T+L Hotel Review of the Rosewood Amsterdam

The Amsterdammers are curious—of course they are. The city’s former Palace of Justice is now the Rosewood Amsterdam, and they’ve waited 10 years to get a glimpse of it. As hotel builds are now being limited to combat overtourism Rosewood, the last hotel to be granted permission to convert non-hotel buildings into hotels, is a landmark moment in the history of the city. Locals also know this.

I’m in the lobby on opening weekend and have to weave my way through them as they swarm around, sniffing everything with that wonderfully direct Dutch manner. The faces of the Dutch don’t reveal much but there’s no doubt that they’re not unhappy.

Piet Bohn, the Dutch interior designer who dreamed up the new hotel and is the man behind it, told me: “It is a space for people.” The Grand Library was the Palace of Justice courtroom. We are sitting in this impressive event space. The former courtroom of the Palace of Justice is now decorated in modern tapestry, evoking Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch”, (the most famous painting at the nearby Rijksmuseum), and a 1920s-era piano with ivory keys rests on the other side. Because this is Amsterdam, there are florals—fireworks of forsythia, frilly crown imperials, and lustrous ranunculus in eye-popping-orange—everywhere I look.

Boon is always returning to the lobby, no matter how impressive the room may be.  He says, “We wanted to make people feel like they were in Amsterdam as soon as they walked in.” Our inspiration came from Rijksmuseum’s central gallery. Its warmth and dignity inspired us. The hotel lobby is similar to the Gallery of Honor in the museum, a long corridor that leads toward “The Night Watch.” Instead of a Rembrandt, the digital art piece will be the focal point.

It’s not a stuffy museum, but the lobby is theatrical and has pedestal plates piled high with crumbly cookies. It is the living room for the city with its help-yourself plates of crumbly cookies, and art that can be interacted with. At the entrance there is a Studio Molen statica installation. A vending machine selling Casper Braat limited edition marble and gold sculptures is located further on. Mini sculptures are a tribute to the city, with canal houses, cones frites and stroopwafels. By my visit (on the third day of opening), all of the sculptures of joints (a cool €800 a pop) have been sold out from the vending machine. The check-in counter is placed to one side so as to not feel like it’s a barrier. Smiley doormen dressed in the shade a well aged Barolo act as greeters, not gatekeepers.

Boon: “You’ll be able to do what you want without worrying about being asked where you are or why you’re here.” “It is comfortable chic.” I have to agree after a few nights spent playing with art and sipping gin from the house. Here are some highlights from my stay.

The Rooms

Piet Boon rose to prominence as a designer for private residences in which money is no object. So it’s not surprising that these rooms feel intimate and upmarket. Mini apartments with Dutch spirit and quirky art. The rooms with a view of the Prinsengracht canal will be popular. Some smaller rooms have views over tiny alleys. There are subtle design references to the original purpose of the building. For example, pleated headboards that evoke the folds of judicial gowns and legal balances which double as objects d’art. And the muted colour palette is reminiscent Dutch Old Master paintings. The five Houses are the most luxurious and impressive, with Library House being the best. The former Palace of Justice library is the inspiration for this suite. It’s laid out in an enfilade, with an entrance at each end, and has details like colossal lights, snow-white crown molding and plenty of books to make Belle envious.

Food and Drink

When the Palace of Justice went on sale ten years back, Amsterdam’s mayor demanded that anyone who took over the landmark would have to infuse Indian cultural elements into the space. This was a way of paying tribute to the Netherlands large Indian population. Rosewood’s Advocatuur is outfitted with two ovens tandoori to serve snacks such as paneer and samosas. Yann Bouvignies was the man who turned Scarfes in Rosewood London, London, into a prestigious institution. He is now the bar’s head, and his cocktails are the stars of the show. Bouvignies describes this bar as “a clash of law and rebelliousness” with a copper still named Irene after a key member of Amsterdam’s 1960s Counterculture Provo Movement) that distills a Provo-branded house blend of jonge jenever. Provo tastings in former holding cells are a unique experience. The bar offers its own beer: POJ (Palace of Justice), which is decorated with a drawing of the hotel. This was created in collaboration with Jopen, a brewery in Haarlem in the Netherlands.

Eeuwen is an English-style garden, complete with stone patios and lemon trees. This is where you can have breakfast, lunch and formal dinners. Service isn’t there yet and mistakes are aplenty in these early days, but there’s potential—especially in plates like North Sea shrimp croquettes; oysters from the Dutch province of Zeeland; and pillow-like poffertjes Dutch pancakes for breakfast

The Court is open all day, and has become a local favorite. It’s an outdoor courtyard with red and cream striped awnings adorned with pink tulips. The tea is served on Richard Ginori plates and was designed by Piet Oudolf. tompoucesThis is the Dutch version of a Mille-Feuille.

Activities and Experiences

Rosewood is known for its sense-of-place ethos. Here, guests are encouraged get out and explore the city, including both popular attractions and hidden pockets. The hotel’s classic saloon is a teak-and-mahogany beauty that dates back to 1924. The boat was fully restored, converted to electric and Captain Arnold takes guests on adventures nearby in the Duivendrechtse Poler for farm visits and the charming fishing village Durgerdam. The hotel offers bicycles for rent, including e-bikes.

The hotel offers art tours, with more than 1,000 pieces of art on display. Highlights include the Casper Braat art vending machine; colorful Frank Stella reliefs from Rosewood’s private collection in Hong Kong; and two Maarten Baas clock reimaginings (‘Grandfather Clock’ and ‘Grandmother Clock’), with similar pieces found in the Rijksmuseum and Schiphol Airport. A gallery area is available for rotating exhibitions.

The Spa

Asaya, a Rosewood spa located in the subterranean area of the hotel and lit by light wells above it is a temple of serenity. This is a rare find in the city. The 40-foot pale sapphire heated spa pool has a hot tub and sauna. Tides, a local wellness brand that uses ingredients like seaweed and algae in its potions.|Tides, a local wellness brand that uses ingredients like seaweed and algae in its potions.

Family Friendly Offerings

The retail menu of Rosewood Amsterdam includes a variety of items for children, including stuffed cats of Benny the unofficial hotel mascot, which is based on an artwork by Amsterdam street artist Frankey.

Accessibility and sustainability

There are two fully accessible rooms in the hotel, as well as barrier-free public access, including to the dining outlets and spa.

As for sustainability, the hotel has implemented systems such as Greenview or Winnow that track carbon emissions in real-time and manage food wastage. The hotel’s sustainable sourcing policy prioritizes the use of certified sustainable ingredients on its menus. The boat of the hotel is also completely electric. The hotel offers Dutch courses and culinary training to underserved local communities.

Location

The Rosewood Amsterdam is located about 10 minutes away from Centraal Station. This station has direct rail links to Schiphol Airport, Brussels, Paris and London using Eurostar trains. The hotel is located in a central location (no need for a car) and many famous attractions, such as the Museumplein and some of Amsterdam’s best theaters, are within walking distance.

What to Expect from Your Stay

Rosewood Amsterdam is part of American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, offering the following benefits: room upgrade upon availability; daily breakfast for two; $100 credit for food and beverage or spa; and guaranteed late check-out until 4:00 p.m. Centurion offers similar benefits, but with a guaranteed upgrade and a $300 hotel credit for stays of two nights or more.

Rates for nightly stays at Rosewood Amsterdam Start at $1,361.