NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace

The honest review

NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace is 19 historic canal houses joined into one contemporary hotel, directly opposite Amsterdam Centraal Station. For families doing Amsterdam on a tight schedule — or with children whose patience for transport logistics is limited — the location is the deciding factor. Every tram line in Amsterdam passes Centraal Station. The Anne Frank House is 20 minutes by tram. The Rijksmuseum is 25 minutes. NEMO Science Museum is 10 minutes on foot. Canal boat tour docks are outside the door.

The building itself is the most interesting architectural experience of any Amsterdam hotel: the 19 joined canal houses create a warren of different room configurations at different heights, connected by stairs and short corridors. Some families find this charming; others find it confusing after a long day. Families booking should note that the historic structure means no elevator access to all rooms — important for families with strollers or limited mobility.

The Michelin-starred Vermeer restaurant is an adult dining option rather than a family proposition, but the Bar 't Smalle serves Dutch jenever gin tasting to parents while children eat Dutch pancakes (poffertjes) from the nearby street market. This is Amsterdam — the city handles family dining in the streets better than most hotels handle it indoors.

The FamilyFactor of 72 reflects the location advantage against limited dedicated family facilities. This is an adults-and-older-children hotel in a city that does family tourism well through its own infrastructure. For families with teenagers who want the most central possible base and don't need a pool or kids' club, it's the right choice.