The College Hotel in Amsterdam

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Updated: November 10, 2020

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Review of The College Hotel in Amsterdam.

The College Hotel – Training hotel, well-located for museum-hopping and shopping.

A former 19th-century school for boys, The College Hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from Amsterdam’s heavyweight art museums and the independent boutiques of De Pijp. The decor combines neo-Renaissance style architecture and original stained-glass with spacious, sometimes oddly-shaped rooms that occupy former classrooms. Most (apart from the more snug attic rooms) come with tall ceilings, a muted palette of grays, blacks, and browns, extra-long beds, Nespresso coffee makers, air-conditioning, and brown marble bathrooms with fair trade cosmetics. There’s a buzzy brasserie onsite, as well as a cocktail bar. The hotel is staffed by advanced students of the hospitality trade, so the service is eager, enthusiastic, and efficient, if sometimes a little rough around the edges.

The College Hotel – Location

  • Address: Roelof Hartstraat 1, 1071 VE Amsterdam.
  • Nearest Tram: Roelof Hartplein.
  • Area: In the affluent Zuid district, just off a busy street that connects Vondelpark and the museums and high-end shopping of the Museum Quarter to the buzzy café and independent boutiques of De Pijp; both are 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Walking distance to the southern canal ring; short tram ride to the Medieval Center and Centraal Station. Numerous restaurants, bars, and boutiques nearby.
  • How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then tram #2 or #5 to Van Baerlestraat, and change to the southbound tram #3 or #12, alighting at the Roelof Hartplein stop. Or take the metro from Centraal Station to De Pijp station and walk for 8 minutes.
  • Handy to: Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Concertgebouw.

The College Hotel – The Basics

  • Ages: Guests tend to be couples on a romantic getaway or travelers on a city break, and there are few specific family-friendly amenities.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools/jacuzzis.
  • Laundry: In-room laundry.
  • Extras: Bicycles for hire; staff can book tickets to museums and attractions.
  • When to Book: Reserve 3 months in advance for the mid-March to mid-May tulip season, the July and August high season, and the Christmas-New Year period.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: 020-571-1511
  • Email: fosupervisor@thecollegehotel.com
  • Website: thecollegehotel.com

The College Hotel – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No spa, but massages can be arranged in-room.
  • Fitness Center: No fitness center.
  • For Disabled Guests: One room adapted for guests with limited mobility.
  • For Families: Several interconnecting rooms and babysitting services available on request.

The College Hotel – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant: The College Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mediterranean dishes with a twist, gourmet burgers, and expertly-seared steaks. Simple, elegant decor. • $$-$$$.
  • Lounge/Bar: Perch on a stool at Foodbar, or lounge around near the open fireplace with a classic cocktail or a more adventurous concoction. Open until midnight Sunday to Wednesday; until 1 am Thursday to Saturday.
  • Breakfast: Not complimentary. Extensive hot and cold buffet costs €22 per person. Served 7am-10am Monday to Friday (11 am on weekends) at The College Restaurant.
  • Room Service: Available from The College Restaurant between noon and 10 pm.

The College Hotel – Rooms

  • Room Types: Deluxe • Superior • Junior Suite
  • Smoking Rooms: The College Hotel is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: The split-level Junior Suite Duplex has a skylight above the bed and an oversized bathtub in the bathroom, while the Junior Suite Chemistry Room is one of the hotel’s brightest rooms, with windows on 3 sides and tranquil courtyard views.
  • For Families: There are several interconnecting rooms.

The College Hotel – Local Transport

  • Walking: Easy walking distance to the museums of the Museum Quarter, Concertgebouw, Vondelpark and the Albert Cuyp Market street market in De Pijp. Numerous restaurants, bars, and shops within a few minutes’ walk.
  • Tram: Direct tram connections from the nearby Roelof Hartplein stop to De Pijp, Museum Quarter, and Jordaan; change at the Van Baerlestraat stop for trams to Centraal Station which pass through the southern canal ring and the Medieval Center.
  • Taxis, Uber: Taxis and Uber charge around €35 from the airport to the hotel. Within the city, Uber rides cost around half of taxi fares. It’s often quicker to walk, cycle, or jump on a tram.

The College Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Nearby Restaurants and Cafes

  • La Falote – Wallet-friendly, home-style Dutch dishes such as meatballs, calf’s liver, and stewed fish. 4-minute walk.
  • Renzo’s – Get homemade pasta dishes and sandwiches to take away, or eat them here on the tiny mezzanine. 4-minute walk.
  • Restaurant de Knijp – Classy French bistro (go for the cold lobster with fries, veal entrecote, or escargots). Open early for dinner – ideal if you’re attending a concert at the nearby Concertgebouw. 5-minute walk.
  • L’Entrecote et Les Dames – Sophisticated French menu, old-world ambiance. The entrecote is the star here, followed by crepes au Grand Marnier. 5-minute walk.
  • CT Coffee & Coconuts – Triple-level former art deco cinema turned popular brunch spot. Light, globally-inspired dishes the rest of the day. 8-minute walk.
  • Omelegg – A couple dozen omelette combos, shakshuka, scrambled eggs, and sandwiches. Inexpensive and filling. 9-minute walk.
  • Surya – One of the most consistent Indian restaurants in town, with a good mix of Madras and vindaloo curries, tandoori dishes, and plenty of vegetarian options. 9-minute walk.
  • SLA – Flagship branch of Amsterdam’s wildly popular hipster salad bar. Organic wines and smoothies too. 10-minute walk.
  • Stroom in De Pijp – Trendy, industrial-style café with a large outdoor terrace, packed on sunny days. Wholesome brunches, great coffee, imaginative salads, and good service. 10-minute walk.

Nearby Bars and Breweries

  • Café Binnen Buiten – Cozy wood-paneled bar, lots of seasonal and draft beers to choose from, and an idyllic canal-side terrace for sunny afternoons. 5-minute walk.
  • Café Welling – Old-school café-bar behind the Concertgebouw, attractive arty and literary types and post-concert musicians. 9-minute walk.
  • Taiko Bar – Imaginative gin cocktails (among others) executed with flair at this stylish bar inside the Conservatorium Hotel. 10-minute walk.
  • Brouwerij Troost – Superb craft brewery with a dozen own beers, brewed in copper vats here. Excellent bar food. 11-minute walk.
  • Glou Glou – Jovial wine bar with over 40 French wines by the glass, as well as numerous organic wines. 12-minute walk.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

  • O My Bag – Stylish leather bags and accessories for men and women, from purses and clutch bags to satchels, wallets, laptop covers, and travel bags. 8-minute walk.
  • Charlie + Mary – Sustainable, environment-friendly clothing designed by Charlie + Mary, and brands such as Qnoop, Dedicated, People Tree, and Nulla Nomen. 9-minute walk.
  • Blond – Fun and colorful plates, mugs, and other kitchenware, with fun designs (beach scenes, cakes, blondes) courtesy of the shop’s blond owners. 9-minute walk.
  • The Girl Can’t Help It – Stylish, 50’s-inspired ladies’ fashion, from dresses and trench coats to tops and skirts. 10-minute walk.
  • Anna & Nina – Eclectic earrings, accessories, clothing, and interior design that reflects the nomad-like travels of the store’s owners. 10-minute walk.
  • Cottoncake – Women’s apparel, from vintage biker boots and Sita Murt knits to handcrafted Monocrafft jewelry and Samsoe jackets. In-store café serves great espresso and all-day breakfasts. 11-minute walk.

The College Hotel – The Hotel

The hotel is situated in a 19th-century boys' school.

A former 19th-century school for boys, College Hotel has a subtly-lit and atmospheric interior that might not be to everyone’s liking.

Guests can lounge in plenty of cozy nooks around the hotel.

Due to its unconventional shape, the hotel has plenty of hidden nooks for guests to chill out in.

The College Restaurant offers contemporary Mediterranean fare, burgers, and steaks.

Open all day, the College Restaurant serves contemporary Mediterranean fare as well as burgers and steaks.

The restaurant's al fresco dining area is popular on warm days.

On warmer days, College Restaurant diners have the option of alfresco dining.

The Rembrandt Ballroom is used for diverse events, including wedding receptions.

The splendid Rembrandt Ballroom is used to host all manner of events, from wedding receptions to business conferences.

Superior rooms have excellent amenities.

Superior rooms vary in shape, but are moderately spacious and come with extra-long beds, hypoallergenic bedding, flat-screen TVs, and radios.

Some Superior rooms feature tubs in addition to rain showers.

Some of the Superior rooms have soaking tubs and showers; others are equipped just with rain showers.

Deluxe rooms are spacious enough to accommodate an extra bed.

Deluxe rooms also vary in size, but tend to be more spacious than Superior ones. Same range of amenities, but with the option of accommodating an extra bed.

Junior Suites feature comfortable sitting areas.

Junior Suites come with comfortable sitting areas.

Some Junior Suites feature a work desk as well.

Some of the Junior Suites come equipped with a comfortable work area.

Some Junior Suites feature a bath tub as well.

Junior Suites are equipped with oversized soaking tubs and/or walk-in rain showers; request a room with a tub in advance.

The hotel has several private rooms on hire for events.

The College Hotel has several private rooms that can be hired for private dining and other events.

La Falote is known for its inexpensive home-style Dutch dishes.

Right across the street, La Falote specializes in inexpensive home-style Dutch dishes.

De Knijp is a French bistro popular with concert-goers.

Further north, the busy Van Baerlestraat is lined with restaurants. The best ones include De Knijp, a French bistro popular with concert-goers.

Renzo's is a good Italian deli.

Right across the street, Renzo’s is an Italian deli; get pasta to go, or grab one of the few tables.

’Entrecote et Les Dames is a well-known French fine-dining restaurant.

A little further along, L’Entrecote et Les Dames is excellent French fine-dining; reserve ahead.

Museumplein features 3 extraordinary museums.

Another block north and you reach the Museumplein, the square featuring Amsterdam’s trio of heavyweight art museums.

Stedelijk Museum features Netherlands' largest contemporary art collection.

The first of the 3 is Stedelijk Museum, Netherlands’ biggest collection of contemporary art, with excellent temporary exhibitions by big-name artists, and a first-rate cafe-restaurant in the lobby.

Van Gogh Museum showcases the world's largest collection of the artist's works.

Next door is the super-popular Van Gogh Museum with the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh works. Access is by timed ticket only; book your time slot online.

The Rijksmuseum is especially famous for Rembrandt's Night Watch.

The most famous of the Museumplein museums is Rijksmuseum with the biggest and best Dutch art collection in the world. Book your ticket online or come early to beat the lines, and make a beeline for Rembrandt’s Night Watch before the crowds arrive.

House of Bols offers a history of jenever making in Holland.

Across Paulus Potterstraat from the Museumplein, the House of Bols walks you through the history of jenever (the granddaddy of gin) making in Holland. At the end of the experience, you get to mix and drink your own jenever cocktail.

Diamond Museum showcases a glittering history of the Dutch diamond trade.

Next to the House of Bols, the Diamond Museum is worth a peek for the history of the Dutch diamond trade, and the glittering replicas of the world’s most famous diamonds, such as the Orlof and the Koh-i-Noor.

Coster Diamonds is a good place to buy diamonds.

If money is no object, you might want to pick up some diamonds of your own at Coster Diamonds next door.

Taiko Restaurant is one of the city's best Japanese restaurants.

Around the corner, inside the Conservatorium Hotel, Taiko Restaurant is among the very best in the city for Japanese-inspired dishes. Reservations essential.

Taiko Bar serves imaginative gin-based cocktails.

Also inside Conservatorium Hotel, the elegant Taiko Bar is somewhere to take your date, particularly if your date loves imaginative gin-based cocktails.

Concertgebouw is a stunning, neo-Renaissance style concert hall.

Heading back south along Van Baerlestraat, you pass the Concertgebouw, a stunning, neo-Renaissance style concert hall with exceptional acoustics. Even if you don’t come here for a concert, it’s well worth taking a guided tour (Mon & Fri at 5 pm, Wed at 1.30 pm, Sun at 12.30 pm).

Café Welling is a favorite watering hole of musicians and arty types.

Just behind the Concertgebouw is Café Welling, a popular watering hole where you’re likely to rub shoulders with musicians and arty types.

CT Coffee & Coconuts is a terrific brunch spot in De Pijp.

If you follow Van Baerlestraat south and cross the canal, a couple of blocks east will bring you to CT Coffee & Coconuts, one of several terrific brunch spots in De Pijp.

Omelegg serves a variety of egg dishes.

Head south at the crossroad and you hit Omelegg, another brunch joint where the speciality is eggs – a couple dozen omelettes, shakshuka and more.

Stroom's outdoor terrace is extremely popular.

Just south is Stroom, an industrial-style brunch and salad spot with a super-popular outdoor terrace.

Brouwerij Troost is a popular craft brewery.

A little further south is Brouwerij Troost, one of Amsterdam’s most celebrated craft breweries, with the beers brewed onsite in copper vats.

O My Bag is a high-end leather goods boutique.

Heading west along tree-lined Ceuntuurbaan from CT Coffee & Coconut, you pass O My Bag, a high-end leather goods boutique.

Surya Restaurant has been popular for its Indian fare for years.

Also nearby is Surya, a reliable Indian restaurant that’s been a neighborhood fixture for years.

SLA is a popular but pricey salad bar serving organic wines as well.

Next door is SLA, a very popular but pricey hipster salad bar that serves organic wines to boot.

Glou Glou is a very popular wine bar serving over 40 French wines.

If you head south once you reach the southwest corner of Sarphatipark, you come across Glou Glou, a buzzy little wine bar with over 40 French wines by the glass; get here early on weekends to grab a seat.

Cottoncake sells women's apparel and jewelry.

Half a block north, past Sarphatipark, Cottoncake is one of many independent boutiques in the neighborhood; it sells handpicked women’s apparel and jewelry, and you can grab an espresso here as well.

The Girl Can’t Help It is known for its 50's-inspired ladies’ fashion.

Many independent boutiques are concentrated along Gerard Doustraat, including The Girl Can’t Help It with its 50’s-inspired ladies’ fashion.

Charlie + Mary specializes in sustainable fashion.

A little further east is Charlie + Mary selling sustainable, environment-friendly clothing.

Anna + Nina is known for its global selection of clothing, homeware, and jewelry.

Also nearby is a branch of Anna + Nina, with clothing, homeware, and jewelry reflecting the global travels of the designers.

Blond specializes in fun, blond-themed kitchenware.

A little further east is Blond: cute kitchenware with fun, blond-themed designs that makes a great gift.

Café Binnen Buiten is very popular with beer aficionados.

A couple of blocks southwest along Albert Cuypstraat, Café Binnen Buiten is another beer aficionado favorite, with lots of seasonal brews and draft beers; choose between the wood-paneled interior or the canal-side outdoor terrace.

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