Where to Stay in Amsterdam: SWEETS Hotel Review
How do you decide where to stay in Amsterdam? In a city this popular, the Amsterdam accommodation options are endless.
After studying abroad in Amsterdam for six months in 2014 and visiting again in 2018, 2022 and 2023, I’ve stayed in a few different Amsterdam accommodations.
When I was introducing my husband, Colin, to the city in 2022, I wanted to find a place to stay in Amsterdam that was central, unique and would help him to fall in love with the city as much as I have.
Sure, we could have stayed in a typical hotel, saved a little money at a hostel, or tried local living in an Amsterdam Airbnb. But we decided to do something different.
As soon as I heard about this place on a podcast, I knew I had to book it. It would be an incredibly unique and memorable way to experience the city and, much to my delight, not expensive!
What if your Amsterdam accommodation was actually one of the historic bridge houses on the famous Amsterdam canals?
Enter: SWEETS Hotel!
Below I’m sharing my detailed SWEETS Hotel review from our stay in 2022, plus who this hotel is best for and the pros and cons of staying.
Disclosure: SWEETS Hotel was aware that I was staying in one of their suites and provided a few goodies to make my stay super sweet (pun intended). However, this was not a sponsored stay, no press was required and I paid full price for my stay. As always, all opinions are my own!
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
What is SWEETS Hotel?
SWEETS Hotel is a special concept in Amsterdam accommodation where 28 bridge houses spread amongst the city’s canals have been transformed into hotel suites.
Each bridge house is totally unique, in design and location, and independent from all of the others in the SWEETS chain. They’re located throughout the city, both in quiet neighbourhoods and bustling intersections, giving guests the chance to experience life on Amsterdam’s canals.
I first heard of SWEETS on a travel podcast and was so intrigued. Everyone knows Amsterdam is famous for their canals – what could be cooler than staying right on them?
The bridge houses around Amsterdam were all built between the 17th and 21st century. Over 100 years ago, bridge keepers used to use these houses to operate the bridges to allow ships to pass through. But once the bridge control system was centralized, the keepers and their houses became redundant.
Until the SWEETS team pitched the city with their hotel idea in 2012. They wanted to transform the unused homes, help preserve the city’s history, and give visitors a chance to experience more of Amsterdam’s culture, charm and canal-central life.
PS: Only have a short time in Amsterdam? Check out my 1 day Amsterdam itinerary! Or if you have more time, check out my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary!
Who should stay at SWEETS Hotel?
In my opinion, SWEETS Hotel is the perfect Amsterdam accommodation option for a single traveller or couple looking for a unique stay.
You have to understand that the building you’re staying in is historic, and likely won’t have a floor plan you’re used to in a typical hotel room. You also won’t have all the amenities of a big hotel, such as a concierge, gym or room service.
But you will experience Amsterdam in a completely new way, close to the canals and rooted in a neighbourhood. You won’t find another stay in Amsterdam like it!
Note that the max occupancy for the SWEETS suites is two people over 21 years old; children and pets are not permitted.
Also note that depending on the location of the bridge house you choose, noise and/or privacy may be an issue. The houses are also not wheelchair-accessible.
Going to Amsterdam for the first time? Don’t miss my post on 12 things to know before visiting Amsterdam!
My SWEETS Hotel review
As soon as I heard about SWEETS on a travel podcast, I was hooked and began researching the bridge houses immediately. After explaining the concept to Colin, he was excited about it too. It was so fun to look through the different bridge houses and choose one for our stay.
We ended up picking a bridge house on Nassauplein, the very square I used to walk through every day on my way to class when I studied abroad in Amsterdam in 2014.
I probably stood right next to that bridge house while I waited with other impatient commuters for the bridge to go down so we could cross. Little did I know that eight years later, I’d be back staying in that bridge house with my husband!
It was so nostalgic for me to stay in my old neighbourhood, just a stone’s throw away from Westerpark where my friends and I would get scones or Jordaan, where we would walk and admire the canals.
And to be able to stay in that area in a place that is so connected to the history and lifeblood of Amsterdam was incredible. We loved just sitting back and watching the boats pass under the bridge in front of us.
Suffice to say, I really enjoyed our unique Amsterdam accommodation. I loved the incredible views and the looks we got when we popped out of the bridge house onto the busy street.
While I didn’t love the tight entryway and bathroom, or having to work from the bed, it was an easy compromise for a couple nights in one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.
I would highly recommend SWEETS Hotel if you’re looking for that memorable stay in Amsterdam right on the water. And I can’t wait to try out a different location on our next visit!
Ready to book your stay? Check out prices and book your stay at SWEETS Hotel Willemsbrug here!
Pros of staying at SWEETS Hotel in Amsterdam
The following pros and cons are based on my stay at the Willemsbrug bridge house, one of the SWEETS hotels in Amsterdam city centre, or just outside of the city centre.
Of course different visitors will have different opinions and different locations will have their own pros and cons. Check out all of the locations here.
Unique stay in Amsterdam: There are probably very few cities in the world where you can stay overnight in a bridge house on the canals.
This unique factor is the main thing that helped me decide where to stay in Amsterdam. Plus, with stays starting at €142 per night, it’s one of the cheaper places to stay in Amsterdam.
Great view of the city: My absolute favourite part about the Willemsbrug bridge house was the wide open view to the canal.
We had windows on three sides of the house and a large window bench where we could sit and watch life go by. We loved sitting back and watching the bridge lift for ships, bikers zip by and water drift down the canal.
In the heart of the action: As one of the hotels in Amsterdam city centre, we really felt like we were in the heart of Amsterdam. We stepped out of our front door and were immediately in the middle of a busy intersection with transit stops, restaurants and shops within eyesight.
As a city girl, I really appreciated being central to everything happening in Amsterdam.
Cons of staying at SWEETS Hotel in Amsterdam
Of course, SWEETS hotel won’t work for everyone. As I shared above, these suites are for a maximum of two guests over the age of 21, so won’t work for large groups or families. A few other cons to keep in mind:
Privacy and noise concerns: With our curtains open, it really did feel like everyone passing by could look inside.
In fact, the bridge house is so close to the street that at points, I could’ve reached out the window and high-fived people crossing the bridge. But of course, simply drawing the curtains solves this problem.
When we first arrived, I spotted sets of earplugs and assumed that’s what you get for staying in a hotel in Amsterdam city centre. But we didn’t have any noise problems! Sure, there are regular city noises, like sirens, traffic and the beeping the bridge makes when it goes up.
But none of that disturbed our sleep and we didn’t find the earplugs necessary. However, lighter sleepers may need them or may prefer staying in a bridge house in one of Amsterdam’s quieter neighbourhoods.
Small entryway and bathroom: With the bridge houses being historical (the one we stayed in was built in 1928) and not originally built as hotel rooms, it only makes sense that certain parts of the layout will feel off.
We found the entryway and bathroom in our bridge house to be quite small but well equipped. While I don’t love a wet room (where the shower is open to the toilet), I understood why it had to be like that. The sink was also quite small, which made washing dishes tough.
No workspace: I’m not sure if this was specific to our bridge house or all of them, but there wasn’t a desk or chair area. Of course, this is something you can see in the photos before booking. But if having a desk area to get work done is important to you, certain bridge houses may not be a good fit.
No hotel amenities: Since all of the SWEETS Hotel units are separate bridge houses, there isn’t a central lobby, concierge, room service, etc. The SWEETS team is available if you run into issues and cleaning is offered every third day.
But if you’re someone who relies on hotel employees and amenities, or really needs access to a hotel gym/pool/spa, you might prefer a different Amsterdam accommodation.
Of course, the plus of separate suites is a stay in Amsterdam that feels more local and independent, which I appreciated.
Conclusion: Try the most unique stay in Amsterdam on the canals with SWEETS Hotel!
Is SWEETS Hotel one of the best hotels in Amsterdam? Honestly, it might be! I was really happy with our stay and it was definitely a highlight of our entire Europe 2022 trip.
Since studying abroad in Amsterdam in 2014, the city has always held a special place in my heart. It was so wonderful to come back and walk the same streets, this time with my husband, and stay in the same neighbourhood where I lived as a student.
By staying at the bridge house, we instantly felt so much more connected to Amsterdam life. It was awesome to just stare out the window and watch the boats and bikers go by.
I’d love to know: After my SWEETS hotel review, would you want to stay in one of Amsterdam’s bridge houses on the canals?
I loved my visit to Amsterdam and I enjoyed reading this post! This really sounds like a unique place to stay and your pros and cons are valid. Although I’d like to stay here, I can’t wear earplugs and am a light sleeper but I appreciate this post nonetheless.
Thanks so much! Perhaps one of the ones farther out from the city centre would work better for you 🙂
I love this! Who need amenities when you get to stay in such a cool place? If I ever get to visit Amsterdam, I’m going to try to stay in one of these SWEET rooms. Thanks for posting!
Thanks so much! I hope you do make it to Amsterdam and enjoy your stay at SWEETS!
Sweet Hotels sound ideal for my daughter and I, both adults. Where would be a quieter area and one with two beds? I’m just starting my research and known nothing about Amsterdam.
Thanks for checking out the post, Roxanne! Unfortunately, the SWEETS hotels are geared more towards couples or singles, as each only has one bed. Hopefully you can try them out on a future visit!
Hi! Would you recommend this for a single traveler (female in their 20s)? Did you feel safe?
Hey Amberly, I would recommend this for a young solo female traveller. I felt safe (though I wasn’t solo) and generally find Amsterdam a really safe city. I would suggest picking one of the locations that’s not right in the city centre but still in a lively part of town so you don’t feel too isolated. There’s not a front desk/doorman, so if the idea of being on your own and having street access from your door isn’t comfortable, it might not be a good fit. But I never felt worried about theft or break ins. You can check out the different locations on SWEETS’ website and see if some feel more comfortable to you than others.