Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – North Riverside by IHG

First Impressions

The Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – North Riverside by IHG sits right along the water in Amsterdam Noord, and honestly, the location surprised me in the best way. This three-star hotel doesn’t try to be something it’s not — it’s a solid, comfortable base that happens to have some genuinely nice touches. The lobby feels fresh and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let you see straight out to the IJ river.

The Noord Experience

You know what I love about staying in Noord? It feels like you’re discovering a secret part of Amsterdam that most tourists skip entirely. The free ferry ride across to Centraal Station takes maybe twelve minutes, and you get these amazing views of the city skyline along the way. Plus, there’s something kind of cool about telling people you’re staying “across the river” — it sounds more adventurous than it actually is. The NDSM area nearby has this whole creative, industrial vibe with old shipyard buildings turned into art spaces and cafes.

Room and Comfort

The room I stayed in was exactly what you’d expect from Holiday Inn Express — clean, functional, with a comfortable bed and decent shower pressure. Nothing fancy, but they’ve clearly put thought into the small stuff. The air conditioning actually works (not always a given in Amsterdam), and there’s plenty of USB ports scattered around. I mean, it’s not going to win any design awards, but after a long day of walking around the city, you’ll appreciate the no-nonsense approach.

Breakfast and Dining

The complimentary breakfast is actually pretty decent — definitely better than what you’ll find at most hotels in this price range. They’ve got the usual suspects like eggs and bacon, but also some Dutch touches like local cheeses and decent coffee. There’s no full-service restaurant, but honestly, with all the food options in Amsterdam, you probably don’t need one. The lobby has a 24-hour market area where you can grab snacks and drinks, which came in handy more than once.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t the kind of place you’ll be posting Instagram shots of your hotel room, but it gets the fundamentals right. The staff seems genuinely helpful rather than just going through the motions, and the riverside location gives you easy access to both the quirky Noord scene and central Amsterdam. Parking is available if you’re driving (which, let’s be honest, you probably shouldn’t in Amsterdam), and the whole place just feels well-maintained. For the price point, especially considering Amsterdam’s generally expensive hotel scene, it delivers solid value without any unpleasant surprises.