This winter, enjoy the charms of Amsterdam?s canal district without the crowds; soak up the village-like atmosphere of De Jordaan; and experience this unique part of the city like a local, writes Andrew Forbes.
As one of Europe?s most popular cities, Amsterdam has no shortage of impressive addresses that you can call your home-away-from home. Yet for a real flavour of the city, nothing can beat a stay in an authentic, historic canal house.

We recently stayed at Mr. Jordaan Hotel, a cosy, friendly and stylish hotel in the UNESCO world heritage canal district. This renovated 17th century canal house offers on-trend accommodation with cosy loft, or canal view rooms. The hotel is fashionably off the main tourist trail, and found on Bloemgracht, a peaceful, historic canal just off the Prinsengracht The Hotel
The property has a family feel; and I guess that?s unsurprising as Mr. Jordaan has a history of hospitality that goes back to when the owner used to offer his sofa for travelling friends. Jordaan?s sofa ?turned into a room, which turned into two, which expanded into a full floor, then into more floors until even the house next door gave in to the hospitable spirit of our Mr. Jordaan.?
And now, decades after Mr. Jordaan welcomed travellers to the area, we can now enjoy the same spirit of relaxed hospitality at the Mr. Jordaan Hotel. This personal history to the hotel is captured by the icon of a vintage key, the identity of the hotel, and one that remembers how Mr. Jordaan u...