The Bee Hostel

Overview of The Bee Hostel

Step out of the front door of The Bee Hostel and ARTIS, Amsterdam's long-established zoo and garden complex in the Plantage district, is roughly 0.1 km away, with the Hortus Botanicus botanical garden about 0.2 km down the road. The hostel sits at 19 Plantage Kerklaan in the Centrum area, postcode 1018 SZ, on one of the leafier, quieter streets on the eastern edge of the old city rather than in the busy streets around Dam Square.

What sets The Bee Hostel apart is the building itself. According to the hostel's official website, it occupies a monumental building from the 19th century that was renovated into a contemporary boutique hostel, and Traveloka's listing records 2022 as the property's year. In other words, guests get a historic Amsterdam facade with interiors fitted out only recently, which is an unusual combination for budget accommodation in the city centre.

The hostel describes its own concept as a "home away from home" for travellers who want stylish, neat facilities without stepping up to hotel rates. Its official site also places particular emphasis on the sleeping environment, with custom-designed beds built for comfort and privacy, and on a dedicated ladies-only dorm. Traveloka's listing data counts 90 rooms in total and confirms a 24-hour front desk, free WiFi and a staffed reception that offers concierge help, so it works as well for solo backpackers and friends travelling together as it does for anyone who simply wants a well-located, design-led bed in Amsterdam.

Room Types at The Bee Hostel

The Bee Hostel is a hostel first and foremost, so most guests will be booking a bed in a shared dorm rather than a conventional hotel room. Neither Traveloka's structured data nor the official website publishes a complete, named room-tier list with bed counts for every category, so the descriptions below stick to what the hostel itself confirms. Always check the live room list on the Traveloka booking page for the exact options, bed configurations and bathroom arrangements available on your dates.

Shared Dorm Beds

The hostel's official site gives unusually precise detail about its beds. Each one measures 200 cm long and 80 cm wide and comes with a privacy screen and a blackout curtain, so you can close yourself off from the rest of the room when you want to sleep. Every bed also has its own personal unit combining storage, a charging point and a night lamp, plus accessories and a towel hanger. The hostel says it chose robust materials and designed the beds specifically for comfort and privacy, which is a real step up from the open bunk frames found in many city hostels.

Ladies-Only Dorm

For female travellers who would like a little more privacy, The Bee Hostel runs its own ladies-only dorm. According to the official website, this dorm is located on the ground floor for easy access, is accessible to women only, and includes extra hanging space for clothes along with what the hostel calls "pampering bathrooms". The beds follow the same design as the rest of the hostel, with privacy screens and blackout curtains. The exact number of beds in this dorm is not published, so check the listing when you book.

Lockers and In-Room Basics

Each guest has access to a locker measuring 31 cm high, 60 cm wide and 18 cm deep, which the hostel says opens with your individual room key or access bracelet, so you do not need to bring your own padlock. Traveloka's listing also notes blackout curtains and daily housekeeping. Because detailed per-room amenities are not shown in the listing feed, treat any other in-room features as something to confirm on the room details at the time of booking.

Facilities and Amenities

For a hostel, The Bee Hostel covers the practical essentials well. Traveloka's listing groups its facilities as follows:

• Connectivity: free WiFi
• Food and drinks: a snack bar, a coffee shop, and coffee or tea in the lobby
• Things to do: a library for quiet downtime
• Transport: bicycle rental, which suits Amsterdam's cycle-friendly streets
• General: lockers and a smoke-free area
• Services: a 24-hour receptionist, concierge help, luggage storage, laundry service and multilingual staff

Beyond the listed facilities, the hostel's own website refers to The Bee Lounge as its social space and mentions a bar. It has also published a weekly programme of in-house activities, such as a game night at The Bee Lounge, an escape-room challenge and a pub crawl, which can be booked in advance at the desk. Programmes like this change over time, so ask at reception what is running during your stay.

A few practical points from the property's policies are worth knowing before you arrive. The building has no elevators, which matters if you are travelling with heavy luggage or have limited mobility. Cribs and rollaway or extra beds are not available, and pets are not allowed. Payments are cashless: the property accepts credit and debit cards, and cash is not accepted. Contactless check-in and check-out are available, and the listing notes safety features including a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a security system and a first aid kit.

Location and Getting There

The Bee Hostel's address on Plantage Kerklaan puts it in the Plantage neighbourhood, a short walk from several of Amsterdam's best-known cultural sights. Traveloka's listing gives these approximate distances from the property:

• ARTIS: about 0.1 km
• Hortus Botanicus: about 0.2 km
• Waterlooplein and Keizersgracht: about 0.7 km each
• Royal Theater Carré: about 0.8 km
• Waterlooplein Flea Market: about 0.8 km
• Rembrandt House Museum, National Maritime Museum, National Opera and Ballet and Oosterpark: about 0.9 km each
• NEMO Science Museum: about 1.1 km
• Rembrandt Square, the Amsterdam VOC ship and Nieuwmarkt Square: about 1.2 km each
• Zeedijk: about 1.3 km
• Dam Square: about 2.3 km

The listing also notes that Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum are both within roughly a five-minute drive. Much of the historic centre is within walking or cycling distance, and with bicycle rental listed among the facilities, exploring the canals by bike is an easy option.

For international arrivals, the preferred airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), about 21.7 km from the hostel. Travellers coming from Singapore can compare flights to Amsterdam on Traveloka and then continue into the city by public transport or taxi. Ask the front desk for the best current route from the airport to Plantage Kerklaan, as public transport connections can change.

Dining at and near The Bee Hostel

Traveloka's listing records one restaurant at the property, alongside a snack bar, a coffee shop and coffee or tea in the lobby, so a quick caffeine stop or a light bite is never far away. The hostel's official website also links to its own menu and refers to a bar, which makes it easy to have a drink with fellow travellers without leaving the building. Opening hours and the menu are best checked at reception on arrival.

Because the hostel is in central Amsterdam, plenty of independent cafés and restaurants are within walking distance. The Waterlooplein area, about 0.7 km away, and Nieuwmarkt Square, about 1.2 km away, are both natural places to start looking for food, while the Zeedijk, about 1.3 km away, is known for its mix of eateries. If you are planning a day around the nearby museums or the zoo, you can also browse Amsterdam attractions and activities on Traveloka to line up tickets before you go.

Why Stay at The Bee Hostel

The strongest reason to choose The Bee Hostel is the balance it strikes between character and practicality. Few budget stays in Amsterdam can offer a 19th-century monumental building, renovated into a contemporary hostel, that sits right next to ARTIS and the Hortus Botanicus. Guests who would rather wake up in a calmer, greener corner of the centre than above a nightlife strip will appreciate the Plantage setting, while Waterlooplein, the Rembrandt House Museum and the canal ring remain within an easy walk.

The sleeping set-up is the other big draw. Privacy screens, blackout curtains and a personal storage, charging and night-lamp unit at every bed address the most common complaints about shared dorms, and keyless lockers that open with your room key or bracelet mean one less thing to pack. Women travelling alone have the option of the ground-floor ladies-only dorm with its own bathrooms.

Finally, the hostel's social side gives solo travellers an easy way to meet people. Between The Bee Lounge, the bar and the activities the hostel organises, it is straightforward to find company for an evening, yet the library offers somewhere quieter when you need it. If you are still weighing up your options, you can compare other hotels and hostels in Amsterdam on Traveloka.

Tips for Booking The Bee Hostel on Traveloka

1. Check the room list carefully. As a hostel, The Bee Hostel sells beds in shared dorms, including a ladies-only option, so confirm the exact room type, bed arrangement and bathroom set-up on the Traveloka booking page before you pay.
2. Plan your arrival time. Check-in starts at 14:00, and the listed check-in window runs until 23:00. Check-out is by 11:00. If you land at Schiphol early or fly out late, use the hostel's luggage storage.
3. Bring a card, not cash. The property is cashless and accepts credit and debit cards only. Government-issued photo ID and a card or deposit may be requested at check-in for incidental charges.
4. Budget for local tax. A city or local tax is charged separately at the property, so check the booking summary for what is and is not included.
5. Pack light if you can. The building has no elevators, so a backpack or small case is easier to manage than a large suitcase.
6. Travelling with family? Cribs and extra beds are not available, and pets are not allowed, so families with infants or travellers with pets may be better served elsewhere.

Ready to put the rest of your trip together? Start planning flights, stays and things to do from the Traveloka homepage.

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