Set in Amsterdam's hip Jordaan district, Canal House is everything you'd want it to be: stylish, friendly and spoiling. Made up of 3 Golden Age merchant's houses overlooking the Keizersgracht canal, it boasts a wonderfully peaceful garden to the rear (which is one of the biggest in central Amsterdam), 23 supremely comfortable and romantic bedrooms, and spacious common areas.
Step inside and you're greeted by wall-to-wall repros of Dutch Master paintings in beautiful gilded frames, a drawing room overlooking the canal, and plush décor throughout. At the heart lies The Great Room, once a ballroom, with its stunning stucco ceilings, ebony walls and contemporary lighting. There's original artwork in each room, and quirky pieces such as a collection of antique pendant lights or a cabinet of vintage curiosities. Walls, curtains and fabrics are in rich hues - on trend yet in perfect homage to traditional heritage. Big comfy armchairs are just the ticket after days of shopping and sightseeing, or if you've got enough energy left to socialise, pull up a stool at the mirrored bar and try the signature martini.
Highs
- Stylish rooms with plum velvet bedspreads, leather sofas and silk walls
- Delightful service, a perfect balance of friendliness and professionalism
- The Jordaan and Nine Streets districts are known for restaurants and cafés, the Anne Frank house and for independent boutiques
- A lot of thought has been put into the finer details: hi-tech lighting, beautiful mosaic tiling and fancy toiletries
- Ideal for couples, though solo guests or business travellers will appreciate the friendly atmosphere
Lows
- No restaurant but there's an all-day snack menu; staff can recommend dozens of great local eateries
- Noise may carry between rooms; some rooms look onto a light-well
- The quirky layout means steep windy stairs to certain bedrooms (there are lifts), and going through the kitchen to reach others
- While the breakfast buffet is included in the rates, hot beverages and dishes cost extra
- Boutique Hotel
- 23 rooms
- Breakfast + snack menu; restaurants nearby
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Bicycles Available
- Board games
- Film library
Rooms
Canal House's bedrooms share an aesthetic of thick plum curtains, leather sofas, silk wallpaper and velvet bedspreads complementing restored original features such as timber beams, ornate ceilings and opulent fireplaces.
Bathrooms have double sinks, opulent mosaic tiles, tubs, showers, robes and luxurious Green & Spring toiletries. A few are separate to the bedroom, the others are open-plan; express your preference when booking.
Best is a huge open-plan top-floor suite with sweeping canal views. Honeymooners love it - the standalone bathtub is romantically curtained off and you get a complimentary minibar. Outstanding rooms have guaranteed canal views, while similarly sized Exceptional rooms overlook the canal and garden. Great rooms are a bit smaller and face the garden, canal or, in some, an internal lightwell. Better rooms all look onto the internal lightwell so are slightly darker (the windows do open), but have a sitting area; recommended if you're budget-conscious. Good rooms mostly have showers, though a few also have bathtubs. Ours looked onto the garden and had generous windows for lots of light.
Some Good and Great rooms can be set up as twins but note the majority are open-plan, with bathtubs in the bedroom.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The breakfast buffet is beautifully laid out in The Great Room - a simple selection of pastries, breads, cakes, fruit, cereal, yoghurts, and meats and cheeses. The cooked options (additional cost) include a full English breakfast, poached egg and avocado on toast, or a stack of Dutch waffles with maple syrup.
Staff can recommend restaurants nearby, or order from the Canal House-approved takeaways list - it will be brought to your room on a china plate! For a laid-back café atmosphere but gastro-pub food, try Café De Reiger on Nieuwe Leliestraat, 5 minutes behind the hotel: our lamb was divine and prices are reasonable. Other favourites include Longpura for Indonesian fare, which is very popular in Amsterdam.
Or just enjoy cocktails at the hotel bar and order from the snack menu - tasty little Dutch morsels like veal croquettes and shrimp bitterballs followed by a gooey chocolate brownie with ice cream.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Literally around the corner, the famous Anne Frank Huis museum is unmissable. Beat the queues by booking in advance - reception can help
- Dubbed 'Nine Streets', this area of trendy one-off boutiques in Jordaan is the place to shop in Amsterdam, and is about a 5-minute walk away
- Every month the hotel compiles a local 'Eyes & Ears' guide with 10 brilliant suggestions for things to do, including restaurants, galleries, museums and new openings
- Hire bicycles right by the hotel; staff can advise on routes and museums to visit. There are plenty of canal boat tours to take too
- Visit the Sunday Market in Westergasfabriek where local artists and designers sell fashion, arts and local foods
- Enjoy a relaxed evening in The Great Room, playing board games, drinking cocktails and ordering from the snack menu. In the warmer months there's a garden bar in the Summer House
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
Best Time to go
Amsterdam is a year-round city. In winter, the many coffee shops and bars nearby all have open fires. In summer, you can enjoy the hotel garden, but you should be prepared for crowds at the main sights and museums. From late March to early April, the 2,000 tulip bulbs in the hotel's garden raise their heads to herald spring.
Our Top Tips
The Vondelpark is great for cycling around and is beside three excellent museums. Visit the Rijksmuseum for Old Dutch Masters including Rembrandt's masterpiece Night Watch and the fascinating 17th-century dolls houses; the Van Gogh Museum features an unparalleled collection and an intimate and moving account of his life, and the Stedelijk Museum displays lively modern art. You can rent bikes by the hotel
Location
Canal House is in the Jordaan district of central Amsterdam, a stone’s throw from the Anne Frank Huis museum and the boutiques and cafés of Nine Streets.
By Air:
Amsterdam Schiphol (17km away) is the nearest airport. It’s a major hub and is served by many international flights.
From the Airport
The hotel offers transfers or you can catch a taxi. Alternatively, take the train to Amsterdam Central Station (around 20 minutes) and walk from there (15 minutes) or take a taxi.
By Train:
If you prefer to travel overland from the UK, Eurostar operates direct trains from London St Pancras to Amsterdam. Alternatively, take a ferry and train combination from Newcastle, Hull or London (via Harwich).
By Car:
Amsterdam is easily explored on foot, by public transport and by bicycle, so a car isn’t necessary. However, if you want to hire one to see the surrounding region, see our car rental recommendations. The hotel offers valet parking for a daily charge.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Amsterdam Schiphol 17.0 km AMS
Other:
- Beach 30.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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