Houseboat Ark van Amstel

Location: Weesperzijde 1026, Amsterdam, nl

Star Rating: 8.4 Stars

Property Type: Guest houses

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Electric bicycle charging station
• Non-smoking rooms
• Non-smoking throughout
• Invoice provided
• Aerobics
• Free wired internet
• Internet access
• Concerts/live shows
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Electric bicycle charging station
• Paddle boating nearby

Rooms Available

• Studio

  This studio has a seating area with parquet floor. The bathroom contains a shower.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Air conditioning
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Electric kettle
  • Linen
  • Toilet paper
  • Cots
  • Body soap
  • Lockers
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

• Benoit (10/5): - Le logement est charmant, très bien situé, suffisamment près du centre mais pas dans la cohue, bien insonorisé, tout est présent à votre pour qu'il n'y ait aucun problème (serviettes, blgel douche, sacs poubelles, café, papier toilette, matériel de nettoyage...) De prime abord, l'absence de plaque de cuisson nous a semblé un handicap, il ne faut effectivement compter que sur le micro-onde. En réalité, un grand magasin Albert Heijn se trouvant au bout de la rue, il est possible de manger varié et équilibré sans réellement cuisiner. Rien concernant le logement. De manière plus générale, les parkings peuvent être cher à Amsterdam si vous venez en voiture, il peut être judicieux de réserver le parking à l'avance, un ParkBee par exemple.
• Frida (8/5): -
• French (8/5): We had a lovely stay great find. - Loved the location And lovely to relax in after a good days sightseeing. The electric appliances Found it awkward to use the microwave. To high and fiddly with the plugs. Everything else was super
• Logan (10/5): Great views - The location is amazing and the rooms were lovely. Nicely decorated and welcoming. The view from the living room was wonderful and straight on to the river, with lots of nearby places to go for food etc to the rear. We loved our stay but would have preferred to have a tv or radio for background noise in the evenings. The stairs were very steep (as are many in Amsterdam) so took some getting used to.
• Giorgos (7/5): -
• Heyns (10/5): - Our stay was fantastic! The views were amazing and we loved watching the boats and the ducks while enjoying our morning coffee and all the lights at night. The houseboat was comfortable and unique with all the amenities you could need. The location was a perfect spot for quick access to the tram and some great restaurants nearby. It was also a great location for visiting the University of Amsterdam (daughter was in a study abroad program and at the Social Hub nearby). It was a perfect start to our trip through Europe. Thanks for a great and memorable stay!
• Patrick (10/5): -
• Kristie (10/5): Cool experience, beautiful little home! - The idea and set up is cool! The location is super easy to get to, everything you need is in walking distance and the view from the windows is amazing ! You don’t need a t.v, it’s easy to spend hours just watching the birds on the water and the life of the city. The house was clean and fully catered to every household item you would need - there’s extra heating, fans, blankets, pillows, all the kitchen necessities. We really couldn’t have asked for a better location that felt like home. We have been travelling through Europe for over 3 weeks by this point, moving through hotel after hotel, but this one is different because it felt more like a home, which is what we wanted at this point of travelling. Uber from the airport to the property, easy and effortless. The host was very welcoming and checked in to make sure everything is going well. Would definitely stay here again if returning to Amsterdam! N/A
• Abi (10/5): The most magical stay - This place is spectacular, we stayed here for two weeks and it offers all the facilities you could need. Jenny the host was amazing, she communicated so well via WhatsApp and checked in half way through our stay. The boat itself is perfect, so clean and the view is unbeatable. We could have just stayed in and watched the world go by! We would one hundred percent stay here again! Thank you Jenny for such a wonderful stay Nothing!
• Tommy Mulligan Jnr (10/5): Perfect place to relax and enjoy Amsterdam with out the chaos of being in the center! - We stayed here in October and it was perfect, we was welcomed with a complimentary bottle of wine and snacks, the house boat it self was 10/10 with stunning morning and evening views, break fast and a coffee watching the morning boats go past and the ducks, and in the evening watching the locals in there row boats. The living room window slides fully open and let's the fresh air in (would be perfect in summer) Location wise was great lots of nice restaurants, my wife is a Thai nationals and there was literally 6 Thai restaurants with a 15 min walk. And a beautiful market (I cant remember the name) but was full of all kinds fo food vendors. It's about 30 min walk from centeal Amsterdam which was perfect for us as we didnt want to be in the madness at night time. There is a underground metro 10 min walk away and we wpuld get the train into the center then walk back put to the boat house stopping at places we wanted to see. We would highly recommend and would stay here again. Not a criticism as we have a perfect stay but maybe bigger heaters as it was winter when we was there and as the bedroom is below water level my wife found it a little cold and there was only small heaters but this didnt effect our time here. My wifes always cold being from Asia she's still climatising to European winters 😂
• Margret (10/5): - Uitzicht en de stilte
• Sean (8/5): Watched Sinter Klaus arrive in Amsterdam from the comfort of the lounge window on the houseboat ! - Loved everything instructions very clear, property very clean; location is amazing and views are great! Not enough heating
• Ezekiel Walí (10/5): -
• Stuart (10/5): - Location, price, communication All of this is noted in the property explanation and reviews: steep stairs & no sink downstairs
• Pepita (8/5): Agreable et reposant - Vivre l experience du houseboat Une terrasse aurait été un gros plus
• Yvonne (7/5): - Property was beautiful only thing id like to see would be a sink in the bathroom No sink in bathroom
• Landon (10/5): - Besides the obvious pro of this place being so unique, the location was excellent! The neighborhood feels very low-key and residential while still having the buzz you would expect of a city like Amsterdam. The Heineken brewery and the Carré theatre are within walking distance and several tram stops are nearby for longer treks into the city center. We couldn't have asked for a better home base to explore the city from. The place would be perfect if there was a ceiling fan in the living area! On sunny days the large window made it very hot.
• Martin (8/5): -
• Louise (8/5): Very unique Dutch stay - This was a very unique stay in Amsterdam. We really enjoyed having a coffee and watching all the boats moving up and down the river. The location was a perfect walking distance from most areas. The bed was very comfortable and the area was quiet at night time. I needed to WFH during our stay and I found the wifi very fast for taking zoom calls. We also met the owner - who gave us some pointers on renting boats in the area. He had a cute story of how he met his partner through living in this house boat! Sometimes there was a bad smell - not sure if this comes from the bathroom or sewage or something else?
• Hannah (10/5): Amazing - The location is brilliant, close to tram stops, shops and restaurants. Being on the water is so lovely and peaceful. The stairs are interesting, something you have to get used to!
• Ruth (4/5): It’s cute, but its cuteness does not make up for its shortcomings. - I can only echo much of what many other reviewers have said. Too bad I didn’t read the reviews first! The location - on the Amstel - is excellent. The management company was very responsive, and allowed us a very early check in, so we didn’t have to schlep our bags around for four hours, and I really appreciated that. I enjoyed the coffee and the stroopwaffel. Though small, it has beaucoup charm….. …but not enough charm to off-set the vague feeling of grubbiness. The whole place needs a deep clean. Paint would be good and updating the furniture and decor would help. Blinds for the windows so people going by in boats three feet away, when you have the windows open, aren’t ogling you. I was surprised that cooking was not allowed, as per city rules, which made the price for three nights - 692 Euros - that much more expensive, since all we could do was microwave or toast something.. A 90 Euro cleaning fee was included, as though it was an Air BnB, yet we were still asked to clean the dishes and remove the garbage. Not a big deal, but why a cleaning fee then? Health and safety: The staircase is a killer. If you have any sort of mobility or balance issues, forget it. This is a staircase for monkeys. And the lack of a bathroom sink is a hygiene issue, since you have crawl up the stairs to wash your hands in the kitchen sink, where you may have dishes waiting to be washed. It’s an awkward space, because, since the bathroom sink missing, a place to shave, brush your hair, or put on makeup is also missing. There’s also no TV, which isn’t necessary, but made the experience feel a bit like camping. None of this is horrible, or even insurmountable if you know about it in advance, but to pay this price for a funky impractical place is just not worth it. I chose the houseboat over a comfortable hotel room with a view, also on the Amstel, and think I got a much worse deal. And it’s unfortunate, because it’s such a romantic idea, and I really wanted to like it.
• Shannon (4/5): It ruined our trip to Amsterdam - The location was excellent and the view from the houseboat was fantastic! The accommodation was very tired and to be honest felt dirty. The couch was old and dirty - they just threw an old dirty rug over the top to hide how old it was. The toilet smelt through the whole of the bottom floor where we slept (like sewerage) and the bedroom was cold and bedsheets felt unclean. I would recommend to stay at this accommodation.
• Kaitlin (9/5): Unique and cozy local perspective - What a fun experience! It feels more like a physical building on the water than a boat, but I have nothing to complain about there. It was really fun to see the water right out of the window. Incredibly cool decor. Incredibly quiet and comfortable. Would absolutely stay here again. Having no bathroom sink was a little awkward, especially at night, cause you had the option to wash your hands in the shower or climb the spiral staircase to the kitchen sink. The spiral staircase is not for the accident-prone or anybody nervous about tight stairs.
• Lika (10/5): Exceptional -
• Kelly (9/5): Superb -
• Emma (10/5): Exceptional - One of the best places we have ever stayed! Lovely quiet area of Amsterdam, gorgeous view of the Amstel canal, great places to eat nearby. Absolutely loved it and never wanted to leave. It made our holiday to experience the houseboat!
• Amanda (9/5): Lovely houseboat and in fantastic setting. - The boat was easy to locate, clean, comfortable, and very near to several tram stops. The living space was lovely and we had lots of wildlife that came to visit during our stay! As the boat is located out of the main centre, it was nice and quiet too. It was very easy to get to in the tram from the centre. It had everything we needed for a short stay and I would definitely recommend it to others. Very steep stairs into the bedroom, which are difficult to navigate with anything in your hands! This can't be helped though and didn't affect our enjoyment.
• Gk (8/5): Very good -
• S (7/5): If both items were fix ! Would stay again! owner were very accommodating - Location Stairs! No bathroom vanity!
• Alibek (10/5): Exceptional -
• El (9/5): Superb -
• Tayla (9/5): Superb -
• Nicu (7/5): Good - Beautiful location, cozy and pretty well equipped. Spiders…
• Tampi (9/5): Superb - Beautifully kept and artistically decorated. Lovely view. We only wish there was toilet on the main room .We had to climb down each time . A small sink in the washroom area would be nice so you can brush yr teeth without needing to climb up.
• Kristina (10/5): great stay in a house on the water - - location - view through the window - the feeling of being in a house on the water - lack of a sink in the bathroom - the walls need to be refreshed
• Jasmin (3/5): We are goint to amsterdam again but definitely not in that houseboat! - De view was nice. There were about 20 loud children next to us who were noisy until 10 PM EVERYDAY! On bookin.com it says its sound proof but we heard every single word from our neighbors. The smell in the bedroom was so bad that we had to sleep on the upper floor on the floor! There were no shutters and the sun was burning us away. We had absolutely no privacy because everyone was looking inside our space. On the photos was a kitchen but we couldn't use it, that was a bummer! It was not clean at all and the bedsheets smelled like they werent washed before. There were everywere spiders and we couldn't open the windows. You expect the whole houseboat but you only get a small 3 meters to 3 meters square. You feel like you are in a fishbowl where everyone can see you. We paid way too much for what we've got. We hope we can get a refund from booking.com!
• Casey (8/5): Very good -
• Martin (7/5): Quirky stay - Being on the canal - different. Location - near lots of things. Host responded to queries. Big bed. Had to wait an hour to check in as room being cleaned. Internet access not constant. Living area space smaller than photos alluded to. Room could do with a paint touch up in places and perhaps freshened up textiles.
• Renata (8/5): Comfortable apartment, good value for the money - Location, cleanliness. Nicely equipped kitchen.
• Steven (10/5): Exceptional -
• Jur (9/5): This is a great little appartment in a superb location, ideal for a short break in Amsterdam - The location, the amazing view over the water, the facilities, the little extras like the coffee pods and the stroopwafels. There are several small electric heaters that help to keep the place warm. The kitchenette is really small but works fine to make hot drinks and snacks. With so many eateries nearby you don't need to cook your own meal here! The bed and the shower are good, and since the bedroom is below the water it is really very quiet at night, you can't hear a thing which is incredible for a location in the heart of Amsterdam! The stairs to the bedroom and bathroom are very steep, so take care. The aircon could not be adjusted as far as I can tell. There is no mirror above the sink (I brought my own shaving mirror).
• Richard (10/5): Exceptional -
• Siobhan (8/5): Very special spot - View was great Terrible WiFi and bad sulpher small
• Kathleen-delilah (10/5): Exceptional - Very homely and cosy. Lovely views and good location. Really spacious also!
• Adem (6/5): No cooking allowed - Unique property and comfortable - not allowed to cook,even though it shows a Hob in the pictures. Only a microwave and toastie machine are allowed to be used. - check in was at 3pm, the property was still being cleaned at 3.45pm. - needs a television.
• Verity (9/5): Unusual and beautiful accomodation, great location. - Unusual and beautiful accomodation, great location. Have to be careful around the staircase.
• Lk (10/5): Exceptional - Excellent place for couple. Calm and romantic. Perfectly located. Nice restaurant Hollandays just on the backside of river. Not cheap but very tasty with nice Chief Reb!!! Highly recommended. Nothing to complain
• Kathy (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing experience to be ON the water!
• Sam (5/5): Unusual location though urgent maintenance is needed to make this a perfect stay - Unusual property, Excellent location, close to a wide range of great restaurants, however was surprisingly quiet at night. Was beautiful staying on the canal, seeing Amsterdam at all times of the day, including daily visits from a flock of swans! While we loved our stay, too many things were faulty or not working correctly and really appeared to be long term issues that should have been rectified - the fridge did not chill properly (so food went mouldy quickly), the extractor fan in the bathroom was broken, the main window needed a blind to stop the room turning into a furnace every afternoon and the toilet seat was broken (this was reported by others on a previous review).
• Bill (8/5): Very good -
• Chris (5/5): lovely to stay on a house boat, but much smaller than it looked in the photos. fine for a free days break but would not - the view of the river was great, excellent local restaurants, walking distance to the centre. no sink in the bathroom meant that there were no hand or face washing facilities other than the kitchen sink, made shaving difficult. very small sitting area. broken toilet seat.
• Asta (10/5): Best stay in Amsterdam ever! - Everything was absolutely perfect. You cannot beat this view. Incredible comfortable sleep too! All you need and more! Really nice few touches I've never seen anywhere else...like having tampons if needed and birthday candles! VERY THOUGHTFUL HOST! Definitely coming back to this one! 😁🥰 There is nothing not to like there, it's absolutely incredible
• Beril (10/5): Exceptional -
• Roza (10/5): Exceptional -
• Stephenie (1/5): horrible awful from start to end!!! - nothing where to start? Disaster from start to finish!! the people who ran the accommodation were soo so so so rude rude!! The place was tiny, stuffy, dirty (tons of spiders). i asked if I could leave a day early at the start and they said sure. i tried to request a change. they never answered. The Wi-Fi never worked! I kept complaining and they never answered. It looks nice but ur in a giant fish tank for everyone to see! Zero privacy! would be nice if they had curtains but nope! Typical Dutch, cheap and stingy!! It was sooo so hot and stuffy!! There were fans downstairs and they hardly did any good. Don’t fall for the romance of a houseboat. U get only a tiny tiny tiny sliver of a larger houseboat!!!

Photos