It's a great mix between modern design and classic Dutchm, especially since it's a historic building. Matay actually gave us a tour of the whole place and I was obsessed with his grand piano room in particular. It seriously was so stunning! If you have time, definitely chat with Matay and learn about the history of the house. It's so worth it.
This Airbnb had a super comfortable bed that I think was a king-size bed, but could be wrong. It definitely was big! I also loved the sheets and quilt that they gave us. Everything felt super clean which I really appreciated. We were there in April and it got SUPER cold at night, but I loved it. You don't get a lot of control over temperature though, so if you get cold easily maybe ask for blankets when you go. There's only one bed, so perfect for a solo trip or romantic getaway.
The refrigerator, TV, and BOSE speaker were all things I had trouble finding. I still have no idea where the refrigerator was, but I think Coley found it. The TV and the BOSE Speaker were tucked away into one of the closets, but you can definitely break it out if you want to use it. It really wasn't a big deal to me though. A good excuse to detox the screens!
The shower and bathroom were probably the most interesting parts of the Airbnb. Both were definitely previously closets and renovated to be a shower and bathroom, so I'll warn that they're quite small compared to American showers and bathrooms. The bathroom has a tiny sink but works fine, and the walk-in shower is very small (and has a sink too!). I will say it wasn't my favorite part, but the water got hot fast and had good water pressure so honestly, not much to complain about.
I do wish there was a full length mirror for me to use, but again, I'm nitpicking. What made this Airbnb so iconic were the large windows and high ceilings, all while located in the heart of Amsterdam. Not to mention I felt incredibly safe here, especially as a woman of color!
About the Hosts
The listing is under Romke, but we never met him on the trip. He was very nice though over message, which was super nice! Matay on the other hand we were able to interact with quite a lot, and he was wonderful. He let us check-in early, and even let us see his own quarters of the home where he lives and hangs out in like his amazing kitchen. See a little peak into his home!
I actually helped him take a few IG pics when I was there, and not to flex, but they turned out pretty good. Matay is also a chef that actually published his own cookbook! You can shop it here. It’s all about 4,000 Years of Middle Eastern cooking passed down through generations. I know I'm definitely getting a copy!
I think what makes an Airbnb good is 80% the location and 20% the host, and our hosts were amazing. They were both welcoming, kind, and answered any questions we had. Matay is actually opening another Airbnb in Italy, and if he lets us, I would 100% book it in a heartbeat (and write it all for you to read about!).
Pictures vs. Reality
One of my favorite things to do is show my own photos versus the photos that are advertised. I personally was very happy with how the two compared, I think it's pretty spot on!
Cost Breakdown
Okay, it's the part no one likes: the financials. I'll preface again by saying we accidentally booked during the busiest and peak tourist time in Amsterdam because everyone wants to see the tulips (myself included). You can see the breakdown, including all the Airbnb fees! I think for the location, safety, and cleanliness that you get, it's really good value.
If you decide to book this Airbnb, let them know in your initial message that Sabrina Endsley sent you. I truly believe that you'll have such a comfortable stay here, and will make your visit to the Dutch capital a good one. It's such a beautiful city, and trust me when I say you'll have a great stay. I wouldn't call it the best Airbnb of Amsterdam for nothing.