Volkshotel

Cool, youthful, and fun, the Volkshotel is a hybrid between coworking space, hotel, and entertainment center. The idea is for young professionals to have a place to work before letting loose at night and then crashing in a comfortable, trendy room -- all without having to leave the building. The lobby feels like the offices of a tech start-up, with a bold industrial design that combines exposed pipes, wood tables with steel legs, and concrete finishes with fun touches such as old RVs which now house the hotel shop, and old motorbikes that are now used as shelves. The space doubles as the cafe and coworking area, complete with long tables, cozy seating areas, a long bar with a food and drink menu, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Lining the lobby are meeting rooms of different sizes with glass walls and unique decor elements such as cocoon chairs hanging from the ceiling.At any given time, dozens of young people can be seen typing away on their computers, holding casual meetings, or just chatting in the ground-floor cafe, while drinks and food flow in the afternoon at the rooftop restaurant and terrace. Those in town just for play and no work can also join the fun, as there are plenty of leisure options on-site, including two nightclubs, a rooftop restaurant, a spa, and yoga classes. While the Volkshotel is great for young travelers, rooms are rather small and the atmosphere and design are not for everyone. Those seeking something cheaper and quieter may want to consider Hotel Atlantis, located in trendy De Pijp neighborhood. With coworking space and stylish rooms, the Zoku Amsterdam has a similar concept, but it lacks the party vibe, and rates are higher. The INK Hotel Amsterdam - MGallery by Sofitel is a great alternative for travelers seeking something stylish and upscale in the Old Center.  

The hotel is located on a wide avenue running parallel to the Amstel River in Amsterdam East. This part of the neighborhood is rather quiet and can feel a bit in the middle of nowhere, but there are many restaurants and cafes popular with locals within a few blocks of the hotel. While this location is not ideal for those looking to explore Amsterdam’s top attractions and city center on foot, the area has excellent public transport connections. Wibautstraat Metro station is right across the street from the Volkshotel, which allows for easy access to other parts of the city, including the Old Center and the Museum Quarter, each a 15-minute ride away. The hotel is a 25-minute drive from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. 

The hotel has 172 rooms divided into two main categories and five subcategories. Standard Rooms are named like clothing sizes to reflect the space available, ranging from XS to XL. The aptly named XS is a tiny 12 square meters (130 square feet), with just enough space for a double bed -- that in most cases touches three walls -- a small corner desk, and a compact bathroom. M Rooms are average in size for a standard hotel room in Amsterdam, while XL units offer enough space for two double beds and two bathrooms. Standard Rooms have an industrial esthetic, with concrete pillars and exposed pipes, dark palettes, and a combination of metal and wood. Specialty Rooms have whimsical decor themes, with unique touches such as a bed in a huge bicycle crate, a large Japanese tub in the middle of the room, or a projection screen.Across the board, rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, safes, free Wi-Fi, and hairdryers. Mini-fridges and electric kettles are not available in any room type. Bathrooms are compact but sleek, with rainfall showers, rectangular sinks over wooden counters, and nice toiletries in large containers. Most bathrooms have glass windows to the bedroom, compete with strategically placed newspaper-like stickers for privacy. Rooms on the sixth floor may get noise on weekends from the rooftop nightclub, which is open until 4 a.m. 

The Volkshotel has extensive meeting and working space, including a huge cafe with long tables and smaller nooks, and private meeting rooms of different sizes and styles. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the hotel offers a dedicated events team that can arrange any type of meeting. The rooftop area is all play and no work, featuring a spa complete with a hot tub, a sauna, massage areas, and panoramic city views. Up here is also a restaurant with a great international menu, a long bar, and an outdoor terrace with picnic tables. The buffet breakfast spread served here receives positive reviews, but it's not included in the standard room rate. The restaurant turns into a nightclub on weekends, and there is an additional club in the basement. Yoga classes and hairdressing services are available several times per week either on the rooftop or indoors. Some guests may be disappointed that there is no fitness center.