Boogaard's B&B - An Amsterdam Find

Boogaard's B&B
An Amsterdam Find

By Kelly Monaghan

The first thing you notice about Boogaard's B&B in Amsterdam are the stairs. Then there are the stairs. Oh yes, and did I mention the stairs? Suffice it to say there are a lot of them, steep and shallow, then narrow and winding.

Now that I've given fair warning to those who hate to (or can't) climb stairs, let me hasten to add that the climb to the top is worth it. I did it with one of the heaviest bags I've ever taken on a trip (that's a whole 'nother story) and I'm glad I did.

Peter Boogaard's cozy establishment is actually two adjacent lodging options occupying the top floors of an architecturally significant block of brick flats in the "Amsterdam style" that flourished in the early decades of the last century. On the third floor, dubbed Sophia's, are two self-catering flats. The penultimate floor features a dining room for guests on the top floor, who enjoy the full B&B treatment.

Your host, Peter Boogaard, is a Dutch-American who grew up in the U.S. and enjoyed a musical career on Broadway before deciding to repatriate. That means, among other things, that the musical selections playing at breakfast are always first rate, as are the breakfasts.

We had a "full Dutch breakfast" one day (lots of ham and cheese with soft-boiled egg optional), and Dutch pancakes the next. There were plenty of cereals, and yogurts, and breads, and jams for the do-it-yourself crowd. The conversation was as good as the food, which meant our good intentions to get an "early" start were always thwarted, not that we minded much.

The beautiful and mysterious women I travel with and I booked into the smaller Jack Russell Room, at the rear, looking out onto a charming terrace where, had the weather been warmer, we could have taken morning coffee or sipped a beer from the well-stocked fridge. The front room, overlooking a quiet street, is the Pug Room and if you've guessed that the B&B has a resident pooch, score one for your side.

The rooms are compact but comfortable, nicely decorated , with TVs. You can even order up a laptop if you forgot to bring your own and enjoy wireless Internet access.

Peter's place is ideally situated for the tourist, just a short walk from the Rijksmuseum and the van Gogh Museum. And since it is just past the Singelgracht, the canal that marks the edge of the central historic district, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Don't hesitate to ask Peter for advice on restaurants and sightseeing. He is a one-man encyclopedia when it comes to Amsterdam and more than happy to share his expertise. He's even a good source for tips on what to see on Broadway. We took his advice on seeing Souvenir and weren't disappointed.

The web site has a calendar stretching a year out, with little flags indicating when specific rooms are booked, and early booking is advised. Boogaard's is highly recommended.

If you're heading to Amsterdam, and would like to take along a cell phone with free incoming calls and extremely reasonable per-minute charges for outgoing calls, visit Telestial.

Boogard's B&B
Tweede Helmersstraat 7
Penthouse
1054 CA Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Office: +31 (0) 207715283
Mobile: +31 (0) 643586835
Fax : +31 (0) 205248040
e-mail: info@boogaardsbnb.com
web: http://www.boogardsbnb.com

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Boogaard's B&B An Amsterdam Find

By Kelly Monaghan

Boogaard's B&B
An Amsterdam Find