A NAUTICAL-INSPIRED HOTEL ON THE ICONIC AMSTERDAM HARBOUR
The five-star deluxe Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam is located in the former Shipping House (‘Scheepvaarthuis’), a building on the western tip of the Waalseiland near Amsterdam harbour and one of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites. The building was constructed in the early years of the 20th century when six shipping companies decided to set up a joint head office in Amsterdam.
The building remains one of the finest examples of the Amsterdam School of Architecture. The unity of the exterior and interior is a characteristic feature of Art Nouveau. This can be seen in the impressive leaded-glass cupola at the heart of the building, which depicts a map of the world, complete with navigational courses, whales, ships and even the signs of the zodiac. Inside, all of the original furniture from the Shipping House remains in the hotel rooms. Much of this, unsurprisingly, incorporates marine themes, including chair backs shaped in the form of Neptune’s trident.
In 1997, the municipality put the building on the market and property developer Van Eijl spotted an opportunity to turn this majestic edifice into a characteristic and charismatic five-star hotel. Having found an ideal architect, work got underway to renovate the building. Finally, the Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam was born, in the historic heart of Amsterdam, less than half a mile from the central station, offering bus, tram, and metro connections to all areas of the city.
The hotel has 205 rooms including 22 spacious, high-ceilinged suites decorated in warm colours. Guests have unlimited access to the Spa & Wellness centre, which is open from 7am until 11pm daily. The spa team are on hand to offer a wide range of beauty treatments and massages. There’s also a gym and swimming pool, plus sauna and stream room.
Website: www.amrathamsterdam.com