Intimate luxury at the waterfront TEXT: ARNE ADRIAENSSENS | PHOTOS: AMBASSADE HOTEL
Behind the facades of 16 authentic canal houses, concealed from the naked eye, stretches the snug, privatelyowned Ambassade Hotel. With its inspiring rooms, relaxing floating centre and finger-licking-good gastronomy, the hotel is a homey oasis in the middle of the vibrant Dutch capital. “The Ambassade Hotel saw the light of day in 1953,” explains managing director Lucas Schopman. “Back then, it was settled in just one canal house. Throughout the years, we were lucky enough to buy some adjoining homes when they became available. Today, our hotel consists out of 16 picturesque houses.” While strolling through its corridors, the small differences in level remind you that these used to be 24 | Issue 65 | May 2019
separate mansions with different heights once upon a time. Inside the rooms and suites, comfort meets character. “All our rooms are unique and decorated with warm colours, ornamental fabrics and real CoBrA art against the wall.” CoBrA is an acronym of ‘Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam’ and refers to a group of avant-garde artists in those cities during the aftershocks of the Second World War. Their work stands out with its bright colours and almost-childish simplicity. “My father, Wouter Schopman, started this CoBrA collection which now counts over 850 paintings, statues and ceramics at which you can marvel in all corners of the premises. In combination with the preserved structure of the
old houses, these little touches constantly remind you that you are in a lush Amsterdam canal house.” Downstairs, you will also find about 5,000 autographed books of writers who have stayed in the hotel. Alongside almost all Nobel Prize winners in literature of the last three decades, celebrated authors like Salman Rushdie, Umberto Eco and David Sedaris are represented. On request, the staff will happily show you the precious volumes.
Pleasant, warm atmosphere Nonetheless, it isn’t just the art and the welcoming colours that give the Ambassade Hotel its unique warmth. Its biggest value lies in the staff who bring