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The entrance of ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam
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ClinkNOORD Amsterdam: Big Hostel by the IJ

ClinkNOORD is one of the largest hostels in Amsterdam, with 213 rooms from private rooms to dorms of up to 14 beds, in a 1920s Art Deco building on the north bank of the IJ. The building belonged to Royal Dutch Shell’s former laboratory complex, and the free ferry to Centraal leaves four minutes away. It suits young and social travellers on a budget, and anyone who wants a private room at hostel prices.

ClinkNOORD at a glance

Address Badhuiskade 3, 1031 KV Amsterdam
Category Hostel, no star rating; Clink Hostels
Rooms 213 rooms: dorms of up to 14 beds and private rooms for 1 to 6
Neighbourhood Amsterdam-Noord, in Overhoeks on the IJ
Ferry Buiksloterweg, 4 min walk: free ferry F3 to Centraal, a crossing of a few minutes; F3 runs day and night
Nearest tram None in Noord; Centraal Station (IJ side), tram 26: 14 min including the ferry · Centraal Station, trams 2, 4, 14, 17 and 24: 15 min
Nearest metro Centraal Station, metros 51, 52, 53 and 54: 14 min including the ferry
Nearest train station Amsterdam Centraal: 13 min including the ferry, plus waiting time
Schiphol Airport Train to Amsterdam Centraal (under 20 minutes), then the free F3 ferry from behind the station
Food and drink 24/7 reception café, ZincBAR (16:00–00:00), paid breakfast
Lift Yes, according to booking sites
Check-in / check-out From 15:00 / until 10:00
Age Dorms 18+; under-18s only in private rooms with an adult
Pets No, according to booking sites
Parking None on site; paid parking nearby

Checked in November 2026 against the hotel’s own website and booking sites. Walking times from OpenStreetMap routing.

Why stay at ClinkNOORD

ClinkNOORD opened in August 2015 as the first hostel of the London-based Clink group outside London. It occupies a 1920s Art Deco building from Royal Dutch Shell’s former laboratory complex on the IJ, in the same Overhoeks area as Shell’s 1971 tower, now the A’DAM Toren.

It was planned as a social hostel, with about a fifth of the building given to shared spaces: lounges, a library, terraces, an inner courtyard and a games room with pool tables. The bar has DJ sets, quiz nights and karaoke.

The location is better than an address in Noord suggests. The free F3 ferry leaves four minutes away and runs day and night, and the EYE Filmmuseum, the Tolhuistuin and the A’DAM Lookout are all within four minutes on foot.

The bar at ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam
The bar. Photo: Booking.com

The rooms: what you should know before booking

Read the room description carefully before you book; these are the points that matter most here.

  • Dorms. Mixed dorms have up to 14 beds in bunks. Dorms of 4 to 8 beds are en suite, while 8 to 14-bed dorms use shared bathrooms. Female-only dorms have 4 to 10 beds and are en suite.
  • Private rooms. Singles, doubles, twins, family rooms for four and private dorms for up to six, all with an en-suite shower.
  • Noise. This is a big, lively hostel with a busy bar. Light sleepers should book a private room or a small en-suite dorm.
  • Windows and air. Rooms are small, and their windows do not open, according to a review. Rooms have air conditioning.
  • Lockers. Every dorm bed has a free locker, but bring your own padlock. The lockers do not fit large suitcases; there are free small lockers near reception and paid storage for big luggage.
A room with bunk beds at ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam
A room with bunk beds. Photo: Booking.com

Restaurants, bars and facilities

ZincBAR

The hostel bar, open daily from 16:00 to midnight, with DJ sets, quiz nights and karaoke.

Café and breakfast

The café at reception is open 24/7. Breakfast is paid and can be booked online in advance.

Shared spaces

Lounges, a library, terraces, an inner courtyard, a games room with pool tables, paid laundry, meeting space and bicycle parking. Outside alcohol and food deliveries are not allowed.

A lounge at ClinkNOORD, Amsterdam
A lounge. Photo: Booking.com

Getting there and getting around

From Schiphol Airport

Take the train to Amsterdam Centraal (under 20 minutes). Walk through the station to the IJ side and take the free F3 ferry to Buiksloterweg; the hostel is four minutes from the landing.

From Amsterdam Centraal

The F3 ferry to Buiksloterweg leaves from behind the station, crosses in a few minutes and runs day and night. It is free for foot passengers and cyclists. Door to door it takes about 13 minutes, plus the wait for the ferry.

Getting around

There are no trams in Amsterdam-Noord, so the ferry and the metro are the practical way into town. From Centraal, metros and trams run across the city, and metro 52 continues to Rokin and De Pijp; see our guide to metro line 52. The Oude Kerk is about 22 minutes away and the Dam about 25, ferry included.

Nearest stops

Stop Walk to the hotel · lines
Centraal Station (IJ side, tram 26), via ferry F3 (Buiksloterweg-Centraal) 14 min (950 m) · tram 26
Centraal Station, via ferry F3 (Buiksloterweg-Centraal) 15 min (1.1 km) · trams 2, 4, 14, 17 and 24
Centraal Station (metro), via ferry F3 (Buiksloterweg-Centraal) 14 min (980 m) · metros 51, 52, 53 and 54
Noorderpark (metro) 21 min (1.6 km) · metro 52
Buiksloterweg (ferry) 4 min (310 m) · ferry F3 to Centraal Station
IJplein (ferry) 14 min (1.1 km) · ferry F2 to Centraal Station
Amsterdam Centraal (train), via ferry F3 (Buiksloterweg-Centraal) 13 min (900 m) · trains to Schiphol and the rest of the Netherlands

Walking times measured with OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026. Lines as in the GVB timetable.

What is around ClinkNOORD

Place Walk from the hotel · why go
A’DAM Lookout 3 min (200 m) · Viewing deck at the top of the A’DAM Toren, the former Shell tower
Tolhuistuin 3 min (220 m) · Garden, restaurant and stage by the ferry
EYE Filmmuseum 4 min (280 m) · Film museum and cinema on the IJ
Noorderpark 17 min (1.3 km) · Park in Amsterdam-Noord with a swimming pool
Oude Kerk 22 min (1.5 km) · Amsterdam’s oldest building, with a tower climb
Nieuwmarkt 24 min (1.7 km) · Square with the medieval Waag and its cafés
Noordermarkt 25 min (1.8 km) · Saturday farmers’ market and Monday flea market
Dam Square and the Royal Palace 25 min (1.8 km) · The city’s main square, with the 17th-century palace on one side
NEMO Science Museum 28 min (2 km) · Hands-on science museum with a free rooftop square

Staying here in winter

The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, and many festival cruises leave from the piers around Centraal Station, one ferry ride away. The Christmas tree on the Dam is about 25 minutes from the hostel, ferry included, and the F3 runs back all night.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nearest ferry and metro to ClinkNOORD?

The Buiksloterweg ferry landing is about 4 minutes from ClinkNOORD, with the free F3 ferry to Centraal. At Centraal, about 14 minutes from the hostel including the crossing, you can take metros 51, 52, 53 and 54 and trams 2, 4, 14, 17, 24 and 26. Noord has no trams.

Does the ferry to ClinkNOORD run at night?

Yes. The F3 ferry between Centraal Station and Buiksloterweg, 4 minutes from ClinkNOORD, runs day and night and is free for foot passengers.

Is there an age limit at ClinkNOORD?

Yes. The shared dorms at ClinkNOORD are for guests aged 18 and over. Under-18s may only stay in a private room with an adult, and conditions apply.

Do I need a padlock at ClinkNOORD?

Yes. Every dorm bed at ClinkNOORD has a free locker, but you must bring your own padlock. The lockers are too small for suitcases, and there is paid storage for large luggage.

What are the check-in and check-out times at ClinkNOORD?

Check-in at ClinkNOORD is from 15:00 and check-out is until 10:00, earlier than most hotels. Late check-out until 12:00 is possible for a fee, subject to availability.

Are pets allowed at ClinkNOORD?

No. According to booking sites, ClinkNOORD does not allow pets.

Is there parking at ClinkNOORD?

No. ClinkNOORD has no car park of its own; there is paid 24-hour parking nearby.

Other hotels nearby

Compare the whole area on our amsterdam-noord hotels page, or start with where to stay in Amsterdam.