I'm not a drinker, not a smoker, and not a partier in general.
So when I headed to Amsterdam in May 2008 for a few days to see the canals and go the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum, I was looking for a different kind of lodging than a downtown hostel sure to be crammed with drunk and/or high Americans partying till late. I looked for a place where I could relax and write peacefully in my journal about the things I had seen over the day. As a student at the time, I also wanted to stay somewhere reasonably priced.
Expecting something similar to the parks on the outskirts of major U.S. cities, I thought I was gambling with my safety by booking a bed in a cabin in the Amsterdamse Bos.
However, staying here contributed to one of my favorite experiences in Europe. The grounds were safe and secure, and the cabin was, even from a no-nonsense guy's perspective, kind of adorable: the nights I stayed there, I felt like I was in a fairytale or something. Since it was May, I was warm enough, even at night thanks to the freshly laundered linens and blanket they provided.
That said, it's a campground and the cabins are cabins. The toilets, showers, and sinks are in a communal facility with concrete floors (they are nice and clean though), but...just because I had a wonderful experience here doesn't mean it's right for everyone. This is absolutely not a party place, and I want to stress again that it's not a hostel. There are tons of families from all over Europe camping here (for Americans: this is apparently pretty common: Europeans sometimes take months off from work and travel with their families, camping in mini Winnebago-like vehicles). People are out grilling dinner, reading books in hammocks while kids play etc...
If you're an American and normally stay in chain hotels or nicer hostels at the center of the action when you travel abroad, you probably will not appreciate how well the Amsterdamse Bos does their thing, so stay away -- it's just not for you.
If you're used to rugged conditions, enjoy the outdoors, can sleep anywhere, and have a romantic side, then you'll find this campground surprisingly awesome -- much better than other options, including most youth hostels, in Europe.
As for me: if I ever get back to Amsterdam in the summer months, I'll be staying here again! read more