Staying at The Hyve Capsule Hostel Amsterdam
Words – Chantal van Baalen
Pictures – C. van Baalen / The Hyve Amsterdam
The Hyve Hostel, a got-it-all capsule hostel located in one of Amsterdam’s quirky neighborhoods. I got lucky enough to be invited to experience this place myself! For 24 hours, I fully immersed myself in capsule life and got to try out all of the hostel’s cool features firsthand.
Welcome to The Hyve Capsule Hostel Amsterdam
The hostel is located in the Bos en Lommer neighborhood, just a few steps from the bus and train station. The striking exterior design made it incredibly easy to spot and already gave off a welcoming vibe before even stepping inside. After being welcomed like a VIP by the incredibly warm staff, I grabbed a lovely cappuccino from the DIY bar and was shown to our room.
The futuristic interior design of the lobby and hallways immediately made the whole experience feel playful and exciting. The room itself was exactly what I expected: tiny, but incredibly functional and cozy. A large queen-sized bed, a little desk, and just enough room to do a small happy dance. What I didn’t expect were the adjustable LED rainbow lights and the built-in JBL boombox, perfect to accompany my happy dance.
The Features
After settling in, I got a full tour of the venue. Exploring the different room types felt a little like wandering through a futuristic maze. There are three types of capsules: double rooms with beds to climb up in, double rooms with beds to dive in, and single rooms. Despite the maze-like layout, the smart lighting system displaying room numbers on the floor makes it surprisingly easy to navigate.
The bathrooms really stood out to me. They are shared, gender-neutral spaces that feel modern, spacious and exceptionally clean. Think large showers stocked with Rituals products, hair dryers, plenty of space, and everything maintained to a very high standard. Then came the enthusiastic introduction to the Japanese bidet system. Of course I had to try every feature, from the heated seats to the different spray settings. And honestly? Once you go bidet, you never go back.
"Honestly, once you go bidet, you never go back"
The lobby/lounge area is small but surprisingly functional. There are cozy couches with built-in power outlets, tables, chairs, and a window bar overlooking the street. The hostel is filled with clever DIY features: large lockers, a self-service coffee and tea station, wine and beer from vending machines, and even DIY umbrella rental, which is quite essential in the Netherlands.
The designated breakfast corner in the lobby includes a microwave, water boiler, fridge and all the basic utensils you might need. There are also games available, adding to the social atmosphere. The industrial yet futuristic design, combined with the large screen playing music videos and movies, makes the lobby a really enjoyable place to relax, work remotely or simply people-watch for a while.
That brings me to the Wi-Fi, which is outstanding and definitely strong enough to get some serious work done. The rooms also have their own Bluetooth-connected JBL sound system, which made the whole stay feel surprisingly luxurious for a capsule hostel.
The Experience
Before heading into the city, we had our own little pre-party in the room: rainbow lights on, personal playlist blasting through the boombox, and drinks from the DIY bar downstairs. Returning to the hostel later that night was effortless thanks to the Hyve bracelets, which work as both your room key and entry pass.
Completely exhausted, we crawled into bed and instantly noticed the incredibly soft linen and high-quality mattress. We were out within minutes and slept like babies. The room did get a little warm in the morning, but honestly, it was a pretty effective way to motivate ourselves to get up and start the day.
The Morning After
The next morning, the lobby had transformed into a lively and cozy meeting place where all kinds of languages blended together. People were working on laptops, having breakfast, chatting about travel plans, or preparing for another day in Amsterdam. We enjoyed one last coffee, soaked up the final impressions, and were waved goodbye with the same warmth we were welcomed with.
The concept of capsule hotels is simply brilliant. You get the coziness and social atmosphere of a hostel, with the freedom to move around and meet people, while still having the comfort, privacy and quality of a hotel. You can truly tell that a lot of thought and love has gone into every detail and facility at The Hyve.
So… capsule life?
I absolutely love it.
The Hyve Hostel Amsterdam: Approved!
Keen to stay?
The Hyve Capsule Hotel Amsterdam has plenty of capsule rooms, hostel-like prices for luxurious hotel-like stay and has the perfect location to explore Amsterdam on your own pace. If you wish for more information about the venue and why it is Way To Nomad friendly, check out the page here.
Feel like staying at The Hyve? They often have great offers! Check out the current ratings and availability on their website below:
Would you like to have your venue listed or is there anything else you’d like to address? Feel free to contact me and I’ll get in touch asap!