Old Centre / Nieuwezijds

INK Hotel Amsterdam MGallery

★★★★★

INK is the stylish, practical choice for travellers who want to be in the heart of the old centre with a bit of design flair, and it is one of our favourite mid-to-upper-range hotels for a first visit. It occupies the former home of De Tijd, a Dutch newspaper, on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the broad street that runs parallel to the Damrak a few minutes from Dam Square. The building was converted in an award-winning project by the Amsterdam design studio Concrete, and its newspaper past runs through the decor: references to typography, printing and the newsroom appear in the public spaces and the rooms, without tipping into theme-park territory. The hotel is part of MGallery, Accor's collection of individual boutique hotels, and the service has the polish of a bigger group with the personality of an independent. Rooms range from compact Classic rooms to Superior and Deluxe rooms and suites, and the hotel offers a small number of connecting rooms, which makes it a good option for families who want to be central without sharing one cramped room. The Pressroom restaurant serves breakfast and all-day dining, and the Pressroom Bar is a relaxed place for a drink after a day of walking. The location is the real selling point. Dam Square and the Royal Palace are a few minutes away, the Spui, the Begijnhof and the Nine Streets are a short walk south-west, the Jordaan is just across the Singel, and Centraal station is about ten minutes on foot. Trams along the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal take you straight to Museumplein and the Leidseplein.

Who it suits: first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, couples who appreciate good design, and small families who need connecting rooms in the centre. It also suits travellers arriving by train, because Centraal is so close, and anyone who prefers a modern, comfortable room with lifts to the quirks of a historic canal house.

Living in it: the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is a busy tram street, and the surrounding streets are lively into the evening, so light sleepers should ask for a room away from the street side. Classic rooms are compact, as in most central Amsterdam hotels; if you plan to spend time in your room, book a Superior or Deluxe. Families should reserve connecting rooms early, because there are only a few. The Pressroom is convenient for breakfast, but the area is full of excellent alternatives, from the Nine Streets' cafés to the brown bars of the Jordaan, so you need not eat in the hotel every day.

Value: rates sit in the upper middle of the Amsterdam market and rise in spring, summer and around big events. The tourist tax is added on top as a percentage of the room rate: 12.5 percent in 2026, with a 16 percent rate for 2027 proposed and due for the council's budget vote in November 2026. Joining Accor's loyalty programme can bring member rates. For a central, design-led base where almost everything is walkable, INK is a strong choice.