Amsterdam · Hotel alternative

Why a campervan is smarter than a hotel in Amsterdam

A hotel in the centre of Amsterdam costs at least €150–250 per night — and that's before breakfast. A campervan is more space, your own kitchen, your own transport, and a better price. Here's why more and more people are choosing this option.

Adelaar Campers  ·  April 2026  ·  5 min read


Hotel Amsterdam (3★)

€150–250

per night, per room

  • Parking extra: €30–50/night
  • Breakfast extra: €15–25/person
  • Tourist tax: €18.44/person
  • Average room 18–22 m²
  • No kitchen, no lounge
  • No vehicle for day trips
  • VAT on accommodation: 21% from 2026

Adelaar Campervan

€109–149

per night, everything included

  • Camping Zeeburg: ~€44/night
  • Your own kitchen on board
  • 220V for laptop and devices
  • Queensize bed, always made up
  • Hot water, outdoor shower
  • Vehicle for Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans
  • No VAT surprise at check-out

Hotel prices based on average room price Amsterdam 2026 (source: Hethotel.nl). Tourist tax Amsterdam: €18.44 per person per night (2026).

Amsterdam has been in the top five most expensive hotel cities in Europe for years. And that was already the case before VAT on accommodation rose from 9 to 21 per cent on 1 January 2026 — an increase passed directly on to hotel guests. Add to that the highest tourist tax in the Netherlands (€18.44 per person per night) and a parking spot near the centre, and a weekend away for two quickly costs €500 for two nights in a standard 3-star hotel.

A campervan works differently. You pay one price for sleeping, driving and being at home — all in one place.

Your accommodation and transport in one

Booking a hotel in Amsterdam means then also arranging a hire car if you want to explore the surroundings — or booking expensive day trips to Zaanse Schans or the Keukenhof. With a campervan it's different: you drive there, park, and drive on to the next destination on your own schedule.

Everything around Amsterdam is within easy reach:

20 min

Zaanse Schans

Windmills, crafts, clog makers and cheese farms in an authentic Dutch setting. Arriving early pays off — before 9am it's still quiet. Campervan parking directly at the entrance.

25 min

Volendam & Marken

The most photographed fishing village in the Netherlands. Smoked eel, traditional dress and a harbour full of colourful boats. Marken, the former island village, is 10 minutes further on.

35 min

Keukenhof (March–May)

Seven million blooming bulbs on 32 hectares. The largest flower park in the world, open from late March to mid-May. Campervan parking available; reserve online in advance.

40 min

Zandvoort aan Zee

The nearest beach. After a day in Amsterdam, a walk along the sea is the perfect counterweight. Campervan pitches available directly at the beach.

45 min

Alkmaar Cheese Market (Friday)

Every Friday morning from April to September, cheese carriers transport round cheeses across the medieval Waagplein. One of the most authentic tourist traditions in the Netherlands.

Everything you have on board

What a hotel never gives you: the freedom to make your own meal at any moment, make your own coffee and sleep in a proper bed without extra charges. Our campervans are fully equipped for a comfortable stay.

🔌

220V power on board

The lithium battery and inverter deliver 230V through standard sockets. Laptop, phone, camera — just charge up as you would at home. No hunting for a socket in the hotel lobby.

🛏️

Queensize bed, always ready

The bed is always made up and ready to use. No folding constructions, no conversion — just get in and sleep. Clean linen included.

🍳

Full kitchen

Hob, oven, fridge with freezer compartment and all the crockery you need. Cooking for yourself is not only more enjoyable than a restaurant lunch, but also saves easily €40–60 per day.

☀️

Solar panels & self-sufficient

Power via solar panels on the roof, hot water via the boiler, filtered drinking water from the tap. No campsite needed — you can park anywhere it's permitted.

🚿

Hot water & outdoor shower

Every campervan has an outdoor shower with hot water, privacy curtain and filtered drinking water directly from the tap. The Albatros also has an indoor shower.

Nespresso & lounge

Every Adelaar Camper has a Nespresso on board. Two lounge chairs and a camping table are included. Coffee with a view of the IJ — at zero extra cost.

"We had such a great time with this van! Super clean and clearly put together with a lot of attention to detail — the interior was really cozy and well thought out. The bed was super comfy and the kitchen was fully stocked."

Where to park in and around Amsterdam

You don't have to be on a campsite to visit Amsterdam. With an off-grid campervan you can also use a campervan pitch, find a suitable spot via Park4Night, or simply drive back in the evening to a quiet spot outside the city. But if you want to be near the city without hassle, there are a few excellent options close by:

Camping Zeeburg Amsterdam ⭐ Recommended

On an island in the IJmeer, east of the city. Tram 26 to Centraal Station takes 7 minutes. Campervan pitches with electricity, free showers, restaurant, minimarket and bike hire. Friendly atmosphere, open all year. Price campervan: ~€44/night for 2 people.

3 km from centre

Camping Vliegenbos

Woodland campsite in Amsterdam-Noord, directly on the free ferry across the IJ. The ferry takes 5 minutes to Centraal Station. Quiet surroundings, easily accessible by bike.

4 km from centre

EuroParcs Het Amsterdamse Bos

Campsite on the edge of the Amsterdamse Bos in Amstelveen — literally next to our pick-up location. Ideal if you collect the campervan and want to start straight away. Bus to Centraal Station available.

10 km from centre

Camping de Badhoeve (Kinselmeer)

Quiet waterside campsite north of Amsterdam. Ideal as a base for Volendam, Marken and Edam. Reachable by bike to the centre via beautiful polder routes.

15 km from centre

Camping Jachthaven Uitdam

Directly on the Markermeer, within walking distance of the fishing village of Marken. Perfect spot if you combine Amsterdam with a night on the water. Volendam and Zaanse Schans a short drive away.

18 km from centre

More advantages you wouldn't expect

🔓

Price per night

A standard double room in Amsterdam costs between €150 and €250 per night. For a campervan at Adelaar Campers you pay from €109 per day — that includes your own kitchen, bed and means of transport.

🚗

Included transport

With a campervan you have your own vehicle. No taxi apps, no rental bikes, no public transport with luggage. You park where you want and leave when you want.

📐

More space

A standard hotel room in Amsterdam is typically 18–25 m². The Horizon has considerably more usable space, a proper bed and room for all your belongings.

🗺️

Freedom around Amsterdam

From Amstelveen you can reach the tulip fields of the Bollenstreek, the North Sea coast, the Hoge Veluwe and the IJsselmeer in under an hour. A hotel keeps you in one place.

🥐

Breakfast without surcharges

Your own kitchen, your own shopping, your own schedule. Breakfast at an Amsterdam hotel quickly costs €15–25 per person. In the campervan you make your own coffee.

🔒

Your own private space

No shared corridors, no neighbours through thin walls. Your campervan is your home, the whole time.

Amsterdam is the most expensive hotel city in the Netherlands. But it's also one of the most beautiful regions to explore by campervan — compact enough to reach everything in a day, diverse enough to fill a week. A campervan is not a compromise compared to a hotel. It's simply a smarter way to experience the city and its surroundings. For a luxury city trip with your own shower and induction cooking, look at the Albatros — ideal for a weekend in Amsterdam with extra comfort.

Amsterdam, on your own terms

Pick up in Amstelveen, 10 minutes from the centre. Category B licence sufficient. Includes everything you need for a pleasant stay.

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