Zaanse Hostel

The room was clean, the location was handy, and the price was good. The other people sharing our room were friendly and left our things alone. Breakfast was just bread with spreads, plus tea and coffee, enough to fill the gap but nothing fancy. There was a tense moment with the cleaning staff on our first morning, but the manager helped sort it out quickly. Well worth booking.

It was cheaper than other hostels, and the stay reflected that. The room was hot, with a window held open by a beer crate as the only ventilation. Around 20-30 people shared one bathroom on the floor. We often returned at night to find the door unlocked, so keep valuables with you. We also saw staff pull the sheets straight and fold the blanket, without changing the bedding between guests. I wouldn't recommend it.

At 2am, several people came into the room with a staff member, made a lot of noise, and woke me up completely. The room itself was cramped, with 12 bunks, dirty linen, and a foul-smelling corridor. I'd paid over 40 as a deposit online, but when I arrived their system showed no prepayment and they charged me the full amount. More than a month later, the overcharged money still hadn't been returned as promised. They also said the card reader was broken and asked me to pay cash. My roommate later told me they would accept a credit card if you said you didn't have enough cash. A very unpleasant experience, the worst hostel I've ever stayed in.

I only spent one night at Zaanse Hostel, but it was comfortable enough for a short stay. The kitchen area in the room was small, just two hobs and a sink, but I managed to cook for myself. The doors are really loud, so you can hear people going in and out of other rooms during the night. Staff welcomed me warmly and gave good recommendations for Zaandam and Amsterdam.