NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace
by the TopOfHotel team
Barbizon Palace is the five-star that blends Amsterdam history with sheer convenience better than anything else in town, with rooms in 17 stitched-together 17th-century buildings right across from the main station.
Barbizon Palace is the five-star that blends Amsterdam history with sheer convenience better than anything else in town, with rooms in 17 stitched-together 17th-century buildings right across from the main station.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 274 rooms blend 17th-century Dutch bones with modern fittings: tall walls, large windows and warm brown tones that feel closer to a Golden Age townhouse than a standard chain room. Most reviews call out the cleanliness and the quality of the beds. Because the hotel is carved out of older buildings, a few rooms have odd shapes or slightly low ceilings, which reads as character more than fault. Superior rooms and up tend to face the canal or Prins Hendrikkade, looking straight across at Centraal Station, and that is one of the better city views you can get from a bed. Standard rooms open around $240 a night.
Food and amenities
Breakfast is the part guests keep coming back to. The spread covers Dutch and international dishes, cheeses, fresh bread, several kinds of cold cuts, seasonal fruit and hot coffee, and serving it inside the older building adds to the experience. There is a fitness center for anyone who wants to keep a routine, and free high-speed Wi-Fi runs throughout the property. None of it tries to be flashy; it simply works, which is the point at this tier.
Location and getting there
The location is what sets Barbizon Palace apart from every other five-star in town. Step out, cross the street, and you are at the door of Amsterdam Centraal Station, the hub for Thalys to Paris, Eurostar to London, Intercity trains to the rest of the Netherlands, and trams running across the city. From Schiphol Airport, a direct train reaches Centraal in about 15 minutes. The Red Light District is roughly 10 minutes on foot and Dam Square about 15, so most of the old centre is walkable from the lobby.
Things to know before booking
Two things to weigh. First, rates jump hard during peak season and big events — the $240 opener can more than double, so lock in early if your dates are set. Second, a handful of rooms catch noise from a nearby bar in the evenings, and some lower-floor rooms run on the cramped side, the usual trade-off of fitting modern rooms into centuries-old buildings. Ask for a higher floor away from the street, or a Superior category, and both issues largely go away.
Our take
If you want a five-star base where you can drop your bags, walk to a train, and still sleep inside a piece of 17th-century Amsterdam, this is the clearest pick in the city. The 8.6/10 on Booking.com from over 3,600 reviews and 9.4/10 on Trip.com are not flukes — the location, the building and the breakfast carry it. Just book ahead and request the right room, and the few rough edges disappear.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The best location in the city, bar none: walk out the door, cross the street, and you are at Amsterdam Centraal Station, where Thalys runs to Paris, Eurostar to London, Intercity trains reach the rest of the Netherlands, and trams fan out everywhere.
- The property is built into 17 historic 17th-century buildings, including a former chapel dating to the 15th century, so the architecture and lobby carry real character instead of cookie-cutter chain styling.
- Breakfast comes up in almost every review on the positive side, with Dutch and international spreads, cheeses, fresh bread, a range of cold cuts, seasonal fruit and hot coffee served in the atmospheric older building.
- Staff are repeatedly described as friendly and quick to sort out problems, which is why the service score sits high across both Booking.com and Trip.com.
- The overall guest rating is strong and consistent: 9.4/10 on Trip.com from more than 140 verified guests, and 8.6/10 on Booking.com across over 3,600 reviews.
- Rates climb steeply during peak season and big events such as conferences and Kings Day, so the $240 starting price can more than double; book well ahead if your dates are fixed.
- Some rooms pick up noise from a nearby bar in the evenings, an easy thing to flag at check-in by asking for a quieter room away from the street.
- A few of the lower-floor rooms are reported as on the cramped side, which is the trade-off of fitting modern rooms into centuries-old buildings; request a Superior category or higher if space matters to you.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Amsterdam
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Insider Tips
- Book a Superior room or above to face the canal or Prins Hendrikkade, where you look straight across at Centraal Station, one of the more memorable views in the city.
- If you are noise-sensitive, ask the front desk for a room on a higher floor and away from the bar side when you check in, since some street-facing rooms catch evening noise.
- You can reach the hotel from Schiphol Airport on a direct train to Centraal in about 15 minutes, then it is a 2-minute walk across the street with your bags.