When I told Paul V I had booked us into hostel dorms, he made noises like a steam engine in trouble. So my heart was in my mouth as we walked down Nieuwendijk looking for The Flying Pig. While I checked in, I noticed the dear chap glancing around the high ceilinged bar with its glitter balls, high tables, wall of books, pool table, huge mirrors, relaxed guests and cheap beer. Then his suspicious gaze fell upon the temporary DJ box set up in a corner. He tugged my sleeve: "Ask about a double room -- even if it’s just for the last night." And I knew I was home and dry.
The first thing I noticed was a raised stage in the front window covered in rugs and cushions and low tables and slumped backpackers. We whiled away many blissful hours there, beer at elbow, watching people coming and going in the street outside -- the perfect panacea for the hungover, footsore and museumed-out.
We were in dorm beds for two nights and a double for two. The rooms were clean and had their own bathrooms. The beds, which are particularly comfortable for a hostel, come with duvets, so there’s no need to bring your own bedding, and towels are available if you need them. We slept in a four and an eight bunk dorm, and our room-mates were all very considerate. The double room was particularly good because it was right at the top of the house -- if you get a room on the third floor, there’s a fantastic view from the first corridor window along from the top of the stairs.
Breakfast is included -- you can grab your coffee or tea, bread, jam, cheese, egg or cereal between 8.30 and 10.30am in the charmingly named Happy Room. This dark little cellar decorated with fairytale scenes is easy on a muzzy brain first thing in the morning, and there always seemed to be an interesting conversation going on.
One thing I really appreciated was the security -- the door opens with a swipecard, and then you herd into a little pen so whoever is on reception can examine your card and your face before you are allowed into the bar. If you stay a couple of days, the staff begin to recognise you. Each dorm bed has a locker, with a padlock and there is a free safe on reception. Despite this, the atmosphere is easy-going and there is no curfew so we never felt hemmed in.
The Flying Pig is slightly more expensive than some other hostels. However it has free internet access; the beer is really cheap; there is a kitchen where you can cook for yourself; it’s very close to the centre of town, so you save on transport; and for couples, there are a few queen-size beds which work out better value than two single beds.
*The Flying Pig