THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1342

store tel. [phone], mobile [phone], fax [phone], www.cosyandwarm-ams-
terdam.com , [e-mail] ).
$ Frederic Rent-a-Bike & Guestrooms, with a bike-rental shop as the reception, is
a collection of private rooms on a gorgeous canal just outside the Jordaan, a five-minute
walk from Central Station. Frederic has amassed about 100 beds, ranging from dumpy €75
doubles behind the bike-rental shop, to spacious and elegant apartments (from €46/person;
these places require a 2-night minimum, occasionally more). Some places are ideal for fam-
ilies and groups of up to eight. He also rents houseboat apartments. All are displayed on
his website (phone bookings preferred, book with credit card but pay with cash, no break-
fast, Brouwersgracht 78, tel. [phone], www.frederic.nl , [e-mail] , Frederic and
Marjolijn). His excellent bike shop, which serves as the reception, is open daily 9:00-17:30
(€15/24 hours). My readers who rent a houseboat or apartment get a 50 percent discount on
Frederic's bikes.
Southwest Amsterdam
Charming B&Bs near Leidseplein
The area around Amsterdam's rip-roaring nightlife center (Leidseplein) is colorful, comfort-
able, and convenient. These canalside mom-and-pop places are within a five-minute walk of
rowdy Leidseplein, but generally are in quiet and typically Dutch settings. Within walking
distance of the major museums, and steps off the tram line, this neighborhood offers a per-
fect mix of charm and location.
$$ Hotel de Leydsche Hof, a hidden gem located on a canal, doesn't charge extra for its
views. Its four large rooms are a symphony in white, some overlooking a tree-filled back-
yard, others a canal. Frits and Loes give their big, elegant, old building a stylish air, but be
prepared for lots of stairs. Breakfast is served in the grand canal-front room (Db-€120, cash
only, 2-night minimum, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, Leidsegracht 14, tel. [phone],
mobile [phone], www.freewebs.com/leydschehof , [e-mail] ).
$$WildervanckB&B, runbyHeleneandSjoerdWildervanck,offerstwotastefulrooms
in an elegant 17th-century canal house (big Db on first floor-€135, Db with twin beds on
groundfloor-€130,extrabed-€35,2-nightminimum,breakfastintheirpleasantdiningroom,
free Wi-Fi, family has three girls, just west of Leidsestraat at Keizersgracht 498, tel. 020/
623-3846, www.wildervanck.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$HotelKeizershof iswonderfullyDutch,withsixbright,airyrooms—somewithcanal
views—in a 17th-century canal house with a lush garden and a fine living room. A very
steep spiral staircase leads to rooms named after old-time Hollywood stars. The enthusiast-
ic hospitality of Mrs. de Vries and her daughter, Hanneke, give this place a friendly, almost
small-town charm (S-€70, D-€95, Ds-€110, Db-€115, 2-night minimum, reserve with credit