The NH Hotel Group has unveiled its fifth NH Collection property in The Netherlands, and fourth in Amsterdam, with the opening of the new boutique-focused NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market. The Luxury Editor was kindly asked to be one of the first guests to experience this new gorgeous boutique hotel right in the heart of the Dutch capital. So read on to find out more.
Background & Concept
With 233 rooms, the new 4-star hotel is situated in a landmark 1920s building in the historic city centre of the Dutch capital. The building was originally designed by the architect G.J. Rutgers and has a national listed status. On completion, the Carlton Hotel was the largest and most luxurious hotel in the Netherlands. The style of the building is the ‘Amsterdamse School’ and the interior of the breakfast room on the first floor is in French Baroque architecture. After closing the property for six months to undergo a complete renovation, the former NH Carlton Amsterdam has now become part of the brand premium NH Collection.
NH Collection Properties
All NH Collection hotels are housed in iconic and unique landmark buildings across the world, with the brand’s ethos for properties to maintain their local authenticity, being a source of inspiration for guests who stay and to exceed a guests expectations. NH Collection hotels are located in key cities throughout Europe and Latin America. There are currently 80 NH Collection hotels operating in 52 key cities of 15 different countries!
Read our review of the NH Collection Madrid Gran Via
Location Location Location
The new NH Collection Flower Market sits between canals and squares and is right next to the Bloemenmarkt Flower Market, it couldn’t be anymore quintessentially Amsterdam!
The hotel is ideal for leisure guests being just a few steps away from the capital’s main shopping streets, world-renowned museums and other breath-taking sights. Business guests are well catered for too, with a business lounge on the first floor.
There are two connections to Schiphol, a taxi takes around 30 minutes from the hotel and it is a 15 minute walk to the main Central Station.
Interior Design
Designed by Spanish interior and architecture studio TBC Interiorismo, the hotel’s design is inspired by the industrial and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Amsterdam and the hotels neighbour, the famous Bloemenmarkt Flower Market.
Mercedes Isasa from TBC Interiorismo said: “The design brings the city inside the hotel, starting off with the nearby floral atmosphere that invades all public areas. We used textures and materials with large-scale floral prints to magnify and create interesting design elements. Moreover, we made use of Moooi’s design, a Dutch landmark firm in contemporary design whose products are exhibited in every design forum worldwide. An example is the flowery mural behind the reception. The tapestry is a design of Marcel Wanders, cofounder of the firm with Casper Vissers, and has given a new twist on the traditional Dutch still life flower paintings”.
Rooms & Suites
All 233 rooms are a true reflection of the city of Amsterdam; industrial, cosmopolitan and diverse. Think contemporary furniture, textured wallpaper, mixed with brass finishes and muted fabrics which create an elegant and serene atmosphere, perfect for a comfortable guest room.
Accommodation options are split into 142 Superior Rooms, 5 Superior Triple Rooms, 69 Premium Rooms, 4 Family Rooms and 13 Junior Suites.
My Room During My Stay
I was treated to one of their upper floor Premium Rooms with balcony (floors 6 and 7 include terraces).
The view from the balcony was quite incredible offering a vista of Amsterdam as far as the eye could see.
The room included some nice little tech features, including USB ports next to beds and both European and UK plug points. There was a range of lighting options and I especially liked the small bedside adjustable reading spots that can be angled into a good book while keeping the room dark. The room also included an electronic ‘do not disturb / clean your room’ button, which I actually missed at first glance, but was shown how to use it when I was taken to my room.
My bathroom had a beautiful finish to it, it was quite a small space but the design maximised the use of the space. The bath also included a rain shower and paddle shower and I liked the indent in the bathtub for the shower space which I thought was quite a clever touch.
The lighting could be adjusted and the downlighter next to the sink could also be adjusted to create a softer lite space, which I put on when I had my bath. Whether the light stays on the ceiling remains to be seen as it is quite close to the bath!
A nice tray of amenities are provided in the bathroom and topped up daily and I also had the most creative welcome chocolates I have seen to date which you can see in the picture below. Each chocolate was crafted with incredibly intricate details and even the flower pot was made of chocolate too!
There is a nightly turn down service and small felt bag filled with goodies to make sure you have a perfect nights sleep is left on your pillow as well as slippers and fresh water on each side of the bed.
Suites
Junior Suites are located on each floor in the corner and offer a unique view out to the streets below as well as a luxurious place to call home during your stay in Amsterdam.
Food & Drink
Breakfast
Breakfast is served daily in the breakfast room and I was delighted to see it was served until 11am daily giving leisure guests a little more time to chill in the morning. As mentioned earlier the breakfast room really has the wow factor with its French Baroque plasterwork through-out the space. There is a comprehensive cold buffet offering a selection of classical Dutch offerings and small selection of hot buffet items.
To open soon – Ter Marsch & Co
NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market has partnered with Ter Marsch & Co for the hotel’s premium gastronomy offering. The independently operated ground floor restaurant with a view of the Bloemenmarkt will be a bar and grill specialising in delicious award-winning hamburgers and premium drinks in a trendy setting with a jaw dropping interior. With colourful mosaic pillars, floral artworks and a marble bar, it will provide a unique charming feel, with wooden accents and an a fully open kitchen.
Final Thoughts
I really felt at home in the NH Collection Flower Market Amsterdam, it is fresh and the contemporary finish works well with the space and Mercedes Isasa has done an incredible job of referencing the city without making it tacky. I look forward to seeing Ter Marsch & Co opening on the ground floor, the sneak peak we saw of the space highlighted what a cool food offering is about to launch in the hotel too.
Contact Details
Website: www.nh-hotels.com
Address: Vijzelstraat 4, 1017 HK Amsterdam, Netherlands