My husband and I are spending our 25th wedding anniversary at the NH North hotel in the Noord. I realize we will be taking the ferry over from centraal station, however, the hotel claims to be a short walk from the docks after crossing. Is this true? Will a taxi be required late at night after crossing on the ferry? Most important to us, being this hotel is a bit out of the city center, there's not much written about it. Will they freak out if they smell pot smoke coming from our room? I've been hiding pot smoke in US hotels for years. I'd rather not have to worry about that in A'Dam. Thanks for the help!
I wouldn't worry too much about the pot smoking. The hotel I stay at don't allow it either but I still lean out the window or pop outside on the terrace. I just make sure the marijuana skunk smells don't waft down the hall ways and annoy other guests, etc. Not sure about the hotel your staying at so hopefully somebody else can help you there. Have a nice anniversary
i wouldn't worry too much about them freaking out over weed. however, the north really sucks. nh hotels are all nice but the location of yours is a real drawback. amsterdam north is the ghetto of amsterdam. if it's at all possible to change to another hotel in the center, i would would do it. you'll have a much nicer time. believe me, it'll be worth paying the extra. you'll most certainly have to take a taxi back every night. that in itself is another reason not to stay there. amsterdam taxi driver are the worst i've come across anywhere in the world! but, if it's too late to change don't worry, you'll still have a good time.
I've never been over to the North on the Ferry. So I take it, this area is a bit of a ghetto then.? Is there much I'm actually missing out on over there or is it a pointless jaunt.?
the noord has become worse than the biljmer (previously the lowest socioeconomic area of amsterdam). the crime rate over there is also amongst the worst in the netherlands. don't worry, you're not missing anything. it's mainly residential (you know, the eastern block style housing that the dutch erected to house the minorities).
Thanks everyone. Your input was helpful. I decided to cancel our reservation at NH North and booked our stay at the Victoria Hotel instead in an executive room. At least now we'll be in the center of all the fun and not wandering around in the ghetto looking for our hotel! Thanks again.
i think you made a good move too, i have never been up there but i know the area is new so it might not have that gabled houses charm to it.
I think the posts about Noords crime rate and ghettoization are way over exxagerrated. The Noord is roughly the size of the centrum and canal belt of Amsterdam and there's neighborhoods of various ages and economics. The part of Noord that is closest (the NH North's there) to the IJ is very nice, the high rise poorer neighborhoods are in the far North. Also I disagree about having to take a taxi late at night to NH Noord as there's 24 hour bus service to Mosplein about a 2 block walk to the hotel.
