I stayed in a converted church for $150 a night. From a giant T. rex in the lobby to hidden rooms, here's what the hotel was like.
Emma Kershaw
- During my trip to Amsterdam, I stayed in the Bunk hotel, which used to be a church.
- The hotel has both pods, or hostel-style areas, and private-room accommodations.
When I visited Amsterdam for the first time, I stayed at the Bunk hotel.
Amsterdam was on my bucket list for a while so recently I took the plunge and booked a three-day trip.
When I was researching accommodations for my party of two, I came across Bunk hotels, a small chain with a unique concept — both properties are actually converted churches.
Situated in the Amsterdam Noord district, Bunk Amsterdam is around 15 minutes from the city center. Since Amsterdam has a great public-transit system and even a free ferry that runs 24 hours a day, getting to the hotel from the city wasn't an issue for us.
The hotel has 50 pods, or hostel-style rooms, and 106 en suites to choose from.
We opted for a private room and bathroom, although the hostel pods seem to have lots of privacy and might be a great option for those who are on a tighter budget.
We stayed in the Epic Book room +, which cost €137, or about $150, a night. There was also an additional fee of 7% city tax and a tourist tax, coming out to €3 per person per night.
Our room was small but cozy.
The original detailing of the building, like the wooden beams on the ceiling, was a nod to the hotel's previous state.
The bedroom area had mood lighting fitted into the headboard, which was nice to set and help us drift off the sleep after a long day of exploring.
The bathroom was on the smaller side and featured a rainfall shower, a sink, and a toilet.
In our Epic Book Room +, amenities such as towels, soap, and shampoo were included but after looking online, it doesn't seem like they come with every room option.
The room was split over two levels.
The bathroom was located on the ground floor and the bed was on the second level and could be reached by a winding staircase.
For a two-night stay, we thought the room was a great choice.
Though there wasn't too much space to move around when we were getting ready for the day, there was ample storage under the bed. We stored our bags under the bed and used the chair for laying out clothes and toiletries.
The main quirk I noticed was that I couldn't get the television to work and we could not find a remote control. However, this wasn't a big deal as we didn't spend enough time in the room to watch TV.
Formerly the Saint Rita Church, the building has a rich history.
The church was built in 1921 and bombed by the Allied forces in 1943, an event Anne Frank described in her diary.
After World War II, the church eventually lost its function as a religious building.
In 1995, the church became an office space for Universal Studios and a local branch of the city's public library. Bunk later acquired the building and turned it into the amenity it is today.
Most of the walls and ceilings are in their original states and some areas of the building still have their religious features.
The property has lots of original pieces and nods to its monumental past.
I noticed depictions of Jesus and stained-glass windows at the hotel. I thought that even the exterior of the building still looks like a church.
I saw a lot of fun, eye-catching details that brought a unique quirkiness to each area.
The hotel also features several communal spaces for guests to hang out.
A giant purple T .rex filled the space in the lobby and a plant wall and neon signs surrounded the check-in desk.
Skeleton art adorned the elevator doors.
When I took the elevator to way to the top floor, I saw even more artwork.
The floating pods featured a that could only be seen from a certain angle.
From the top floor, I saw a hand-painted monster on top of the hotel's "floating" pods.
The library is a more elegant space with vintage books lining the walls.
The library seems like a great place to work or study, as there's a large table, comfy seating, and lots of power outlets.
If you want to make things a little more interesting, there's a book you can tug on that will activate disco lights. You need to find it first, though.
There are also lots of hidden spaces to check out.
I found a hidden spiral suitcase leading to a recording studio, where guests and local businesses can rent out the room to make music or podcasts.
We also saw a giant safe decked out in space-themed decor right by our room.
The restaurant and bar are open to the public.
Breakfast was included in our room rate and when we went, we opted for the pancakes. The hotel's restaurant serves food from 7:30 a.m. through 10 p.m.
We went back to grab a snack and a couple of glasses of wine. I thought the service was quick and friendly so it was a lovely way to spend a bit of time relaxing. Locals and tourists are welcome to dine at the restaurant or bar, and I was told that residents coming from church services often visit the hotel.
I highly recommend the hotel, especially for short stays.
Though it's a little outside of the city, it was a great base to come back to after a day of exploring.
In my experience, it was easy to reach the Amsterdam city center via public transit, and there were also things to do around the Amsterdam Noord area, like the A'DAM Lookout and the Nxt Museum.
If you're visiting Amsterdam for a few days, I think the Bunk is a great budget-friendly option for guests of all ages.
It's warm, inviting, and ideal for those who love an Instagram-friendly, immersive property.
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