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Amsterdam has never been short of beautiful hotels, but the arrival of The Rosewood is seriously a big deal. Film stars or royalty would look right at home strolling through the hotel’s corridors. But though it feels oh-so-exclusive, that’s not what will make you want to pull out your credit card and tap. It’s the hotel’s genuine warmth.
Once you’re inside the stylish, contemporary lobby, you immediately feel like you’ve entered a home away from home. Staff greet you with a smile, and by the end of your stay, they are addressing you by name. Locals love it here, too. At The Court – the hotel’s lively all-day hub for coffee and food – neighbourhood regulars sit happily alongside hotel guests. Naturally, the service is impeccable. And, there’s not an ounce of the stuffiness usually associated with hotels of this calibre.
So truthfully, who wouldn’t want a piece of The Rosewood’s down-to-earth five-star hospitality? This is Amsterdam’s grandest new address, and easily one of the best in the city.
Why stay at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
Quite simply, nowhere in the city balances location, immaculate service, discreet luxury, charm, or vibe quite like The Rosewood. Set on Prinsengracht in the heart of the historic Canal Ring, the address alone feels special; doubly so in a hotel that caters to your every whim. Then there’s the building itself, a grand, 17th-century behemoth that started life as an orphanage before serving as the city’s Palace of Justice. Restoration took 10 years (and a reported €100 million); dig into the details, and you understand why.
The wall tiles adorning many corridors are all original and more than 400 years old. The designers, Studio Piet Boon, were tasked with replicating original colour palettes in key areas, and all internal wood doors, skirting boards, and panelling were treated and finished using traditional 17th-century techniques, a painstaking process that took three years alone.
More than 1,000 contemporary artworks are dotted throughout the property; download the dedicated app to turns a wander through the corridors into a curated experience. There’s also a gallery space, a serene interior garden, and a courtyard that comes alive in summer with alfresco dining, and, below ground, a tranquil spa with gym and pool. There are also numerous “experiences” available to guests, including private tours (complete with drinks and snacks) on the hotel’s own, open-topped Salon Boat – skipper Florus is as convivial and erudite a tour guide as you can hope to have.
What are the rooms like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
The Rosewood’s 16,000 sq m building houses 134 rooms in total, including 41 Suites and five Residencies. Strict restoration regulations meant designers were unable to move or alter any original interior walls or ceilings, resulting in generously proportioned rooms starting at 31-42 sq m – positively expansive by Amsterdam standards. Second-floor rooms benefit from the highest ceilings, and it’s well worth opting for a canal view; the tall windows elegantly frame the slow rhythm of boats and bicycles passing below.
Inside, interiors are painted in a palette of creams, taupe, warm browns, and soft gold. The bed – enormous, plush, and dressed in 600-thread-count Rivolta Carmignani linen – is the kind that makes you question your own sleeping arrangements at home.
Thoughtful details abound everywhere. The minibar includes pre-made cocktails alongside premium spirits such as Grey Goose, the hotel’s own genever, and exclusive reposado tequila. Bathrooms are impressively spacious, and equipped with underfloor heating, Dyson hairdryers, a full range of high-quality grooming tools, and Votary toiletries. A double walk-in rain shower adds a sense of indulgence, while the freestanding bathtub invites long, restorative soaks while gazing serenely over the canal – a rarity for city-centre properties.
Upgrade to a Signature Suite, and you’ll enjoy even more space and a separate living area; opt for one of the five Residencies, and you’ll get up to 177 sq m of stunning, canal-side luxury, complete with fireplaces, full kitchens, and a butler service.
What’s the food like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
There are two dining options at The Rosewood. Eeuwen, the main restaurant, seats up to 125 and features a seasonal menu that changes every six to eight weeks. Advocatuur offers a more informal setting, and is focused on Indian sharing plates served from its two authentic tandoor ovens (there’s also The Court, which serves lunch, coffee, and snacks throughout the day). Sadly, the former was closed for minor renovations during my stay, but the latter did not disappoint.
Decked out in deep reds, dark greens, burnished gold, and plenty of velvet, there’s a speakeasy vibe to the space. A further rock’n’roll edge comes courtesy of iconic photography from local boy done good Anton Corbijn – I’m told he’s a regular, as his townhouse is nearby – and a cocktail menu that features lashings of bourbon, whisky, tequila, and innovative garnishes like dessicted stroopwafel. Food-wise, dishes are authentic and rich with flavour – we shared the moreish butter chicken, crispy pork belly, delightful samosas in cornetto form, and a fried chicken pao that had just the right mix of bite and spice.
Advocatuur is also where you’ll find the hotel’s own, intimate genever distillery and tasting room. Named after the famed Dutch counterculture movement from the mid-1960s, The Rosewood’s PrØvo genever features heavily on the cocktail menu (and there’s a bottle in your room). For a truly unique experience, book their Provo private tasting session (currently only available to hotel guests) – it takes place in one of the building’s original holding cells.
What is the service like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
Service is perfection. But perhaps the most impressive achievement here is that it is not in the slightest overbearing. Requests are handled swiftly, and everyone is deeply knowledgeable about the city and its hidden gems (I was directed to a small, hitherto unknown lunch spot that yielded one of the best Reuben sandwiches I’ve ever had).
What are the facilities like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
Excavating an entire floor from beneath a 400-year-old building was just one of the many challenges facing the restoration team at The Rosewood, but it was worth it. For here lies the hotel’s serene wellness space, anchored by a gorgeous, naturally lit 12-metre swimming pool – long enough for proper laps – a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a steam room. Alongside this, the Asaya Spa offers a variety of treatments, massages, and rituals, including those geared towards Skin Health, Holistic Healing, Lost Remedies, and Pathways To Wellbeing.
The 24-hour gym is well-equipped with free weights, kettlebells, and state-of-the-art Technogym machines, including a video station to guide you through various HIIT and Crossfit workouts. If pure burn is not what you’re after, there’s a boutique studio where you can book yoga, pilates, and barre classes; they even offer a personal trainer service.
Beyond health and fitness, there’s the aforementioned boat tours – an absolute must – and several somewhat more eclectic “Experiences”; a Group Sound Bath, complete with scalp massages, a day trip to Durgerdam, a quaint former fishing village sketched by Rembrandt, and a Kinoko Ki Day Retreat, at the tranquil fields of Over Amstel Boerderij.
What’s the area like around The Rosewood Amsterdam?
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect location, regardless of how long you’re staying. Set on the Prinsengracht in the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring, The Rosewood sits right in the middle of one of Amsterdam’s most coveted neighbourhoods. The famed De 9 Straatjes (The Nine Streets) and the rest of Jordaan, packed with independent boutiques, galleries, and cafés, are just a short stroll away, while The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum – and the other attractions around Musemplein – can be reached easily on foot or by bike in minutes.
Those in need of some retail therapy are well catered for, with the famed department store Di Bijenkorf, the high-street brands of Kalverstraat, and the unabashed luxury of P.C Hoofstraat virtually on your doorstep. Culturally, the twin musical meccas of Melkweg and Paradiso are close by, and if you’re a film buff, don’t miss Filmtheater De Uitkijk, just the other side of Leidsestraat – an iconic 1920s art-house movie theatre, its single screen shows classic films alongside innovative, avant-garde, contemporary films all day long, and has a charming café.
Why should you book a stay at The Rosewood Amsterdam?
The Rosewood is not cheap – it’s a five-star heaven with a price to match. But while many luxury properties rely on branding, gimmicks, or just sheer opulence, The Rosewood is focused on experience. Of course, the setting is historic, the design is immaculate, rooms are spacious and inviting, and the drinking and dining options are world-class. Every box is ticked. But what elevates is that there’s an authenticity and genuineness to the way things are done here. Stay here, and you’ll leave thinking: “Money well spent.”
Address: Prinsengracht 432-436, 1017 KE Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price per night: From approximately €800 per night, with seasonal deals and offers.
Closest transport: Vijzelgracht metro station; 10-minute bike ride to Amsterdam Centraal Station; nearby bus and tram stops