Hotel Museumzicht

The cozy and charming Hotel Museumzicht (“museum view”) is aptly named. The one-star property, located in a gorgeous Art Nouveau mansion offers basic rooms with grandmotherly touches and views of the Rijksmuseum that are indeed a sight to behold.

Quick read

Pros: Charming, old-fashioned décor. Free breakfast. Close to museums and nightlife. Free Wi-Fi. Great views.

Cons: Basic amenities in rooms. Small singles. Noisy tram stop on west side windows.

Rooms

The Hotel Museumzicht’s 14 rooms are decorated à la grandmother, with floral wallpaper, vintage oilpaintings, and some antique furnishings. They're sweet, bright (with lots of windows and high ceilings) and unpretentious. Their décor doesn’t look like it’s changed much since the ‘70s, but by now it’s retro!

The beds are smallish and, with the exception of free Wi-Fi and a chair, in-room amenities are kept to a minimum. (Iron? Minibar? TV? Not here.) But, and this is an important but, many rooms offer stellar views over the leafy neighborhood. Many have small desks and chairs positioned next to their windows, ready for gazing and daydreaming. One room in the back offers a balcony, the hotel's only smoking area (ask ahead).

Yes, some rooms are a tight squeeze (especially singles), but they’re not too small, and this isn’t uncommon for the city’s old homes-turned-hotels.

Bathrooms

Although a handful of doubles are equipped with a private bathroom, most rooms share facilities. All bathrooms are clean and many are decked out with varicolored ceramic tiles resembling a traditional Dutch-style washroom. Rooms with shared facilities are equipped with a sink.

Hotel

Breakfast, included in the room rate, is served alongside amazing views in the Hotel Museumzicht’s elegant breakfast room, which doubles as a TV lounge with a small book-exchange library. Decorated with class, the room features period details (nice crown molding, antique furnishings), along with fresh flowers, old theater posters and Murano-style chandeliers. The lounge offers a bird’s-eye view over the busy museum area that’s ideal for people watching.

The entire hotel is non smoking, and while parking is expensive, the hotel has partnered with a park and ride that can shave cost down to €8 a day per car. Small pets are welcome, and although the reception hours are limited, there is always someone available on call.

Location

Situated on a historic (and preserved) street, the hotel is perfect for museum goers and nightlife entertainment lovers. Hotel Museumzicht is just across from the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksplein, and a few blocks behind the buzzing Leidseplein bar and restaurant square. With Vondelpark just down the street, it’s all about location for the Museumzicht.

Guest Reviews in Brief

Guests rave about the Museumzicht’s location, which is perfect for days at the museum and in the parks, and nights out on the town. Many note that the small, but satisfying rooms fill with natural light, and that the staff are friendly and helpful.

Because the building is part of a historic street, the hotel can’t really renovate (or, for that matter, add an elevator). Expect steep stairs and small rooms.

Transportation

Train Station: Tram 2 and 5 from Central Station to Hobbemastraat will drop you off just in front of the hotel, on the corner of Hobbemastraat and Jan Luykenstraat where the hotel is situated.

From the Airport: Bus No. 197 will take visitors from the airport directly to stop Hobbemastraat and will take about 45 minutes.

Taxi: From Amsterdam Centraal station a cab ride will cost about €20.