What to see and where to stay for the best of Amsterdam
Post-pandemic Amsterdam is once again booming with visitors – so send clients beyond the ordinary to discover new attractions and less crowded parts of the city
See Amsterdam
cool art
Clients keen to pack their city break with art and culture have a trio of new museums to check out. Immersive digital art centre Fabrique des Lumieres (fabrique-lumieres.com) opened this year in a former gas plant; or they’ll find STRAAT Museum (straatmuseum.com) for street art and NXT Musuem (nxtmuseum.com) for new media art across the river in Amsterdam-Noord’s redeveloped docklands.
ON THE EDGE
Modern Amsterdam-Noord is also home to A’DAM LOOKOUT (adamlookout.com), a rooftop observation deck with sensational city views. Daredevil clients can head Over The Edge on Europe’s highest swing, 22 storeys above the ground, before coming back down to Earth to discover the area’s waterfront markets, bars
and pop-up restaurants.
colour and canals
Amsterdam’s canals – pretty as a picture at the best of times – take on extra allure during midwinter’s Amsterdam Light Festival. Running from early December until late January, the event sees around 30 creative art installations filling the docks, canals and River Amstel with luminescent colour and light.
Clients can get even closer to the canals on a barge tour. Several companies ply these waterways, but recommend Stromma for their fleet of e-boats that glide along almost silently past Amsterdam’s elegant, 17th-century canal houses.
Book it: An hour-long tour costs from £22.50pp, with commission from 37.5%, agent.citybreak.com
WALK THIS WAY
Other pre-bookable experiences that might tempt clients include a Red Light District walking tour or a cultural immersion at the Van Gogh Museum. Or keep things wintry by suggesting cocktails at the Xtracold Amsterdam Icebar.
Book it: Admission plus three drinks at Amsterdam Icebar costs from £22pp, dosomethingdifferent.com
Stay
Pillows Maurits
Just-opened Pillows Maurits at the Park is the newest hotel in town. The five-star boutique property in the Oosterpark neighbourhood occupies a redeveloped university building, sensitively preserving its 20th century heritage. It’s the seventh opening from Pillows Hotels across the Netherlands and Belgium and offers 88 luxurious guest rooms, a brasserie with open-air terrace, two bars and contemporary design.
Book it: Doubles from €390 per night, pillowshotels.com/amsterdam-mauritskade
THE NOBLEMEN
Another recent newcomer is The Noblemen, which has a classic Amsterdam location on the central ring of canals. Set right on the edge of the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) and steps away from the flower market, it’s an ideal location for clients seeking that quintessential Amsterdam stay. Each room is unique, with decor throughout that complements the Golden Age architecture.
Book it: Doubles from €299 per night, hotelthenoblemen.com
hotel jakarta
For something a bit less conventional, recommend Hotel Jakarta: an eco-hotel on Java Island’s redeveloped docks, a 20-minute walk from the centre. Sustainability meets sensational design with a tropical garden in the atrium, interiors crafted from natural bamboo, low-energy technologies and a relaxed, Far Eastern theme. Best of all is the top-floor cocktail bar, which has one of Amsterdam’s most memorable sunset views.
Book it: Doubles from €200 per night, hoteljakarta.amsterdam
Experience
Go Local
Though the canal district is the main attraction, outlying neighbourhoods also deserve clients’ attention. Oud Zuid and De Pijp to the south of the centre are good for shopping and dining, or recommend multicultural De Baarsjes.
easy day trips
To spread their wings further, advise clients to pick up an Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket from the tourist office at Centraal Station or book online at iamsterdam.com. Available from one- to three-day durations from €19.50pp, it covers public transport within the city and beyond for day trips to Zaanse Schans’ windmills or blustery walks on Ijmuiden beach.
all season travel
Amsterdam is extremely accessible from across the UK by ferry (from Harwich or Newcastle), train (London) or plane (London, Manchester, Norwich, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and elsewhere).
Book it: Kirker has a festive three-night city break in December including four-star hotel, Rijksmuseum tickets and travel by plane or train, from £949pp. Or send clients in spring from £1,198pp, including a trip out of town to the colourful bulb fields and Keukenhof gardens, kirkerholidays.com
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