I don't think I'm saying anything that hasn't been said already, but in this case it's worthwhile being repetitive. My two friends and I had an absolutely wonderful time staying at Gijs's place. The word "unique" gets thrown around too much these days, but Gijs's place is truly unique. The art he displays is fascinating, the room he rents out is full of art books ranging from the fascinating to the downright bizarre, and the hospitality he offers is second to none.

To expand on that last point: Gijs is really the consummate host. He was in Beijing the day we arrived, but he made sure to arrange everything so that our arrival was smooth and seamless. He and his daughter were glad to accommodate our request for a third mattress, and they provided everything from towels to breakfast each morning. The location is also spectacular, on a canal a stone's throw away from both Dam Square and Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Gijs himself is a very intriguing person, and he is thankfully more than willing to discuss his work, his interests, and his city. He went far above and beyond the call of duty in showing off his projects to my friends and I, and his suggestions for what to do and when to do it were uniformly perfect. He is engaging without being pushy, and conversations with him are always fascinating.

Basically, if Gijs's room is available when you want to visit Amsterdam, book it without delay. You'll be thrilled that you did.