Hotel De Hallen
What We Love
- Exceptional conversion of one of the city’s lesser-known heritage buildings
- A chance to explore the ‘real’ Amsterdam as enjoyed by the residents of Oud-West, a colorful yet surprisingly central district
- Equal proximity to the picture-perfect Jordaan area and the Golden Age grandeur of the Museum Quarter
- Decorated with designer furnishings by Arne Jacobsen and Thomas Bentzen
- READ MORE: 42 Things to do for Free in Amsterdam
What To Know
- A city tax of 5 percent of the room rate per night will be collected by the hotel at checkout
- De Hallen is the first completed part of a neighbourhood regeneration project. Consequently it’s still surrounded by (considerate) construction on all sides
- The neighborhood, while delightful in its own right, is largely residential and not the chocolate box proposition depicted in postcards
Amenities
- Babysitting
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Handicap Accessible
- Parking On Site
- Restaurant
Overview
The Look
Residents of Amsterdam’s serene Oud-West district campaigned tirelessly to prevent this once-squatted tram depot from becoming another cookie-cutter shopping mall. Now they’re reaping the benefits in the form of this gorgeous new design hotel. Architect Andre van Stigt restored this delightful heritage building’s original glass ceiling, exposed brickwork and concrete flooring to its former glory, adding an eclectic mish-mash of interior talking points (a Jacobsen Egg chair here, a Thomas Bentzen side table there). It’s a look entirely in keeping with the unflashy, independent spirit of the neighborhood.
Bed and Bath
The centerpiece in each room is an eco-friendly Cocomat bed, a metal-free frame fitted with a matress hewn from entirely natural materials (wool, rubberized coconut fibers). An occasional chair is done up in sumptuous fabrics reminiscent of the textured patterns found on London Underground trains. A large bathtub, unusual for hotel rooms in Western Europe’s most densely-populated city, sits behind a sliding door (in some rooms), and all have natural Spa Collection toiletries.
Beyond
Vondel Hotels owner Arjen van den Hof has gone to town with this property, his fourth and most extravagant hotel project. The light-flooded common area bridges the past—busts of classical composers, midcentury-inspired furniture—with the present. It’s home to modern European/French restaurant Remise47, where original tram tracks gleam promisingly. How appropriate, given that this once-unfashionable residential area is going places once more.
In the Area
The hotel’s generous drinking and dining terrace – by far the largest in the area – overlooks the tree-fronded Bellamyplein, a family-friendly hub complete with a kids’ pool and playground. The Ten Katemarkt, one of Amsterdam’s liveliest grocery-hawking experiences, sits next door in the fast-evolving De Hallen development (soon to become a shopping mall and cultural complex including an art-house cinema). A short walk in the direction of the arterial Overtoom, you’ll find a host of up-and coming bars, including funky De Ebeling. It’s a welcome pitstop on the way to the stately Vondelpark, the green lungs of the city.
