I am almost tempted not to be honest with you people about this place, because the next time I look to book in Amsterdam, I want it to still be available...

Magic. Just magic, this little boat. It's one of, if not the most memorable places I've ever stayed on holiday, and my wife and I are already dreaming about how to come back. This boat feels like you're in some kind of peaceful, beautiful fantasy of life in Amsterdam, except it's really real and you're really there.

This place might be the ultimate "photos don't do it justice" Airbnb listing. The sunken living room is incredibly comfortable; I spent happy mornings reading and drinking tea, and evenings reading and drinking wine while sitting in that space, looking out the window. But the outdoor floating patio is just really something special. It's your own little floating garden on a lovely quiet canal, with boats zipping past every couple of minutes or so, and ducks & swans swimming around the area.

I think it's easy to overlook Nieuwmarket as a neighborhood—so close to the Red Light District and Amsterdam's small Chinatown—but we found the area immediately around Caroline's boat to be charming and lovely, and were glad to be given an excuse to explore it. The nearby wijnhandel is great (you'll want to drink wine at that floating patio) and the market square has many cheese purchasing options (you'll want some cheese for that floating patio wine). It's a close walk to the tilting NEMO museum and hip spots like Hannekes Boom, on the other side of lake Ij. One of Amsterdam's best menswear spots is Patta, just two blocks away over on the Chinatown block (itself super fun and interesting). One of Amsterdam's best espresso bars is Koko, also just blocks away in the Red Light District.

Basically I was skeptical about this location because I didn't know it, but now I think it's one of the best parts of Amsterdam.

The bed was super comfortable—nice and firm, with fluffy pillows and a nicely placed TV.

The boats do go by all day long, and the boat has big broad windows out onto the canal. Don't worry, you can close the shades if you need some privacy.

Caroline was great, by the way—exactly like the cool person you would expect would live in a place like this. She met us, set out nice wine glasses and a bottle, gave us advice on some local stuff to do, then got out of our hair. Perfect Airbnb host.

There's nothing like these canal boats in Amsterdam. Waking up on the water...coffee on the patio...then coming back home at night to sit out and watch the sunset...picturesque, memorable, perfect.

10/10 would houseboat again.