Clink Noord Amsterdam: Hostel Review
Last Updated on January 17, 2025 by Lauren Allen
Planning a stay at Clink Noord in Amsterdam? It might just be your best choice if you’re visiting the Dutch capital on a budget…
Finding somewhere cheap to rest your head is one of the top ways to save money on travel, but some cities are notoriously expensive. While Amsterdam can be pricey, booking a few nights in a hostel can save a lot of cash.
I’ve stayed at Clink Noord three times (both in the dorms and private rooms) during my many trips to Amsterdam. In this post, I’ll share more about its location, comfort, facilities and much more. I’ll also share why it’s one of the best hostels in the city!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay as part of this updated review, but I’ve been a paying customer twice and all opinions are my own.
Where is Clink Noord?
Clink Noord is located in Amsterdam Noord across the water from Centraal Station. This is super convenient if you want to explore the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam as you can be at the train station in no time!
It’s just a stone’s throw away from popular tourist attractions such as the A’Dam Lookout, This Is Holland, and the Eye Film Museum. NDSM Wharf and the Straat Museum are also about 30 minutes away.
Noord is one of the best neighbourhoods for culture in Amsterdam. With lots of art and amazing restaurants on offer, you’re sure to have a blast.
How to get to Clink Noord from Schiphol Airport
The easiest way to get to Clink Noord from the airport is to use public transport. To do this, catch the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal Station. The direct train costs €6.20 and takes around 15 minutes.
Upon arrival, exit the train station through the back entrance where you’ll find the ferry terminal. Jump on the ferry to Buiksloterweg and in just a few minutes, you’ll be in Noord. Once there, the hostel is just a short three (ish) minute walk away.
The ferries between Amsterdam Centraal and Buiksloterweg (thankfully) run 24 hours, so don’t fret if you want to party the night away in the city centre.
During the day, they run every five minutes or so. However, keep in mind that they do get less frequent as the day progresses and into the early hours of the morning.
Typically, the ferries run every 5 minutes or so until around midnight. After which they run every 10-15 minutes until the next morning. For more information about the ferry timetable, visit the GVB website.
Alternatively, you could book a taxi or private transfer, but these are way more expensive.
Top tip: The ferries are free so don’t worry about buying tickets!
If you decide against staying at Clink Noord, this post covers how to get to central Amsterdam from the airport.
Clink Noord Amsterdam Review
Here’s my honest review of Clink Noord Hostel:
Checking into Clink Noord Amsterdam
The check-in process at the hostel is all done online. Upon arrival, you’re guided to the self-check-in tablets where you input your information. You then receive your room number, bed number (if applicable) and a code via email.
Honestly, I wasn’t really a fan of this on my first visit as I’d been up since 3am and was exhausted. I also got error messages the first three times I input my information which just added to the frustration.
But, it does mean that more people can check in at the same time and I had a much smoother experience during my other stays.
Check-in is from 3pm and checkout is at 10am, but you can pay extra to check in early or check out late.
Amsterdam Noord houses some of the craziest attractions in the Dutch capital.
What type of rooms can I book at Clink Noord in Amsterdam?
Most rooms at Clink Noord are dorm-style rooms with 4-14 beds per room and you can bag a cheaper price by booking a larger room. There are also options if you’re travelling with a pal or group of friends.
If you don’t fancy sharing with strangers (it’s not for everyone), there are private rooms that sleep up to six people. This gives you additional privacy among your group. There are also single, twin and double rooms.
Top tip: If you’re a woman travelling solo in Amsterdam, you can also book a bed in a girls-only dorm room.
Facilities at Clink Noord
I’ve stayed at my fair share of hostels across the globe, but the facilities at Clink Noord have to be some of the best. Here’s a snapshot of what facilities are on offer at this popular Amsterdam hostel:
General facilities:
- A shared kitchen with everything you need to cook up a storm
- The on-site Catalyst Cafe where you can purchase snacks, meals and alcohol
- Hair dryers and irons that you can borrow free of charge
- Luggage storage and lockers
- A laundry room
Entertaining facilities:
- Comedy shows, live music, karaoke, movie nights and events
- Arcade games, board games, puzzles, pool table and table tennis
- Bike hire and walking tours
- A lounge and TV area
- A library with lots of books
- ZincBAR
What if I’ve forgotten something?
Like many hostels, Clink Noord sells a variety of essentials and toiletries such as:
- Shower gel
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Padlocks
Parties, bars and events at ClinkNoord Hostel
One of the coolest things about Clink Noord is how social the hostel is. They run a whole host of events (such as games nights or comedy shows) to help you meet other like-minded travellers. I’ve also seen them run nights specifically for solo travellers – how cool!
The on-site ZincBAR also serves a range of beers, wines and spirits meaning you don’t need to go out if you fancy a drink (or five) before bed.
The rooms
No matter what type of room you book, you’ll have a comfortable stay. I’ve stayed in both the dorm rooms and private rooms at Clink Noord and they’re always super clean.
The dorm rooms have a lamp and a plug socket at each bed. While this is helpful, an extra plug socket would be ideal for those needing to charge more than one device. There are more plug sockets elsewhere in the rooms, though. Each dorm also has a shared ensuite bathroom.
The private rooms come with ensuite bathrooms and all the space you need for a nice stay. I slept like a baby!
Clink Noord can get quite cold at night, but the staff (which you can find at reception 24 hours a day) are happy to give you extra blankets.
Is breakfast included?
Sadly, breakfast is not included at Clink Noord and it costs €8.90 per day (if you book online to save 20%). Although it’s a buffet-style breakfast, I think the price is a bit steep for a hostel, especially since many offer free breakfasts.
During the week, breakfast is served between 7am and 10.30am. At weekends, it runs from 8am until 11.30am.
If you do opt to pay, you’ll get unlimited tea, coffee and fruit juice. In terms of food, they serve cereals, pastries, fruit, meat, eggs, toast, spreads, beans and more.
However, I wouldn’t recommend it. This is just my personal preference, but I didn’t enjoy their breakfast. I suggest heading to one of Amsterdam’s top brunch spots instead.
Cost of staying at Clink Noord
If you’re visiting outside of peak times, you can book a bed in a dorm for around €30 (give or take), but prices will obviously vary depending on the time of year.
Prices often skyrocket in spring. Tulip season runs from March to May and attracts MILLIONS of tourists so literally every hostel and hotel increases their rates based on demand.
A quick note: Prices were correct at the time of writing, but they are subject to change.
Are there any downsides to Clink Noord Amsterdam?
Yes, I do think there are some downsides to Clink Noord, such as:
- Towel rental is €5 per person
- The cost of breakfast is steep for a hostel (and I’m not a fan)
- There are sometimes issues with the digital check-in system
But, no hostel (or hotel for that matter) is perfect and Clink Noord has many great features too.
How to book a stay at Clink Noord
As a frequent traveller, I use booking.com to book pretty much all of my accommodation. To book your stay at Clink Noord, click here.
You can also book directly through their website or over the phone at +31 20 214 9730.
FAQs about staying at Clink Noord Hostel
It’s a very social hostel which is good if you’re looking to meet like-minded travellers on the road. If you get bored, you’ll also find books, games, events and much more.
No, there is no designated parking for hostel guests. However, A’Dam Tower has a car park and you can reserve a slot here (but it isn’t cheap).
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Clink Noord is a fab hostel for budget travellers. I’ve personally stayed at a few hostels in Amsterdam (including ClinkCoco and Hans Brinker) and Clink Noord is my favourite.
Although it’s not perfect, it’s clean, comfortable and great for socialising. Plus, its location really can’t be beat for the price point.
If hostels aren’t your thing, read this guide to the best places to stay in the Dutch capital. It also covers some of the top hotels in the city.
Have you stayed at Clink Noord in Amsterdam? How did you find it?
