The best hotels near Dam Square, Amsterdam
An insider's guide to the best hotels near Dam Square in Amsterdam, including the top places to stay for canal views, stylish design, edgy bars, gorgeous spas and interesting architecture, in locations near Centraal Station, Museumplein and the banks of the River Amstel.
Right in the heart of town, this 17th-century luxury hotel sits on the edge of the Red Light District. That might be off-putting for some, but it is an attractive part of Amsterdam, not to mention one of the oldest. The building dates from 1578 and was a monastery, doubling as a lodge for royal visitors to the city before becoming an Admiralty Building, then Amsterdam’s City Hall for nearly 200 years. Rooms are large for Amsterdam and decorated with the same flair as the public spaces, with natural tones, but with adventurous (though far from vulgar) shades of plum, deep pink and touches of orange. Bridges restaurant is a must, even if you are not staying over – it’s arguably the best fish restaurant in town.
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A stylish hotel housed in an historic building that was formerly the telephone exchange building. One side looks directly onto the Royal Palace (with a rooftop pool running the length of the cornice outside); the other gives a view over Amsterdam rooftops. Inside, strong lines, space and light, with splashes of bold colour bring warmth to muted greys. It’s all decidedly hip, determinedly contemporary, and pleasurably luxurious. A lift whisks you from the low-key entrance area to a vast, glass-walled space extending over the entire top of the Exchange building, containing the lobby, lounge, bar and restaurant. Staff are knowledgeable about Amsterdam’s art and design scene.
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If you’re into a buzzing nightlife, a sense of what makes Amsterdam tick, and a room in the very heart of the city, then this is the place for you. Misc brings a touch of zaniness and Dutch flair to a small, 17th-century canal house on the politer edges of the Red Light District and comes with a homely touch. It’s run with friendly, personal engagement by the owners. Six individually-decorated rooms range from cool contemporary décor by Dutch designer Thijs Bakker, through to gloriously campy neo-Baroque, complete with chandelier and canopied bed – with a touch of Africa and Asian temple-kitsch along the way. Canal-view rooms come with white-noise machines to aid blissful slumber.
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The imposing brick fa?ade of the NH Collection Amsterdam Doelen, which teeters on the Amstel riverbank, dates back to the 15th century. Steeped in history, with part of the old city wall still visible inside the hotel, the location also has connections to Amsterdam’s most famous painter, Rembrandt. It couldn’t be a more central bolthole, within walking distance to the city's major sights and boasting enviable canal views. Interiors are bedecked with ruby red and pristine white which emboldens the lobby. Ascend the marble stairs decorated with the odd Amsterdam tulip into the colonial style atrium, where walls embroidered with gold detail meet the plush carpeted stairwell. It feels fresh despite its traditional persona.
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This Eighties building envelopes two 17th-century houses like a giant snail shell. Inside, Ave Bradley’s soothing design – soft blues and greys, minimalist clarity offset by eye-catching contemporary artworks and intriguing furniture – creates a pool of calm. A large lobby lounge divides effortlessly into separate seating areas, each with a different mood. Here and there a period touch (old beams, a flash of stained glass) from one of the older buildings remains, and local references (Delftware colouring, work by Dutch artists) abound. It’s just three minutes’ walk from Centraal Station, in a triangle formed by one of Amsterdam’s main traffic thoroughfares and a busy pedestrianised shopping street.
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This gracious 18th-century canal house, on the site where Golden Age poet Roemer Visscher and his talented daughters once held artistic salons, and which served a stretch in the 20th century as an S&M hotel, is a boutique hotel about five minutes’ walk from Central Station. High ceilings, marble corridors, wood panelling and other original features are still there, alongside modern décor in white, grey, red and black, with quirkily individual furnishings. The mood is relaxed and low-key: more cosy guesthouse than prissy designer piece. You feel more like a guest than a customer, and owners Berry and Marcel help readily with any tips or practical info you might need.
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Current Dutch design is renowned for its quirkiness, and it’s here to see: a chandelier in the lobby hangs to waist height, the open hearth is suspended from its own chimney. But there are classic touches, too: scuffed leather chairs, enveloping sofas. Colours are dark and strong, with an abundance of mustard-yellow wallpaper. The hotel attracts Dutch media celebs, seasoned world travellers, and digi-business visitors, who sit with their tablets, in earnest conversations over breakfast. You could hardly get more central – a minute from the Dam, on the edge of the Red Light District, a short tram-ride from the major museums. Amsterdam-savvy staff happily help out with genuine advice on what to do and where to go.
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Behind an imposing fa?ade on Amsterdam’s busiest city square, the lobby – severe, contemporary, but with Art Deco overtones – seethes with guests, business folk, and Amsterdammers en route to a rendezvous in the café. The hotel’s history bursts through in moments (the gilded stucco of The White Room restaurant, the glass and iron girders of the Winter Garden), but mainly it’s bustle, business and bonhomie. It’s bang in the centre of town, on the Dam, and backing onto the Red Light District. Central Station is under 10 minutes’ walk away, the canal belt almost on the doorstep, and trams can whisk you to the main museums within minutes. The hotel runs like a well-oiled machine.
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This is one of Amsterdam’s grand old ladies, built in 1896, but these days sporting a very modern makeover. Parts, like the Promenade lobby-lounge, retain chandeliers and other classic touches, elsewhere you’ll find strong lines and startling colours. Afternoon tea in the Promenade, a drink at Freddy’s Bar, or lunch on the waterside terrace attract visitors and well-heeled Amsterdammers alike. Service is attentive, discreet and at times pleasingly Old World. In addition to the usual treatments, the spa offers a small pool with a jet-stream and a view over the river, as well as a reasonably equipped fitness centre. It’s in the centre of town, just a few minutes’ walk from the Dam and main shopping areas.