My partner and I were heading to Amsterdam for a few days, and I booked this place as it was so highly recommended on Tripadvisor. So, I was pretty confident that it would be good, but it totally exceeded my expectations.
Peter was the most hospitable and accomodating host we have encountered anywhere in the world. The facilities were top notch, beautiful room, beautiful house, soft drinks and beers in the fridge, not to mention Peter's wonderful baking, and the great breakfasts!
He was very helpful with restaurant and sightseeing recommendations so we didn't have to just plod the normal tourist trail. I would love to go back and visit again some time and would not hesitate to recommend this place to others. If I had to dislike anything it would the weight I've gained from all the gorgeous food!
Hug to great guys at Boogaard's from Nicola
Hello Boogaard's
I cannot speak highly enough of our experience here. Every expectation was greatly exceeded. If you're considering a trip to Amsterdam and even remotely considering a B&B, you must stay here. The living spaces are spacious and comfortable. Peter is interesting, hospitable and kind. The location is convenient and accessible. Check out Trip Advisor for more about this great Bed and Breakfast in Amsterdam.
This was our first trip to Europe. I hailed from Mumbai, India while my partner from Boston. After a lot of soul searching, we identified Amsterdam & Barcelona as our preferred destinations.
We had heard of the legend Peter Boogaard from Trip Advisor and a couple other forums, who ran the #1 B&B in Europe. We had never experienced a B&B before, and despite countless assurances via online reviews, we wondered if the service would match up to fine 4 star hotels. Bottom-line, we had high expectations.
Our Amsterdam trip depended on securing accommodation at Boogaard's. My partner mailed Peter, at first pass, nothing was available for the days we had in mind. We switched dates and luckily Peter had an opening. Over the next several days, he answered many of our queries. As it turned out, we couldn't find a day flight out of Barcelona and were to land in Amsterdam post midnight. We shuddered at entering anyone's place at midnight, yet Peter reassured us it was fine.
Midnight, turned to quarter past one, but luckily we had no trouble finding Boogaard's. It's conveniently located, a couple minutes from Centraal Station. Despite the hour, Peter beamed at the top of the narrow flight of stairs. He gave us a grand tour of the place, and showed us the goodie boxes with tons of biscottis, fresh home-made cakes. We really needed those for our midnight binge.
Peter's place reminded me of a museum. Each item on our floor was hand-selected, and yet, despite the ornate atmosphere, it felt like home. You know you are in a special place, esp. as you munch gourmet chocolate biscottis at 3 am and admire the photographs & artwork in the common living room.
The place is immaculately clean and stocked with everything you could find in a 4 star hotel and more. There's also complimentary beer, tea, sodas, all bathroom essentials, the works. Plus, an excellent and safe cleaning service that keeps the room clean. We had some money, valuables unattended, with no cause for alarm.
Breakfast is a special occasion at Boogaard's. All guests gather around the feast that Peter lays out on the dining table, with lovely opera music cooing from an iPod dock. On all 3 mornings of our stay, we enjoyed something different. Peter is a gourmet cook. I'd recommend him for a cordon bleu if he were interested, but Peter cooks from heart. We enjoyed some delicious dutch pancakes, apple cakes, bacon, cinnamon cakes, dutch cheese, plus a full breakfast spread, and tons of fresh gourmet coffee. On a couple days, our 9 am breakfast, not to mention the coffee & conversations flowed till noon. We loved our marathon conversations with Peter and the many lovely guests. That's an experience you rarely get in a hotel.
Amsterdam is a relatively small city, but for first-timers it can get confusing, one canal looks like the other, and the names are as foreign as something-gracht. We were lucky Peter was always willing to guide us with excellent restaurant recommendations and directions. In fact, we were surprised when he offered us a booklet of tram tickets (that's Eur 20 worth). There's much love in the Boogaard house, and privacy when you need it. Amsterdam sleeps relatively early in winter, and we had Peter & Tomasz' 1000+ DVD's to keep us company on the sole night when we got back 'home' by midnight. If you cannot choose, get Peter & Tomasz to recommend their favorites. There's ample selection to give blockbuster a run for their money, in multiple languages.
Peter is the reason you select a stay at Boogaard's. The man is a legend, as confirmed by other B&B owners, with whom we also stayed, since Peter's is a popular place, and you better book in advance. Peter helped us find alternate accommodation when our 3 nights ran out. He also did my laundry, folded it and had it sent to our room, and boy did I have a huge load from my Barcelona trip. And when we were leaving, he packed us a batch of his freshly baked cake.
This was one of the best trips of our sub-30 years on terra firma. We definitely recommend the experience of staying at Boogaard's. Tomasz and the adorable pups (Curly & Pepe) add to your experience. Give in to Peter's recommendations, submit to the lure of his baked goods and engaging conversations and you will preserve memories for life.
Peter, Tomasz, Curly and Pepe, you have become friends for life, and Del and I miss you much.
Sameer Khandelwal & Delna Bharucha ,
Peter,
I belatedly sent this review to TripAdviser. Hope it helps - and that you like it.
Don (and Genelyn)
I live in hotels about nine months per year due to my job as an international consultant. This is the first time I have ever stayed in a bed and breakfast (with my wife on vacation). If other B&Bs are even half as good as Boogaard's B&B, then I will never stay in a hotel again. We were treated not so much as guests, but as treasured and pampered members of the family. Peter did our laundry (for free), provided an exceptional breakfast, and also free drinks (including wine and beer). Boogaart’s has a good location, within short walking distance of most attractions and convenient trams for the remainder. The street is quiet, but a five minute walk away is a major gathering place for tourists and others to drink and socialize outdoors. There are some VERY good restaurants at various price levels within two blocks. Peter lent us his favorite guide book, a city map, and gave his recommendations of what to see and when and how to get there. The room and hall decorations are unique (as in your own home), the bathroom/shower was so wonderful that I think my wife took additional baths just to be in it. The stairs are steep as they are in almost all B&Bs in Amsterdam and in many of the smaller hotels, but they were well manageable for this 61 year old.
Above all, the reason to stay at Boogaart’s is Peter. He is magnificent. In my travels I will make a special effort to stop off in Amsterdam just to see him again. Actually, within reason, I will reroute my flights in order to do so. So thank you Peter from both me and my wife and very much hope to see you again.
We just wanted to write and say "thank you" for such wonderful accommodations and hospitality during our 2 night stay in Amsterdam. As it was the end of our two week vacation, it was great to have some comforts of home. The room was wonderful and just what we needed. Your extra touches including allowing us to do our laundry and the mini bar provided was more than expected. In addition to the immaculate room, the breakfasts were to die for!!! Your dining suggestions each evening were great and allowed us to get away from the "touristy" areas for a bit and relax. Any visitor should consider themselves lucky to have found such a treasure in this B & B. It truly made our trip to Amsterdam. We will definitely return if we are back in Amsterdam!
Thanks again,
Penni & Brendan
Banff, AB, Canada
I want to thank you for a perfectly delightful stay at your wonderful Bed & Breakfast on February 12-15th. Your beautifully and tastefully decorated rooms made the experience sensuous to the eye and to the feelings. Those crispy ironed sheets didn't hurt the situation either. Your human warmth came through--- Whether you know this or not, hospitality is a spiritual gift and not everyone has it. Those that do have it usually take it for granted because it so easy for them. Sweetheart, you have it!!
Also, you really exceeded my expectations with your fabulous breakfast. Your table settings were impeccable with the candles and the beautiful delft pieces. Most importantly, the food was delicious and generously served. That part was the highlight of my two week trip. I just loved it!!!
And, I want to especially thank you for your thoughtfulness in giving me a burned copy of IL Divo. When I got back to the states, I shared it with my daughter, and we cried together at how beautiful it was. My daughter, by the way, is a gifted singer herself and has the same appreciation for music that I do. How did you know that I would appreciate that gesture so much?
Finally, I am already planning my next Amsterdam trip and I will be bringing my daughter with me. I didn't plan enough time for Amsterdam as I completely loved your city. This is not going to be in the near future, but when I do come, I will hope you can save a space for us as I would like to be a guest of yours again.
God Bless you ,Peter, and any of your future endeavors-
Sincerely,
kathleen
Maurice, Monty, Sharon and I have been back home in Canada for a week now and are still trying to absorb all of our experiences in Europe and Russia. When we review all of the places we've been and all that we have learned, we think of Amsterdam with the fondest memories and a place to go where the people are friendly and easy-going and also a place where there is lots to see and do. We have just submitted a review of your bed and breakfast on trip advisor and just couldn't say enough good things about our stay with you! Remember when we left and we said all of our bed and breakfast's would have to measure up to yours? Well, they did not. In Russia, language was a real barrier and the bed and breakfast was more hotel style. In Italy, both Venice and Rome, the hosts of the bed and breakfasts where we stayed did not even live there, so we had no one to ask for directions, no information was left for us and breakfasts were either cold cereal and croissants and bread or, in the case of Rome, a card for free breakfast at the cafe across the street which didn't open until 7:30 and was stand-up cafe bar style! Our bed and breakfast in Brussels had a good location and friendly people if we could find them. So, Peter, no other place we stayed could even come close to the warmth and hospitality and food that we received during our stay with you. Because of you, our experience in Amsterdam was probably the best one of our whole trip! Thank you again, and you can be rest-assured that we would recommend your bed and breakfast to anyone that is thinking of going to Amsterdam, and should we ever have the opportunity to go back, we would only go if we could stay with you! Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!
Lori and Maurice Autet
Sharon and Monty Vanhouwe
November 2006
Our hosts were both knowledgeable and helpful. Every restaurant that was recommended was wonderful. When our friends plans at another B&B fell apart, Peter was able to help us find lodging with a fellow B&Ber. They really saved our vacation from disaster.
We traveled with our pet dog, a female 5-year-old pug. Peter and Pepe (the 3-year-old Jack Russell Terrier) gave Sawa the warmest welcome. I cannot thank Peter enough that he baby sited Sawa when we went visit the Museums where Sawa was not allowed. We stayed at the lovely Pug Room where Sawa had her favorite spot on the leather chair, which she took her afternoon nap.
It's conveniently located by the Leidseplein, you are less than a 3-minute walk from the tram line, 10 minutes from the main museums, and 15 from the Ann Frank house. The experience we had at Boogaard's B&B was superior which made our vacation in Amsterdam a memorable one. Boogaard's B&B will certainly be my first choice of place to stay when we return to Amsterdam the next time.
Brad, Jill & Sawa
Rob & Miao
The beautiful rooms and cleaner than clean bathoom was nothing compared to the personal attention we received every day of our stay. We were treated more like old friends than guests, with unexpected niceties such as candles and bath salts hand delivered by the owner because he wanted to make sure that my bath was a luxurious one to the offer of tea and snacks while watching one of the many movies available in our our room, the stay was a pure delight and we hated to leave.
The apartment is situated on a nice quiet street within walking distance to just about everything, including the Museum area.
Breakfast was delicious (Dutch Pancakes) with a different menu daily and more than enough food to last you well through the normal lunch hour.
Peter, Tomasz and Pepe the Jack Russell were the most incredible hosts and we can't wait to come back!
Megan & Carlos Gallardo, USA
I wanted to let you know how much we appreciated your wonderful B & B. We can and will recommend it without reserve. It was really amazing to find such a high quality accommodation with such large square footage and at such a great price. The apartment was really a fabulous space. The rooms were immaculately clean and so comfortable and quiet. They are decorated so peacefully but with character. The bathroom was spacious and bright and we really loved having the super washer and dryer. It was really nice to have the self-catering kitchen (very well stocked for breakfast and snacks, thank you very much) because we loved shopping for and cooking our own food. Amelia and I loved coming in after a cold, wet day in the city to these cosy surroundings. It felt like home-away-from-home because we could just cook a nice dinner and settle into a movie.
As fabulous as the apartment itself is, however, what really sets your place apart is the personal service and the amenities you offer. Having the laptop with the wireless internet was so convenient and generous. Then, you go above and beyond by offering the cell-phone and the incredible DVD library. You just really know how to pamper your clients. Thanks. Our only serious regret is that we picked up a yogurt and pancake addiction which will only be satisfied by frequent visits.
Thanks also for your recommendations on restaurants and routes and museums.
You were an invaluable resource.
Sincerely,
Diane and Amelia
Thanks so much for making our stay in Amsterdam so enjoyable. Boogaard's Bed & Breakfast is absolutely beautiful and so richly comfortable. It exceeded all of our expectations. But even better as your warm hospitality, your excellent cooking, and your tender loving care when we came down with colds toward the end of our stay. The herb tea and medicines were much appreciated. We both felt like cherished guests in your home.
We were also delighted by the interesting variety of guests who stay in your place, and the way you make everyone feel so welcome. We look forward to our next trip to Amsterdam and to Boogaard's.
Most sincerely,
Kate Harrison
Pine, Arizona, USA
Joann Pope,USA
Pat O'Brien