Krasnapolsky is the only hotel directly facing famous Dam Square. Stepping out from the lobby, you enter the very heart of the action, with the Red Light District to your back and right, and the beginning of the Canal Belt straight in front. You’ll be one of the few people who can actually say that your neighbour is the Queen of Holland; the big building across the hotel is Beatrix’s residence when she is in Amsterdam. Though pricy, the breakfast served in the covered Winter Garden will set you up for a full day of ambling the cobbled streets, and the excellent location makes the Krasnapolsky one of the most convenient places in town. But it is dated and needs refurbishing – not all rooms are as polished as you might expect from the five star ranking, and the service can range from terrific to plain rude.