THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1337

Simpler Canalside Hotels
These places have basic rooms—some downright spare, none plush—and most do without
an elevator or other extras. Each of them, however, offers a decent night's sleep in a lovely
area of town.
$$$WiechmannHotel 's37priceyroomsaresparselyfurnishedwithjustthedark-wood
essentials, but they're spacious, and the gezellig public areas are chock-full of Old World
charm (Sb-€70-110, Db-€150-170, Tb-€210, Qb-€225, Db suite-€265, check online for best
price, 15 percent cheaper for 3 or more nights if booking through their website, some canal
views, back rooms are quiet, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, nicely located at Prinsengracht
328-332, tel. [phone], www.hotelwiechmann.nl , [e-mail] , John and
Taz the welcome dog).
$$ Hotel Brouwer is a woody and homey old-time place. It's situated in a tranquil yet
central location on the Singel canal and rents eight rooms with canal views, old furniture,
and soulful throw rugs. It's so popular that it's often booked four or five months in ad-
vance—reserve as soon as possible (Sb-€60, Db-€95, Tb-€120, rates don't include 6 percent
tax, cash only, breakfast-€7, small elevator, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, located between
Central Station and Dam Square, near Lijnbaanssteeg at Singel 83, tel. [phone],
www.hotelbrouwer.nl , [e-mail] ).
$$ Hotel Hoksbergen is a welcoming, well-run canalside place in a peaceful location
where helpful, hands-on owners Tony and Bert rent 14 rooms with newly remodeled bath-
rooms (Db-€98, Tb-€143, five Qb apartments-€165-198, fans, free Wi-Fi, Singel 301, tel.
020/626-6043, www.hotelhoksbergen.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Hotel Hegra is cozy, with nine rooms filling a 17th-century merchant's house over-
looking the canal (Db-€80-€160, Tb-€119-149, breakfast-€6.50, some rooms with canal
view, pay Internet access, free Wi-Fi, bike and boat rentals, just north of Wolvenstraat at
Herengracht 269, tel. [phone], www.hotelhegra.nl , [e-mail] , Robert).
$$ Hotel Chic & Basic Amsterdam has a boutique-hotel feel, even though it's part
of a Spanish chain. With its mod utilitarian design and younger clientele, it provides a
break from all the lace curtains. Located in a quiet neighborhood near Central Station, it
offers 25 minimalist rooms and public areas that are bathed in space-age white. Rooms
with canal views are pricier and breezier (Sb-€95-130, Db-€120-155, €20 more on holiday
weekends, less in winter, cheaper prices are for less sleek “vintage” rooms without canal
views, free coffee, continental breakfast, fans on request, tangled floor plan connecting
threecanalsidebuildings,freeInternetaccessandWi-Fi,Herengracht13,tel.[phone],
www.chicandbasic.com , [e-mail] , manager Bernardo Campo).