Apollofirst Boutique Hotel is a family-run, four-star hotel at Apollolaan 123 in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid. It occupies three 1920s townhouses and has 40 individually decorated rooms. It works best for travellers who want a quiet, residential base within walking distance of the Concertgebouw and Museumplein. If you plan to spend most evenings around the canal ring, the Jordaan or Dam Square, expect to take a tram.
Apollofirst at a glance
| Address | Apollolaan 123, 1077 AP Amsterdam |
| Neighbourhood | Oud-Zuid (Amsterdam Zuid), south of Museumplein |
| Rooms | 40 individually decorated rooms, from singles to an apartment |
| Reception | Open 24/7 |
| Hotel phone | +31 (0)20 577 3800 |
| [email protected] | |
| On site | Library bar, 55-seat theatre, meeting room, bicycle rental |
| Airport pick-up | Private transfer from Schiphol: €80 by sedan (up to 3 people), €90 by minivan (up to 6) |
Details as published on the hotel’s contact page and homepage.
Which room type should you book?
The hotel lists five room categories. According to the official rooms page, every category has air conditioning and complimentary coffee and tea facilities. The four standard categories also list fast wifi and a TV with smart functions. Size, bedding and bathroom set-up are the real differences.
| Room type | Size | Max. guests | Beds | Bathroom | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Room | 10 m² | 1 | Single bed (90×200 cm) | Shower in bath | Solo travellers on short stays |
| Comfort Double/Twin | 16 m² | 2 | Two singles or queen (160×200 cm) | Shower in bath | Couples or friends who mainly need a base |
| Deluxe Double/Twin | 25 m² | 2 | Two singles or king (180×200 cm) | Shower in bath | Longer stays; adds a seating area |
| Executive Room | 25 m² | 3 | King bed plus sofa bed (90×200 cm) | Shower | Small families or three colleagues |
| Apartment | 35 m² | 3 | Two singles or queen (160×200 cm) | Shower in bath | Longer stays; small kitchen and balcony |
Room data from the Apollofirst rooms page. The apartment is available on request only.
Two details are easy to miss. First, the Single Room is compact at 10 m², so it makes the most sense for travellers with light luggage. Second, rooms are listed with either a street or garden view, and the hotel does not say which you will get in each category. If a quieter garden-facing room matters, ask when you book. The hotel also offers balcony-room upgrades from €45.
Is the location right for your trip?
Apollolaan is a wide, tree-lined residential avenue in Amsterdam Zuid. What you gain from staying here is calm and easy access to the museums. What you give up is being able to walk out into the old centre at night.
- Museums: The hotel puts Museumplein, with the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, about a 15-minute walk away.
- Concerts: The Concertgebouw is within walking distance, which is useful if you have evening tickets.
- Shopping and dining: Beethovenstraat, with its shops and restaurants, is just around the corner.
- Business travel: The hotel says the RAI convention centre and the Zuidas business district are both within about a 20-minute walk.
- Trade-off: The canal ring, the Jordaan and Dam Square are not a casual stroll away. Most visitors will use the tram, or a bike, for evenings in the centre.
In short, the location suits culture-focused city breaks, repeat visitors, conference guests and travellers who prefer a quiet street. First-time visitors whose priority is canal-side nightlife may find a hotel in the centre saves more time.
How to get to Apollofirst Boutique Hotel
- From Schiphol by private transfer: The hotel can arrange a driver who meets you in the arrivals hall. The trip takes about 20 minutes. It costs €80 by sedan or €90 by minivan. If you book an Executive Room for at least three nights, the transfer is free. Send the hotel your flight number in advance.
- From Schiphol by public transport: Take a train to Amsterdam Zuid. From there, GVB tram 5 (towards Westergasfabriek) stops at Stadionweg and Gerrit van der Veenstraat on Beethovenstraat, the closest stops to Apollolaan.
- From the city centre: Tram 5 does not run to Amsterdam Centraal. It links Leidseplein and Museumplein with the Concertgebouw and Beethovenstraat. From Centraal Station, look up the current connection in the GVB journey planner before you travel.
- By car: Parking in Amsterdam is limited. Read the parking information on the hotel’s website or contact reception before you drive.
Tram routes and stops in Amsterdam change during roadworks, so check a live journey planner on the day you travel.
The theatre, bar and other extras
The Apollofirst Theater, which the hotel describes as unusual for an Amsterdam hotel, is a small 55-seat venue inside the building that hosts regular performances. The theatre agenda lists shows for October 2026. The listings are in Dutch, so check the language of a performance before you buy tickets. The ticket office (+31 (0)20 679 79 71) is open Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00.
The library bar is the hotel’s lounge for an evening drink. Reception can arrange bicycle rental. There is also a meeting room for small business groups. The hotel sells extras such as flowers, sparkling wine and chocolates for guests celebrating a special occasion.
A building with a difficult history
Building on Apollolaan began in the early 1920s. Many houses in the area are in the Amsterdam School style, and several carry ornaments by the sculptor Hildo Krop (1884–1970). According to the hotel’s history page, the business started before the Second World War at number 123. There, the Gustav Joseph family ran the “Apollo House”, a guesthouse used mostly by Jewish guests who had fled antisemitism in Germany and Austria.
In 1942 the Nazis arrested the Joseph family and many of their guests and deported them to Auschwitz, where they were murdered that same year. The building was later requisitioned by the Sicherheitsdienst. After the war, numbers 123 and 125 were joined. In 1964 the guesthouse owner, Lilly Meijer, bought both buildings and turned them into the Apollofirst Hotel. Louise (Wies) Venmans bought the hotel after Meijer died in 1978 and added the third house two years later. Her son Rick Venmans now runs the hotel, and Louise runs the theatre.
What to confirm before booking
The hotel’s own website leaves a few practical points out. Third-party booking sites fill some of these gaps, but their information can be out of date. Confirm the following directly with the hotel.
- Breakfast: Check whether your rate includes breakfast. Hotels.com lists a buffet breakfast from 07:00 to 10:30 for an extra charge of about €22.50 per person.
- Lift and step-free access: Third-party listings mention a lift. One guest review on Tripadvisor, however, describes very narrow stairs. If you have limited mobility, ask which rooms can be reached without steps.
- Check-in and check-out: Hotels.com lists check-in from 15:00 until midnight and check-out at 12:00. Ask about early check-in if you are arriving on a morning flight.
- Bath or shower: The Executive Room has a shower only. All other categories have a shower over the bath.
- Booking channel: The hotel advertises a 10% discount for booking directly. Compare its cancellation terms with those offered by booking sites.
Other hotels near Apollolaan
For a larger full-service hotel on the same avenue, compare Hilton Amsterdam. To stay right next to Amsterdam Zuid station, look at Crowne Plaza Amsterdam – South or Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam – Zuidas. For options across the city, browse our Amsterdam hotel guide.
