Shelter Jordaan Hostel

Safe, clean, and excellent value
I'm not Christian, but I picked this hostel because I knew that as a single woman I wanted somewhere safe where I wouldn't be sharing my room with people off their heads on drugs. Perfect choice. The staff are incredibly friendly and the bathroom was the cleanest I've ever seen in a hostel. Very peaceful at night. They gave me a flier about Jesus when I checked in but otherwise there was no pressure to convert or anything. After all I knew it was Christian when I booked, so no big deal. I liked the location even if it was a bit out of the way -- I wanted a good night's sleep, not to party all night or get annoyed by loud people. This place is really something else, in a good way. I'd very highly recommend it to women traveling on their own.

There were some pros and cons to this place. Overall, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful here. The free breakfast was good and tasty. My room was fairly quiet with no disturbances during the night. But the bathrooms smell like sh*t, showers were not very clean. You have to buy your sheets for 2 euros. I got bedbugs during my two night stay here from the sheets I had to pay for. So, my conclusion is this! If you are going to stay there, it is not a short walk from the central station. Take the tram there instead. It is kind of hard to find because you have to pass a bunch of canals and take the back roads to get there, although it was nice to see some local art places on the walk there. It's a good long walk from the Red Light District and pretty far from anywhere else you want to go except for the Anne Frank House. The people there were really friendly but kind of spacey at times. They all read Bibles when they are not working I thought it seemed clean, but after getting bedbugs I decided otherwise. This was only my second time traveling in Europe and was really pissed that I got them. My friends stayed in a hostel in the red light district that was above a bar and had a cleaner experience than I did -- food for thought.

We stayed here in early june and it was a pleasant stay. The dorms are quite crowded and a bit noisy at times because the dorms hold about fourteen people in each room, but these were my only complaints. The people who run the place are very nice. The breakfasts are great and they offer free juice at different times in the day as well. The lockers were a little tight for our large backpacks but they did fit in them. I felt safe here the beds were comfortable and the place was clean. For the value you can't go wrong.

Ok, so I really didn't think this hostel was as great as everyone says it is (but it was the only hostel I've stayed at in Amsterdam). It's bare bones and a little institutional looking. My room was very small with no sink or mirror. The lockers are very small -- my medium sized suitcase did not fit into it. And they don't let you keep your bags under the beds/on the floor. But they gave me a taller locker (although not much wider). Jordaan is a fabulous area, but this hostel was a tad too far from the center of things. Breakfast was good -- pancakes. This place is fine for a hostel -- I was just expecting more.

this place was alife saver. im not religious, but the kids there are so bloody nice- i got free dinner and bonding my first night. the beds are clean, and the bathrooms nice. best of all is the spot- jordaan is the nicest place in the dirty dam.

Hostel Jordan was the safest, most comfortable stop on my trip. A hostel is a hostel, it's true, but Shelter Jordan is a prince among them. There was someone at the desk 24/7, we had huge lockers in the rooms and the breakfasts were MAGNIFICENT. No converting bullsh*t, just Christian manners and genuine concern for the guests. Here's the deal: If you're there to party, do so elsewhere, the party ain't happenin'. If you're there as a baby traveler, starting your first big trip, this place is perfect. If you're an older, more mature traveler on a shoestring, Jordan is a walkable (or bikeable) distance form many must-sees. This place is a welcomed respite. Ahhh. They sure helped me when I lost my documentation.

Although being invited to Bible Study was a bit unexpected, the Christian atmosphere of this hostel was not overwhelming. Beds were comfy and clean, as were bathrooms. Breakfast was yummy, and they provide you with a cold breakfast if you have to leave at an odd hour of the morning. Wonderful location, really friendly staff, and a great experience. It was a bit annoying not to be allowed up to my brother's room after 10 p.m. It made communication difficult. And this is not a place to stay if you're in Amsterdam for weed/booze. But if you want a place to get a quiet night's sleep this is an excellent choice. Dirt cheap, too.

A ten minute tram ride from the Central Station. The hostel is right near the stop. They give good directions too. Pleasant staff. Not the nicest dorm rooms I've ever been in, a bit dull and dingy but acceptable. Good showers. At breakfast you get the choice of a hot or cold option which is nice for people who like fried eggs in the morning. It's not buffet style, and I didn't have the nerve to ask for more. Not the most thrilling atmosphere I've ever experienced, but maybe it was just me. All the girls in my dorm seemed to go to bed pretty early and then there was the most incredible rush in the bathroom around 8ish. It was like the girls' boarding house at school where everyone has to get to class. So I would take my time in the morning and hit the showers after the rush. If you're not in Amsterdam to party, this is the place to go, and if you are, well, you might be able to work around it. The biblical quotes on the walls remind you it's a Christian hostel, but otherwise there's no problem whatever your beliefs.

A great value for the money. I felt safe and at home here. It has a really helpful staff and a great lounge to hang out in. I had dinner in the lounge one night and it was a great deal — just like my mum cooks, but I didn't have to wash up afterwards! The showers and toilets were some of the best I've seen in Europe — they kept them really clean, which makes for a change. I really recommend this hostel, particularly if you're travelling on your own — you can keep to yourself or make lots of new friends.

You will feel at home at here. They are not there to make money; they really want to help you. They cooked us food outside the lunch and dinner hours and they even returned our money when we had to leave Amsterdam a day earlier than we expected. The drawback was the fact that girls and boys have to sleep in different dorms, but that was okay. From the hostel you can walk to most sights in the city!

My decision to stay here was made because this place is 100 percent smoke free (it's the only smoke-free hostel in town). I'm not Christian but I have no problem with anybody's religion. I am so grateful for the mellow, chill vibe — I was concerned it would be extremely religious but it's actually really straightforward and it's very quiet.

I had a great time here. I met some lovely people who were staying. And despite the dorm being so large I found it quiet. The breakfasts were great — a free hot breakfast is provided, like pancakes, etc. I also found the hostel to be in a good location in Amsterdam, close to the Anne Frank house and about a ten minute walk from Central Station. If you're looking for somewhere safe and central to stay you will enjoy it, but this place isn't suitable for dedicated clubbers, couples and joint smokers. I would definitely stay there again.

The dorms are too big, making it hard to get any sleep. They provide a nice breakfast every morning. The Christian aspect is a little weird, but you get used to it. Jordan is a beautiful area of town and I probably would have never found it had I not stayed in this hostel.

Ok, for a Christian hostel this place was great. Everyone is really laid back and we made friends with all the staff. I'm not one to come all the way to Amsterdam to have a "nice" time, but this place was really good. The courtyard place is really cool, too. It totally was an oasis in the middle of — well, you know! Anywho, if I ever go back to Amsterdam, I know where I'm staying.

I stayed for one night in August of 2003 on a stop-over, and found this a worry-free place to enjoy my short time in Amsterdam. I always bring ear plugs anyhow, but the dorm was as quiet as could be expected. The dividing walls really helped. The Internet was reasonably-priced and handy. To top it all off, the bus to the airport is just across the street! I would recommend Shelter Jordan to any hosteller who wants to get a good night's sleep and have a home base in a nice neighborhood of Amsterdam!