To all those detractors of this place I would say 'get over it'. This is a 2-3 star hotel at a 2-3 star price and you get what you pay for. Staff are friendly, breakfast is adequate. Location is excellent, nice quiet backwater but walkable to everywhere you would want to go. Taxi from the station is pricey as a) you will get ripped off b) the one-way system makes it a bit of a circular tour.
In summary, as many have said, it really depends on the room. If you get something really crap, complain and ask to be moved. Room 10 is fine, for example.
Remember, you ain't paying for the Ritz, or the view, or for the boutique ambiance. I would recommend this place for a short stay.

We had booked through a friend who was a friend of the owner and there was a mix up with our booking. We were there 3 nights and had to move to a different room each night.
The first night was awful - the room was small and dark with awful stripey wallpaper and half the window was boarded up.
The second room we stayed in was nice - 2 double beds, lots of light, with a good view from the windows and a decent bathroom.
The third room was ok, one double bed, small shower but there were so many mirrors in the room, I kept thinking someone was behing them spying on us! There were even 2 mirrors on the ceiling above the bed!
Breakfast was ok, not great - sliced cheese and toast, coffee and juice. But it's nicer to go to a traditional cafe for food anyway.

This hotel was ok for us as we weren't in the room that much and it was cheap and central. But if you're planning a trip to Amsterdam and can afford to stay somewhere better, I would.

traveling with grandchildren we found that this hotel was clean well staffed and had very good contact with patrons.well placed for shopping and food outlets.and the views from the hotel over the canals was stunning .only problem we found was the large amount of steps to enter the hotel foyer otherwise enjoyable stay

We have just returned from a 3 day stay at this hotel, and I was quite apprehensive after reading all the bad reviews on this site, but I did not need to worry. Ok the hotel is a little outdated, but you have to remember it is an old hotel, 300 years, yes it needs a bit of TLC, especially the showers, but if you want a friendly hotel in the CENTRE of Amsterdam, at not an over the top price, stay here. The staff were brilliant. The day we arrived we were on the 4th floor, I struggled with the stairs, due to arthritis, and mentioned this to Elena on the first evening and she moved us to a room on the 2nd floor the next morning, without any fuss. Also had coffee in the bar in the evening, unlike mentioned in previous reviews. Tony was always happy to make us a coffee or order us a taxi and was very friendly. Nothing was too much for them.

I would recommend this hotel as the situation was great, very central and cheap for the situation. Cannot fault any of the staff, including the chambermaids. They worked fast. Will definitely visit again.