Nadia Hotel

Situated just west of Dam Square in an historic Raadhuisstraat building, the two-star Hotel Nadia offers small, inexpensive rooms with private baths and some great canal views.

The Nadia Hotel’s 52 guest rooms come in about a dozen different configurations, from a super-small budget single to a larger “deluxe family room.” Rooms are unpretentious and decor can feel pretty dated, with red carpet and wood paneling that seems snatched from a ship’s cabin. And speaking of cabins, there’s no ignoring that most of these rooms are small, and singles can seem downright tiny. (Tip: Grab a room with a balcony for a little room to stretch!)

However, they are well equipped. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, a TV, safe, mini-fridge, telephone and plentiful shelving. Some rooms come with lovely wrought-iron balconies (reserve ahead). Small private bathrooms are frill-free but functional, with a hair dryer, soap, drinking glasses and towels.

The Nadia does have some surprising homey touches of note. A house cat welcomes guests in the lobby, which, itself is a humorous salute to kitschy decor. We’re talking character figurines, plastic Dutch novelty dolls and fake flowers. (We loved it.)

A continental breakfast is included in the room rate and served in a room that’s dripping in red and Moroccan lamps, and overlooks the busy street.

Fine print

Note that the Hotel Nadia does not have an elevator. As with the other hotels housed in the same building (including the Westertoren), there is a steep flight of about 30 stairs leading up to the reception, and more steep stairs to many of the rooms. We do not recommend this climb to anyone with mobility issues (or sudden onsets of Vertigo).

A note about noise: The eight canal-side rooms are the quietest and most romantic (and usually go first). Rooms facing Raadhuisstraat will pick up noise from traffic and passing trams (although trams don’t run late at night). But note that rooms on the back, which would normally be the quietest, actually pick up the most noise as they’re closest to the bells of the nearby Westerkerk, which ring every 15 minutes… all night long. (However, this is also the case for the other hotels in the building and for countless residents in this high-rent district… so clearly people are sleeping!)

Location

The Hotel Nadia boasts an enviable location in Grachtengordel West, just a stone’s throw (bell’s chime?) from Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House. Centraal Station, Dam Square and the Old Center are all within easy walking distance. The Nadia is located across the street from the Westermarkt tram stop, which is serviced by trams 13 and 17.