Canal House Amsterdam

Located in the heart of the Jordaan, the cultural centre of Amsterdam, Canal House is situated on the Keizersgracht (the King’s Canal) and is comprised of three seventeenth century merchants’ houses.

Canal House is a typical example of 17th Century Dutch architecture. Now a ‘monumented’ site, the building features intricate original features, carving and scrollwork as well as typically stately proportions, all signs of wealth in years gone by.

Our Great Room is a beautiful spot to enjoy a leisurely afternoon relaxing, with views over the private garden. The bar at Canal House is both chic and stylish, and is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or the famous Canal House G&T before heading out into the city.

Our stunning private garden is perfect to enjoy a quiet drink in after a day shopping in the boutiques and galleries. Also in the garden are the Summer House and Garden House – both of which are available for private hire. After you’ve shopped ‘till you dropped filling every last nook and cranny of your suitcase, our limo service is waiting to take you to Schiphol Airport in style.

Due to the limited space and desire to maintain a level of equality, the houses were rarely more than 30ft wide (9 metres) and characterised by large, narrow windows and decorative gable tops.

Very narrow stairs maximised space in the buildings, however this made moving furniture and goods difficult. Pulleys were used both inside and outside the buildings to transport larger objects to the upper floors. Canal House is still rich with these features – some of which were actively used during the restoration.

Canal House is extremely unusual in its scale and size. The Great Room which links the buildings together was designed for impressive entertainment. The triple width garden, likewise, is an extremely rare feature in Amsterdam.

Canal House also has a distinctive horse-shoe shape, enveloping a small house on each side, though this was not intentional. A previous owner installed his mistress in this part of the building which is why it is now missing.

Our buildings, numbers 148 and 152 were the home to several merchants and their businesses in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, before being turned into a hotel in the 1950s, by an eccentric and flamboyant American hotelier who was an avid collector of Dutch art and knick-knacks which were proudly displayed on walls, shelves and every other flat surface in the buildings in a traditional Dutch fashion. Many of these have been retained and re-used, providing continuity to the buildings that have stood on this spot for four hundred years.

Outside the entrance, you will see the name of St. Donatus, to whom the buildings were dedicated when they were built. He is the saint who guards against lightning, his cult is also linked with protecting the grape harvest.

Our vision for Canal House was all about exquisite materials, luxury and celebrating Dutch design. We have a weakness for Marcel Wanders’ contemporary gothic pieces, and so it felt right to bring him and renowned agency Concrete onto the project.

We stayed at Canal House in Amsterdam twenty years ago and had to pinch each other. In those days, it was a higgledy-piggledy property, slightly chaotic but oozing with charm.

Set on Amsterdam’s grandest canal, the Keizersgracht, the hotel is made up of three adjoining townhouses. But even amongst the astonishingly beautiful properties along the canals of the Venice of the North, it is unusual and unique.

For one thing, the heart of the building is a magnificent old ballroom that spans the width of all three houses – making it an extraordinary place to entertain and be entertained. For another, in a city where land is exceptionally valuable (because it is reclaimed from the sea), there is an enormous garden – with a tea house and a garden house too.

I remember squeezing my husband’s hand when we walked in for the first time. I knew that if we ever did a hotel in Holland, it would have to be here. When we got to know the owners and they decided to retire, we got on the first plane.

We spent three years rebuilding the houses from bottom to top (that’s the only way you can do things in Amsterdam). I wanted to capture the history of the buildings, but also of the trade that made the Netherlands so successful.

I wanted the hotel to reflect the glory of the Dutch Golden Age when Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals produced art that can make you cry with its beauty. At Canal House, I’ve played with a lot of the same themes that define Amsterdam in both the past and the present; it’s important not to create something that feels like a museum by mistake.

People can forget that the Dutch are immensely creative when it comes to textiles, furniture, and design. So you’ll see 18th century pieces sitting side by side with those by Marcel Wanders, antiques alongside items from the Droog movement.

I’ve used a lot of black around the hotel, but also used lots of mirrors to play with the light. I wanted Canal House to feel as luxurious as it would have been in the glorious 18th century when fabrics were being brought back from all over the world, so there is a lot of velvet to give that sense of softness.

I’m a big fan of the colour purple which in this context is dark, exotic, and sultry. I feel like a visitor from 300 years ago would be as excited to stay as one from today – though they might be surprised by some of the modern touches (like the minibars!)

I love sitting in one of the rooms that overlook the canal, watching pleasure boats go back and forth, and letting the sunlight stream through the windows. I am partly Dutch and I feel both contented and at home watching the world go by in the most ‘Canal House’ of the canal houses in the city. I’d love to live in Amsterdam one day.

ROOMS & SUITES
Canal House’s bedrooms exude sophisticated luxury. All 23 bedrooms at Canal House feature hardwood floors, silk wallpapers, rich velvet fabrics and opulent Bisazza mosaics, along with contemporary furnishings and Dutch artwork.

OUTSTANDING ROOMS 
With canal views and grand proportions, our two Outstanding rooms live up to their name. With grand proportions, they enjoy high ceilings with glorious views over the canal.

They are styled as open plan suites, and both have separate rainforest showers as well as deep Philippe Starck tubs for bathing. They both feature Marcel Wanders’ artwork, each having one of the famous White or Dark Queens.

THE GARDEN
The Garden is a great place to relax and meet friends, a haven from the bustle of the city. Designed by celebrated gardening duo, Dale & Heybrook, it draws the contemporary interior of Canal House into the garden, with serene water features and all-weather sofas.

THE SUMMER HOUSE
Adjacent to the Garden House, the Summer House is available throughout the spring and summer months. With space for just 2 people, it is an ideal spot to sit with a glass of wine and something to read.

A gardener’s dream, our garden is the largest in Amsterdam, boasting an impressive and enviable triple-width. Artfully designed by Rose and Laura of Dale & Heybrook, the garden is abundant with glorious white hydrangeas and furnished with the same care and attention as the interiors.

The signature purple of Canal House is evident in the ultra comfy all-weather sofas and is subtly carried through in the geometric paving design. The gentle trickling of the water features completes the sensory experience.

DINING
With classic Dutch architecture, our Canal House is the perfect location for elegant suppers, pretty parties, and even intimate weddings. From elaborate dinner parties and product launches to baby showers and afternoon tea, Canal House has played host to all sorts of gatherings and celebrations.

EVENTS
Private dining at Canal House is very special indeed, and you will work with one of our specially selected chefs from our coveted little black book. All of our private dining events are bespoke and tailored to your personal taste, and we will be only too happy to assist in styling the spaces for seasonal and special occasions.

Rooms: 23

Price: from 221 EUR per night

Source: www.canalhouse.nl