Leideseplein is a fantastic and very safe area and only a 20 minute walk from all the sites. This is by far the best place to stay to enjoy the city unless you want to be in the center of the Red Light District. Leideseplein has a great area of pubs with outdoor seating and if you walk back towards the station on the main road the trams take, you will have plenty of shops to keep you busy for hours. When you get to the Dam Square, a pedestrian street runs from the flower market to the train station. Go behind the palace and visit the local supermarket. The cheese counter is great with the big rounds, snap a picture when no one is looking. Be sure to buy a package of Stroop Waffles in the cookie aisle (be sure to take a pack home to the folks, great with coffee as you tell them about your adventures).

The two main hostels in Leideseplein are the STAYOKAY and the Flying Pig. Located across from each other on side streets that run along Vondelpark. I have only stayed at the StayOkay Vondelpark and it is very modern and clean. Electronic key card to enter the hostel, elevator, hallway door and your room. It is not a party hostel. NO smoking! A big plus for those that don’t smoke weed! If needed go outside and there are always someone willing to share. You are only at the hostel at breakfast, shower and sleep. Internet and a cool little bar to meet a few of the 400+ travelers. Exit train station and take tram # 1,2 or 5 a few stops to Leideseplein. When you exit, beware, you are standing in the light pink bike path and they will run you over if you don’t move your ass. Get your bearings, look across the canal and walk towards the Marriott Hotel. Cross the street (Stay out of the bike paths if you want to stay alive) turn left, go 100 yards, turn right down the alley at the black fence of Vondelpark. You won’t have to take the tram again till you leave the city. Walk everywhere and look at the leaning buildings! If you have a sunny day, take a Mike’s Bike Tour and learn a bunch of fun facts on the city, see a windmill, watch them make clogs, sample cheese and meet new friends. To get to Anne Frank’s, you can walk in 20 minutes or take the trams back to Dam Square and a 5 minute walk to the house. Hostel will sell tickets so you can avoid the lines at nearby museums and check the hours. Go to Anne Frank’s one hour+ before closing for no lines and tolerable temperatures in the attic. Be prepared for rain (jacket and cheap umbrella) Let us know what you decide to do.

Thanks for all the great info! I’m leaning more and more towards Leideseplein!!

I agree, I stayed at the Stayokay in Vondelpark and it was VERY quiet and clean! Close to the museums and the tram stop will take you straight from Centraal station on lines 1, 2, or 5. never walked from dam square but takes all of 10 minutes on the tram to get there. very easy to take the tram back from the red light district and such as well, at night.

It really does not take you long to walk around. I stayed about 15 minutes from the museums near albert cuypstraat markets. It really does not take you that long to get around. And the trams are pretty cheap and reliable as well.

But yeah, definitely go to Leideseplein as it is really central to everything. It wont take you that long to walk anywhere.