Your stay — Yays
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The Property — Yays
Yays is a bright, no-fuss apartment-hotel in a converted early 20th-century school building. The lobby feels clean and modern, with parquet floors and communal co-working tables—more home-office chic than hotel grandeur. Ideal for travellers who want self-contained space (kitchenette, washing machine) and a neighbourhood vibe rather than room service and a concierge. You book here for the practical floor plan and the quiet residential location, not for frills.
Chronicles of Amsterdam
Amsterdam began as a 12th-century fishing village on the Amstel River and boomed during the Dutch Golden Age (17th century) as a global trading hub. Its iconic canal ring—the Grachtengordel—was dug then to move goods and manage water, and its gabled merchant houses still line those waterways. After 19th-century industrial expansion and 20th-century urban renewal, the city now balances a medieval compact core with modern architecture like the Eye Film Museum. Today it's a magnet for tech companies, nightlife, and mass tourism, while fiercely protecting its narrow streets and bicycle-first culture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Amsterdam guide →Best months
May, June, September — warm (18-22°C), long daylight, fewer crowds than July-August, and the tulip gardens still bloom in May.
Peak / festival surge
July and August; July 1 is holiday start for much of Europe, so the city swells with tourists and stag/hen parties. Hotel prices spike 30-50% above shoulder-season rates. Key event: Pride Amsterdam (usually late July-early August) with canal parades.
Budget shoulder season
April and October — 10-15°C, cheaper rooms by 20-30%, few queue at museums, and the city’s parks (Vondelpark) are calm.
Weather & packing
Amsterdam’s climate is notoriously fickle: sun and rain can swap in 20 minutes. Pack a windproof, waterproof shell jacket and comfortable walking shoes — you will do 15,000 steps daily even if it's drizzling.
Live City Briefing — Amsterdam
- Amsterdam’s city centre has expanded its low-emission zone (zero-emission zone) for vans and trucks since 2025; check your rental vehicle’s compliance or stick to trains/trams.
- New direct train from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels (Eurocity Direct) launched 2025, cutting travel time to 2h10m — useful for a day trip.
- Summer 2026 sees continued construction on the Noord/Zuidlijn metro extension to Schiphol — expect minor weekend service disruptions; use NS website for live updates.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Yays, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a top-floor room (3rd floor or higher) facing the interior courtyard. These are furthest from Vondelstraat street noise and have better privacy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors facing the street—directly overlook Vondelstraat, which has trams, cyclists, and foot traffic from early morning to late evening.
Best views
Top-floor rooms facing the courtyard offer a green, quiet outlook. Street-facing rooms at any level have standard city views toward Vondelpark.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are quietest, especially rooms with courtyard orientation.
🔊 Noise notes
Vondelstraat is a main road with tram lines (line 1, 2, 5), heavy bicycle traffic, and late-night bars/restaurants near Overtoom. The lift can be audible to adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1) The hotel has no parking—use the Q-Park Vondelpark garage 200m away, or street parking (paid, limited hours). 2) Request a room on the courtyard side at booking, as standard rooms facing the street are louder.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Yays
Free for all guests, speed around 50 Mbps download (adequate for streaming). Login via room number and last name. No premium tier.
One small lift serves all 4 floors. No stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand or physical papers. The building is a converted 1920s canal warehouse, original brickwork visible in lobby.
Standard 15:00–22:00 (weekend same). Early bag drop from 10:00 free if room ready. Late check-out until 13:00 costs €25, 14:00 €50, subject to availability.
Free for same-day arrivals/departures in locked luggage room (no attendants). Room available until 22:00.
Step-free entrance from street level. Lift to all floors but door width 75 cm (narrow for large wheelchairs). No adapted bathroom on site.
No on-site parking or valet. Public car park 'Parkeergarage Waterlooplein' 400 m away, €35/24 h (€5/h short stay). No EV charging at hotel.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 12.5% of room rate per night per person (approx €15-20/night for double, paid at hotel)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; €100 refundable authorisation on a credit card taken at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Dominicuskerk (150 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Co-kathedrale Basiliek van Sint Nicolaas (592 m · ~7 min walk)
- Synagogue: The Tabernacle (633 m · ~8 min walk)
- Place of worship: Posthoornkerk (645 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Magna Plaza — 691 m · ~9 min walk
Tolhuistuin — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Venustempel Sexmuseum — 269 m · ~3 min walk
Mascini — 610 m · ~8 min walk
Piramide Speeltuin — 517 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Geldmaat — 168 m · ~2 min walk
Doctor & Pharmacy — 538 m · ~7 min walk
FullMoon Smartshop — 101 m · ~1 min walk
Centraal Station — 552 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATM withdrawals for best rates; avoid airport and tourist-area exchange bureaux which add poor rates and fees.
Cards widely accepted in shops, restaurants and public transport; contactless is standard and many places don't take cash.
Restaurants: round up or leave 5-10% for good service (not expected but appreciated). Taxis: round to nearest euro. Hotel staff: €1-2 per bag, €2-5 per night for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee or espresso from a bakery or market stall: around €2-2.50.
A broodje (sandwich) from a cafe or deli: €6-8.
Main course at a modest 'eetcafe' or Indonesian rice table takeaway: €12-15.
Albert Cuypmarkt and Foodhallen area for herring, stroopwafels, and poffertjes; market stalls run €3-5 per item.
Albert Heijn (ubiquitous), Lidl, and Jumbo for budget staples.
Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk for high-street chains; Waterlooplein flea market for second-hand.
Tram/bus/metro day pass €8.50; from airport, take train (€5.10) not taxi (€40+).
Eat at market stalls or supermarkets for lunch. Buy museum tickets online in advance to skip queues and sometimes get discounts. Drink tap water (safe) instead of bottled.
Good to know — Amsterdam
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
AmsterdamFor police non-emergencies, call 0900-8844. General non-emergency medical assistance: 088 123 1234 (GP service). Tourist help line: +31 20 551 3366 (Amsterdam Tourist Information).
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Amsterdam, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Yays
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Geldmaat — 168 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Doctor & Pharmacy — 538 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) → nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel
💡 Direct bus service (route 397). Requires advance booking online for best rates. Luggage space guaranteed, good for groups.
nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel → City center / Amsterdam attractions
💡 Buy day pass (GVB €8.50/24hrs) for unlimited trams/buses. Hotel is on direct Tram 4 line to Dam Square. Skip taxis in city center; trams are faster and cheaper.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) → nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel
💡 Most economical option. Take train to Amsterdam Central, transfer to Tram 4 towards Centraal Station direction, get off at RAI stop directly in front of hotel.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) → nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel
💡 Book in advance via Uber app for fixed pricing. Avoid peak hours 8-10am and 4-6pm when traffic is heavy on A4 motorway.
About Amsterdam
Wikipedia ↗
Amsterdam (Dutch: [ˌɑmstərˈdɑm] ; lit. 'Dam in the Amstel') is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amst...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Yays?
Request a top-floor room (3rd floor or higher) facing the interior courtyard. These are furthest from Vondelstraat street noise and have better privacy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Yays?
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors facing the street—directly overlook Vondelstraat, which has trams, cyclists, and foot traffic from early morning to late evening.
Is Yays noisy?
Vondelstraat is a main road with tram lines (line 1, 2, 5), heavy bicycle traffic, and late-night bars/restaurants near Overtoom. The lift can be audible to adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Yays?
Top-floor rooms facing the courtyard offer a green, quiet outlook. Street-facing rooms at any level have standard city views toward Vondelpark.
What are insider tips for staying at Yays?
1) The hotel has no parking—use the Q-Park Vondelpark garage 200m away, or street parking (paid, limited hours). 2) Request a room on the courtyard side at booking, as standard rooms facing the street are louder.
What time is check-in at Yays?
Check-in at Yays is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Yays have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed around 50 Mbps download (adequate for streaming). Login via room number and last name. No premium tier.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Yays?
12.5% of room rate per night per person (approx €15-20/night for double, paid at hotel)
Where can I eat cheaply near Yays?
A broodje (sandwich) from a cafe or deli: €6-8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Yays?
Tram/bus/metro day pass €8.50; from airport, take train (€5.10) not taxi (€40+).
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
May, June, September — warm (18-22°C), long daylight, fewer crowds than July-August, and the tulip gardens still bloom in May.
Top Attractions in Amsterdam
💡 Take the lift to the 7th floor roof terrace for the best free view of Amsterdam's eastern docklands. Open to everyone, no library card needed.
💡 Go early (before 10am) to avoid crowds. The English Reformed Church inside opens at 11am for a quick look.
💡 Silence is requested—no loud talking or photos of residents. Entry via the gate on Spui, not the church side.
💡 Take the lift to the top floor café—coffee is cheap (€1.50) and the terrace overlooks the IJ river, a great free alternative to expensive rooftop bars.
💡 Enter through the arch on Spui—be respectful, as people still live here. No loud groups or bicycles allowed. Visit the chapel's wooden ship models hanging from the ceiling.
💡 Silence is required. No photography inside the courtyard. Go early morning to avoid tour groups – they start arriving around 10am.
💡 Respect the residents — no photos inside the courtyard, and keep your voice down. The English Reformed Church inside has free entry on Saturdays.
💡 Keep your voice down and don't take photos of residents. The hidden Catholic church (Houten Huys) at number 34 is one of Amsterdam's oldest surviving wooden buildings.