The Most Storied Hotels in Amsterdam
For a city with a history that goes all the way back to the 13th-century, it's perhaps not surprising that Amsterdam boasts many hotels with an interesting story to tell. From centuries-old grande dames with famous facades and equally famous guests to new, hip boutique hotels that draw design inspiration from the past, a trip to this town wouldn't be complete without a visit to one of these hotels. Here’s our look at Amsterdam's most storied hotels.
INK Hotel Amsterdam
Why it made the list
Located on what was once Amsterdam’s "Fleet Street" in the former office and printing house of De Tijd (The Times) newspaper, this chic and appealing place plays up its press concept to the hilt. It is fun and informal, and a very charming reminder of all the news stories that were once written here. You can check in at a printer's desk surrounded by oversized letterpress type, and admire the jaunty desk and typewriter of a journalist who once worked here, which is now used for Guest Relations. Rooms reflect the same sleek feel of the entranceway with soothing gray decor and walls adorned with whimsical black-and-white city maps by Dutch newspaper illustrator Jan Rothuizen. Printing references abound: from the letterpress-shaped headboards to decorative old typewriters.
Dikker and Thijs Hotel
Why it made the list
"Classical" and "cozy" are apt descriptions for this 1895 landmark with a regal address on the Prinsengracht ("Princes' Canal") and spacious rooms, some of which retain original warehouse features such as beamed ceilings. Thijs, a popular restaurant, adjoins the hotel, a reminder that these premises, which first opened as a shop a century ago−then the only place in the Netherlands where you could buy exotic foods such as pineapples, kiwi and caviar−later became renowned for fine dining after one of the partners, H. Thijs, apprenticed with the famous French chef Escoffier.
Pulitzer Amsterdam
Why it made the list
One of the Amsterdam’s largest historic monuments, the hotel was named for its original owner (yes, he is related to the Pulitzer Prize founder) and today it’s (almost) everything a luxury hotel in Amsterdam ought to be. Overlooking the picturesque Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht canals are 25 interconnected canal houses recently restored to create a stunning whole that is sophisticated yet contemporary with distinctly Dutch quirks. In the hotel’s 225 guest rooms and suites, architect Jacu Strauss has expertly blended the buildings’ original features and storied past with Amsterdam’s colorful present. The charming Collector’s Suites, inspired by (imagined or real) past inhabitants of the canal houses (a kooky book hoarder, a flamboyant art lover, an antiques aficionado) come with private entrances, street level canal views, and awe-inspiring interiors.
Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam
Why it made the list
A stay at the former office of the major Dutch shipping companies ensures quiet luxury in the city center. Glorious from the outside, with stone and brick decoration, the hotel's public spaces and guest quarters retain the distinctive style and warm colors of the Amsterdam School, a distinctive Dutch version of Art Nouveau. Original sculptures, wood paneling, and stained-glass art remain throughout the building, which is a National Monument. With plenty of maritime design details to discover, this property is a must-see for architecture lovers. There’s even a guided tour with an art historian, who will help explain it all.
Dylan Amsterdam
Why it made the list
Situated behind the gate of a Golden Age theater, where Antonio Vivaldi himself once conducted the orchestra and noted guests included the Russian Tsar and the Prince of Orange, is a luxury boutique hotel that continues to strike the right note. Understated, with clean modern lines that underscore a wealth of historic architectural details, the Dylan’s atmosphere is one of serenity. Vinkeles, the hotel's intimate Michelin-starred restaurant is located in the former bakery of the orphanage that was set up in 1787 by the Regents who then owned the building, and you can still see the original brick floor and ovens, with views of a historic courtyard.
Ambassade Hotel
Why it made the list
Quite literally full of stories, this magnet for literati boasts a library stocked with 4,200 signed first editions by famous authors who have passed through, including Umberto Eco, Isabel Allende, Dave Eggers, Jonathan Safran Foer and Toni Morrison, and a museum-worthy collection of 800 artworks from the post-war CoBrA movement on the walls of its 10 converted canal houses. Popular with publishers and authors alike, the Ambassade Hotel has served as a setting in various books, including The Museum Guard by Howard Norman and The Mark of the Assassin by Daniel Silva. A monthly writer’s salon is organized in The Library Bar, too.
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
Why it made the list
If the walls of this historic hotel in the Old Center could talk, they’d have six centuries’ worth of tales to tell. Stories about the building’s beginnings as a 14th-century convent. About its elevation to become royal lodgings, and later the grand headquarters of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. And certainly, they would gush about former Queen Beatrix’s wedding here in the 1960s, when the building was Amsterdam’s city hall. Architect Sybille de Margerie’s understated design underlines original architectural details with classic French elegance and modern flourishes referencing the famous people who’ve passed through, including William of Orange, Maria de Medici, Henry Hudson and Winston Churchill (some line-up, eh?)
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