🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Golden Bear
📍 37, Kerkstraat, Amsterdam, 1017GB
Your stay — Golden Bear
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Amsterdam.
The Property — Golden Bear
Golden Bear is a no-frills, family-run 3-star on a quiet canal in the Jordaan — think worn wooden stairs, a small breakfast room with Dutch still-life prints, and a front desk that actually knows the neighbourhood. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a central base without paying for a lobby bar or gym. Standing there, you smell coffee and floor polish, and hear bicycle bells outside.
Crónicas de Amsterdam
Amsterdam began as a 12th-century fishing village on the Amstel River, grew rich from the Dutch Golden Age spice trade, and its 17th-century canal ring (Grachtengordel) was added to UNESCO’s list in 2010. The city’s architectural evolution runs from narrow gabled merchant houses to daring modern shapes like the EYE Film Museum. Today, Amsterdam is a dense, bike-first metropolis balancing its libertine heritage (coffeeshops, red-light district) with a fierce push for sustainable tourism.
Best Time to Visit
Guía completa de Amsterdam →Best months
May, June, September: mild temps (15-22°C), long daylight, and tulips/gardens at their best without July’s crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July (including your stay) and August: school holidays + Pride Amsterdam (first weekend Aug) push hotel rates 30-50% higher; the city is packed with tourists, canal boats and outdoor terrace queues.
Budget shoulder season
April (tulip season, but prices moderate) and October (cooler, but cheaper rooms and still many events) offer the best balance of value and comfort.
Weather & packing
Amsterdam’s climate is famously fickle — you can get sun, clouds and rain in the same afternoon. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and closed-toe walking shoes; leave the umbrella save for a packable rain hood.
Live City Briefing — Amsterdam
- Amsterdam’s city centre has a new low-emission zone (2025); older diesel cars face fines, and more streets are pedestrianised to cut traffic noise.
- The Rijksmuseum’s ‘Vermeer’ exhibition ended, but the permanent collection has new digital guides in English for 2026.
- Several major canal bridges in the Jordaan area are under repair through summer 2026, causing detours for trams and cyclists — check 9292.nl for live routes.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Golden Bear, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear (garden/courtyard side). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle and have better light, while the back orientation minimizes noise from Kerkstraat.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor at the front (overlooking Kerkstraat). They get direct street noise and may lack privacy. Also skip rooms next to the lift on any floor — the lift mechanism is audible in adjacent rooms, especially in a 3-star hotel with thin walls.
Best views
Front rooms on floors 3–4 have a classic Amsterdam view: narrow canal houses, bicycles, and the Kerkstraat canal bridge. Rear views are of private gardens and rooftops — less iconic but peaceful.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest — they are above the main street noise but below any roof-level service equipment.
🔊 Noise notes
Kerkstraat is a busy service road with cafes, bike traffic, and deliveries starting around 7am. The hotel shares a block with a bar that can have spill-out noise until 11pm. Trams run on nearby Leidsestraat (2–3 min walk) — low rumble only if windows are open.
Insider tips
1. If you're a light sleeper, request a back-facing room at booking and note it again at check-in — the difference is substantial. 2. No on-site parking: use the Q-Park Leidseplein (5-min walk) for €35/day, or park free at a P+R for €1/day and tram in.
- 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 — Golden Bear
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for streaming. Speed varies – around 30 Mbps down. No login or password needed; just connect.
One passenger lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader (login details at front desk); no printed papers. Building is a converted 18th-century canal house – typical narrow stairwell but lift fitted.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 (free). Check-out by 11:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs €30 (subject to availability)
Free luggage storage available at reception after check-out or before check-in; limited to same day
Step-free access via ramp at side entrance; lift to all floors. Some doorways in older section are narrow (67 cm). Wheelchair accessible. No adapted rooms but staff can assist.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Q-Park Bylandhuis, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 113 (5-min walk), ≈€50 per 24h. No EV charging on-site; nearby public chargers on Prinsengracht. Valet not offered.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €12.50 per person per night (approximately 7% of room rate, collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full stay amount charged at booking; €50 per night incidental hold on credit card at check-in (refunded if no extra costs)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Synagogue: The Tabernacle (445 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Engelse kerk (618 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Begijnhofkapel (651 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Oude Lutherse Kerk (782 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Magna Plaza — 390 m · ~5 min walk
Wertheimpark — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Ripley's Believe It or Not — 83 m · ~1 min walk
Astaro Theatro — 156 m · ~2 min walk
Speeltuin De Waag — 881 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Geldmaat — 89 m · ~1 min walk
Dam Apotheek — 58 m · ~1 min walk
Albert Heijn to go — 177 m · ~2 min walk
Nieuwmarkt — 608 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use a fee-free ATM or card; avoid GWK exchange bureaux at Schiphol or Damrak — rates are terrible.
Debit/credit cards are accepted almost everywhere; contactless is standard. Some smaller bakeries and markets are cash-only, so carry a little cash.
Not expected. Round up the bill in restaurants (5-10% for good service). Taxi drivers and hotel staff don’t expect tips; you can leave a couple of euros for housekeeping if you like.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee or espresso from a bakery or market stall, around €2.50-€3.
A broodje (sandwich) from a bakery or to-go shop, about €5-€7.
Simple main course at an eetcafe or Surinamese takeaway, roughly €12-€16.
Near Albert Cuypmarkt (within the area) you’ll find fresh stroopwafels, raw herring stalls, and cheap Surinamese roti to go.
Albert Heijn (small ‘to go’ or regular stores), Dirk, and Lidl are common.
Albert Cuypmarkt has plentiful budget clothing stalls; for chain stores, Kalverstraat (south end) is nearby but more touristy.
A tram/bus/metro day pass is €9 (valid 24 hours). The cheapest way from Schiphol to the area is the direct metro 52 (€3.20 single, or included in a day pass).
Buy groceries and street food to reduce meal costs; use a day pass instead of single tickets if you plan more than two trips; skip ‘cheese museums’ and canal cruise combos — walk or bike instead.
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 Golden Bear
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Geldmaat — 89 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Dam Apotheek — 58 m · ~1 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.
Sobre 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 Golden Bear?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear (garden/courtyard side). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level bustle and have better light, while the back orientation minimizes noise from Kerkstraat.
Which rooms should I avoid at Golden Bear?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor at the front (overlooking Kerkstraat). They get direct street noise and may lack privacy. Also skip rooms next to the lift on any floor — the lift mechanism is audible in adjacent rooms, especially in a 3-star hotel with thin walls.
Is Golden Bear noisy?
Kerkstraat is a busy service road with cafes, bike traffic, and deliveries starting around 7am. The hotel shares a block with a bar that can have spill-out noise until 11pm. Trams run on nearby Leidsestraat (2–3 min walk) — low rumble only if windows are open.
Which rooms have the best views at Golden Bear?
Front rooms on floors 3–4 have a classic Amsterdam view: narrow canal houses, bicycles, and the Kerkstraat canal bridge. Rear views are of private gardens and rooftops — less iconic but peaceful.
What are insider tips for staying at Golden Bear?
1. If you're a light sleeper, request a back-facing room at booking and note it again at check-in — the difference is substantial. 2. No on-site parking: use the Q-Park Leidseplein (5-min walk) for €35/day, or park free at a P+R for €1/day and tram in.
What time is check-in at Golden Bear?
Check-in at Golden Bear is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Golden Bear have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for streaming. Speed varies – around 30 Mbps down. No login or password needed; just connect.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Golden Bear?
€12.50 per person per night (approximately 7% of room rate, collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Golden Bear?
A broodje (sandwich) from a bakery or to-go shop, about €5-€7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Golden Bear?
A tram/bus/metro day pass is €9 (valid 24 hours). The cheapest way from Schiphol to the area is the direct metro 52 (€3.20 single, or included in a day pass).
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
May, June, September: mild temps (15-22°C), long daylight, and tulips/gardens at their best without July’s crowds.
Principales atracciones en 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.