Hotel Amsterdam American

The hotel is located in the centre of Leidseplein, some 10 mi from the airport and a mere 20 minute drive.

The American Hotel was the first "modern" hotel in Amsterdam. It was built between 1900 and 1902 by architects Kromhout and Jansen and is one of the city's historic monuments (a status it acquired in 1972). It was named after the original 1882 building that was designed according to the American model. It is located in Leidseplein, a site that owes its importance to the countless amounts of merchandise and travellers it has seen since the 17th Century.

This Art Nouveau building stands out in the centre of Amsterdam. It will probably remind you of some New York-style buildings or of the castles Tim Burton likes to include in his movies. When it was built, the instructions were to provide one single space that would group together the three following elements: a hotel, a restaurant and a reception room. Additionally, each part of the building would have individual access. Nowadays, the hotel and restaurant still have two separate entrances. Once inside the hotel, the modern, white and charmless reception is a little unsettling. However, the magnificent Art Nouveau stairway, one of the oldest in the city, and the large bay window on the middle floor depicting a map of Holland and the emblem of the royal family add a lot of charm to the establishment. In addition to these elements, sports enthusiasts will be happy to learn that they can use the small, green fitness room with 5 machines free of charge. The piano bar offers a wide range of cocktails, one of which even won an Oscar.

The 175 rooms are all decorated in the Art Nouveau style. The classic American (or standard) rooms have beige wall-to-wall carpet and armchairs with blue and brown patterns that are reminiscent of the style of the beginning of the century. The rest of the furniture is dark brown in colour and the rooms also include a flat screen TV. The Deluxe rooms are 30-35 m². Some have a balcony with a view of the canal while others boast splendid antique bay windows. As far as amenities are concerned, Wi-Fi is available in all of the rooms but it is only free in the communal areas. The rooms also include tea and coffee making facilities, a free safe, a mini bar, a bathrobe and slippers, as well as an iron. The bathrooms are modern but not particularly original and include an integrated hair dryer.

A real treat for the eyes, the American café, with its original chandeliers, its colourful bay windows, its rounded shapes and its elegant parquet flooring, is one of the hotel's strong points. It is impossible to resist the undeniable charm of the decor! Furthermore, the style of cuisine changes every 3 or 4 months throughout the year: Provençal, Catalan, French... The average à la carte dish will set you back around 13 pounds. This is also where breakfast is served. On Sundays there is a jazz-brunch available between 12:30pm and 3:30pm.