Shelter Amsterdam - two fabulous hostels in the city centre

Amsterdam hostel The Shelter — Amsterdam Youth Hostel The Shelter

Archived Article – Both Shelters Closed, For Now

This is an archived article. The information is no longer up-to-date. We keep this article online for those who wonder what happened to these popular hostels.

Both Shelter Hostels closed at the end of 2020, when the Corona crisis meant a dearth of tourists in Amsterdam.

In 2024 the organization that ran the hostels announced that The Shelter City has been renovated to function as a night shelter for homeless people. The project, in cooperation with the municipality of Amsterdam and the Salvation Army, will run for three years. At this point it is not known whether the building will ever again serve as a youth hostel.

Meanwhile, check these cheap hostels in Amsterdam.

These two hostels are highly recommended by the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.nl (not to mention the glowing reviews in travel guides like Let’s Go Europe).

At Hostelworld, travelers consistently rated both hostels as ‘Fabulous.’

Two hostels in the heart of Amsterdam
The Shelter City and The Shelter Jordan are two Christian youth hostels in the centre of Amsterdam. The hostels provide clean and comfortable budget accommodation. Both hostels are close to Amsterdam’s Central Station and within easy walking distance of all main attractions.
Great value for budget travelers
The Shelter hostels are great value for money, well within a backpacker’s budget. We offer you a bed, breakfast, bed linen, hot showers, and a locker for the best prices in Amsterdam. Providing so much for so little, the Shelter hostels are definitely the best deal you can get in Amsterdam.
Relaxed hostel atmosphere
You will get so much more than just a good night’s sleep at an affordable price. The hostels not only provide excellent facilities, but also have a warm and welcoming atmosphere. All of our international staff speak English and will be pleased to help you. Both hostels have a courtyard and a great café where you can get something to eat or drink, relax and meet people from all over the world, or use the Internet computer.

Clean Dorms, Friendly Staff

Housed in former school buildings, the Shelter Youth Hostels provide clean, dormitory-style accomodations. The single-sex dorms are divided into smaller sections to provide rest and privacy.

Shelter Youth Hostel Both hostels are located in the center of town, within walking distance of major sights and attractions.

The Shelter City is closer to the Central Station, at the edge of the dynamic Red Light District.

Shelter Jordan is situated in the picturesque Jordan district, close to the Anne Frank House. It has no curfew.

The Shelter

Travel guides consistently highlight the fact that both hostels offer clean rooms, showers, and toilet facilities, and come with a friendly, international staff.

While the hostels are operated by a Christian ministry, the staff is tolerant and won’t bother you with unwanted conversations. Most guests with plenty of backpacking hostel experience appreciate the no-drugs, no-alcohol policy. The buildings are completely smoke-free, but smoking is allowed on the patio or in the garden.

The hostels provide free lockers and free linen.

The Shelter provides a free hot or cold breakfast, along with cheap but good food served in its excellent cafés.

Both hostels are open 24 hours a day, so no curfew and no lock-out.

Address, Contact, and Booking Info

The Shelter Jordan [Closed for now]
Bloemstraat 179
1016 LA Amsterdam

The Shelter City [Closed for now]
Barndesteeg 21
1012 BV Amsterdam

See also our DutchAmsterdam Guide to Hotels in Amsterdam

Plan your Amsterdam trip:

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Anton Hein

Publisher at DutchAmsterdam | Website | + posts

Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.

Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.

Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 42 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.