We stayed a couple weeks in Amsterdam, in December of 2024. Neither of us had previously spent much time in the Dutch capital, and I’m not sure what we were waiting for. This might be the most obvious sentence ever, but… turns out, Amsterdam is cool. The canals, the coffeeshops, the people, the culture; everything about this city just is incredibly cool. And for our first few nights, we were staying in a place that perfectly captured that essence: the Volkshotel.
We’ll be writing more about our experiences in Amsterdam, soon, but first allow us to obsess over the Volkshotel a bit. We loved it from the moment we stepped inside, and that feeling only deepened, the more we discovered about the hotel. Actually, using the word “hotel” to describe the Volkshotel feels completely inadequate, because it’s so much more: within its walls are a cafe, a co-working space, a dance-club, music studios, office space for artists and entrepreneurs, and more.
Upon entering the Volkshotel, the immense co-working space was the first thing we noticed. Dozens of tables, all of them packed, dominate half of the spacious ground floor, and we were shocked to learn that the co-working also free. The Volkshotel just opens this space up to everyone, guests and locals alike, without any expectation that they even buy a coffee.
That’s incredible, and completely inline with the hotel’s desire to be a place for everyone: “single mums, dandies, artists and night owls”. It’s a philosophy that’s also reflected in the range of hotel rooms, which run the gamut from extremely affordable sleeping pods, to upscale, individually appointed suites. The “Volkshotel” translates to the “People’s Hotel”, and the name certainly seems apt.
So we were surprised to learn that the hotel’s name is actually a tribute to the building’s former occupant: the Volkskrant, a popular, progressive newspaper founded in 1919 and still in circulation. This district around the Wilbausstraat Metro was formerly the nexus of the Netherlands’ newspaper industry. Once we learned that, the 5th floor’s wallpaper made of blown-up newspaper clippings made a lot more sense. As did the fact that the hotel publishes its own little newspaper for guests.
We stayed in the “Lost and Found” room, one of the Volkshotel’s individually-designed suites, each the work of a different local artist. In this room, every piece of furniture and decor was something that had been found around the neighborhood, restored, and given new life. It was awesome, especially the huge bath next to the wall-to-wall window looking out over the city. (I’m not sure the bathtub was something that the artist found on the street corner.)
I haven’t even mentioned the excellent restaurant Canvas on the 7th floor — a popular spot even for locals — or the open-air jacuzzis and sauna on the 8th. We took advantage of both, one right after the other.
But the best thing about the Volkshotel, much like Amsterdam itself, is how laid-back and self-assured it is. Everyone working there was so friendly and chill. Despite being busy, the co-working space was also relaxed and comfortable. The vibe was just unbeatable. We felt immediately at home at the Volkshotel… and maybe a little cooler, just for being there.
From our Travel Blog.
