Stay & Play

Shipshape at The Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam

by Cherie DeLory

The striking five-storey art nouveau hotel began its journey as the headquarters for six Dutch shipping companies, and it’s easy to recall the era when shipping barons navigated its corridors. In 1913, the construction of the Shipping House (Scheepvaarthuis) was intended to represent the rebirth of the Netherlands as a seafaring nation. Proudly situated on the canal-front Prins Hendrikkade, this was the ideal location because it was where Dutch sailing ships first set sail for the East Indies in the 16th century. Today, you’re steps away from Central Station and the business district, canal-side houses, shops and restaurants, the Anne Frank House, and the Stedelijk Museum SMCS (Shipping Museum).

The building is one of the first constructed in the Amsterdam School style, the Dutch interpretation of art deco that utilized brick, sculpture, marble, ornamental ironwork and stained glass. The architect for the renovation in 2005, Ray Kentie, respected the original building’s nautical theme. From ships engraved in wooden chairs to the shipping company logos embossed in stained glass, boardroom bravado meets luxury ocean liner. The main entrance foyer boasts an ornate stained glass ceiling depicting nautical themes, peer through portholes on the elevator doors, and a vintage paternoster elevator lift that moves constantly in a loop from floor to floor is on display, not for use.

There are 205 rooms, nearly all with 13-foot ceilings; spacious, solid, and refined, with floor-to-ceiling windows and canal views. The Seven Seas restaurant serves international cuisine and an exceptional continental breakfast of smoothies, pastries, fresh fruit, cheese, meats and cereals. Relax in the Spa & Wellness Centre with swimming pool, Turkish steam bath, whirlpool and saunas.

The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is a buoy’s throw away, affording this a convenient stop before embarking on a cruise, or after arriving in the city from an ocean voyage. And don’t leave Amsterdam without a boat tour of the city’s more than 100 kilometres of canals, departing from adjacent the hotel.

Shipping enthusiasts and architecture aficionados will appreciate the old-world opulence and preservation of this historic landmark.

www.amrathamsterdam.com/en