Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Noord

The bathroom ceiling had black mould that seemed to have been painted over and hidden. I also found cockroaches in the bedroom, more than one or two, more than I'd like to remember. On the morning of the 5th November, I told a well-dressed man at reception. He quickly replied that it was normal and they were infested everywhere in the Netherlands. He also said they came in through cracks and open windows. The way he said it made me think the hotel staff already knew about the problem. Cockroaches like warm, humid places such as bathrooms, kitchens, and vents. I'm a frequent work traveler from the United Kingdom and have been around most of Europe and the Middle East. I've visited the Netherlands more than twenty times over two years and stayed in several hotels. I didn't read the earlier reviews until late, but treating cockroaches as normal is unacceptable. They know there's a problem and haven't done anything about it. Travelers beware: the hotel cooks food inside, so if there are cockroaches in the bedrooms, what about the kitchen? I'll contact the GGD – Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst later today, then call the food safety standards.

It's on the cheaper side for this location, so I can't really complain, and it was pretty much OK. The hotel is walkable and not too far from the center. Staff were very friendly and accommodating, like everyone in Amsterdam. The rooms and breakfast could be better, though there's plenty of room for improvement :)

I had podotherapy with Carla Cunha, and she was wonderful. She was gentle throughout the treatment and gave me useful tips. There was a problem with booking the appointment, but she kindly went out of her way to fit me into her schedule.

A good option for a short Amsterdam stay. The rooms were clean and modern, the hotel isn't far from the city center, and the subway connection is good. There's a large parking area in front, and it was affordable.