Hotel The Exchange

First Impressions

Hotel The Exchange sits right on Damrak in the thick of Amsterdam‘s bustling center, and honestly, you can’t miss it. The building itself has this interesting industrial-meets-boutique vibe that caught my eye immediately. What really sets this three-star place apart is its fashion-forward design concept — each floor represents a different fashion school from around the world, which sounds gimmicky but actually works really well in practice.

The Room Experience

My room was on the third floor, designed by students from a London fashion academy, and I was genuinely surprised by how thoughtful everything felt. The space isn’t huge — this is Amsterdam, after all — but every inch is used cleverly. The bed was comfortable enough, and the bathroom, while compact, had good water pressure (something you can’t always count on in older Amsterdam buildings). The fashion theme isn’t overwhelming either; it’s more like staying in a well-curated art installation.

Location Perks

You’re literally a two-minute walk from Central Station, which means easy airport connections and quick access to the rest of the Netherlands. But here’s what I really appreciated — despite being on one of the city’s main tourist drags, the hotel’s entrance feels somewhat tucked away. Dam Square is right there, sure, but you can also duck into quieter side streets within seconds. The Red Light District starts practically at your doorstep, and the Jordaan neighborhood is an easy stroll across a few canals.

Practical Considerations

The staff here actually knows their stuff about Amsterdam, which isn’t always a given in touristy areas. They pointed me toward a great brown café around the corner that I never would’ve found otherwise. There’s no on-site restaurant, but honestly, with the number of eating options within a block or two, you won’t miss it. The lobby doubles as a sort of gallery space, and there’s usually interesting fashion-related exhibitions rotating through.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t going to be the fanciest place you’ve ever stayed, but it delivers something more interesting than your typical chain hotel. The design concept could’ve been a disaster, but they pulled it off with enough restraint to feel sophisticated rather than chaotic. For the price point and location, you’re getting solid value — especially if you appreciate staying somewhere with a bit of personality. The 7.8 rating makes sense; it’s not perfect, but it’s definitely memorable in the best possible way.