L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L TABLE OF CONTENTS - 6 - - 48 - INTRODUCTION NOCTURNAL AMSTERDAM Renaissance Photo series - 8 - - 50 - TRULY MASTERFUL A HIVE OF LUXURY Rijksmuseum De Bijenkorf - 12 - - 54 - THE ART OF HOSPITALITY AT HOME IN AMSTERDAM Conservatorium Luxury Suites Amsterdam - 16 - - 58 - ICON OF DUTCH DESIGN 25 CANAL HOUSES Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht Pulitzer Amsterdam - 20 - - 62 - NOCTURNAL AMSTERDAM GRANDE DAME REBORN Photo series Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam - 22 - - 66 - CITY OF DIAMONDS DOWNTOWN ABBEY Gassan Diamonds Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Royal Coster Diamonds - 70 - - 30 - FIT FOR A KING HIGH PERFORMANCE NH Collection Grand Hotel The Royal Concertgebouw Krasnapolsky - 34 - - 74 - 12 REASONS TO VISIT CRUISING THE CANALS IN STYLE Calendar of events De L'Europe Amsterdam - 40 - - 78 - THE MODERN MASTER NOCTURNAL AMSTERDAM Van Gogh Museum Photo series - 44 - - 80 - STARS À LA CARTE PARTNERS Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam and Colophon For more inspiration and information, go to iamsterdam.com/luxury 4 5 RENAISSANCE “The general magazine of all Europe” is how Sir William Temple, English Ambassador to the Dutch Republic in the late 17th century, described Amsterdam. Nowhere, he claimed, could one find a bigger collection of precious wares, from Persian silks to Chinese pottery. Three centuries later, his words and sentiment still ring true. In the past decade, Amsterdam has quietly become a Luxury destination that measures up to any other. Drawn to the attraction of the beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage Canal Ring, the world’s finest hotel chains have settled here. Michelin stars, the European standard of culinary excellence, have rained down on Amsterdam restaurants. And shopping has definitely entered the glitzy stage, with PC Hooftstraat and Van Baerlestraat matching the likes of California’s Rodeo Drive, but with added unique offerings from the world of renowned Dutch design. Let us inspire you to join the Amsterdam Renaissance and explore its rediscovered luxury. FRANS VAN DER AVERT Director, Amsterdam Marketing 6 7 RIJKSMUSEUM Truly Masterful 2019 sees an unprecedented exhibition at the Rijksmuseum unite all the Rembrandts in its collection. ‘This is something you can only do once in a generation.’ What is a masterpiece? For Taco In 2019, an unprecedented Dibbits, the General Director, it’s exhibition at the Rijksmuseum always been a case of knowing one unites all the Rembrandts in its when you see one. collection, the largest on earth. ‘This ‘I was eight years old when I went is something you can only do once to see the restoration of “The Night in a generation and I think people Watch” and it was hugely impressive,’ should have the sensation of “Oh my recalls the art historian. ‘You could God, this man made so much”,’ says get really close up. I think it was so Dibbits. impressive for me as a child because Politician Isaac Gogel first tabled I immediately realised the physicality the idea that a national museum, of Rembrandt’s art.’ following the French example of Born in Leiden, the prolific the Louvre, would serve the Dutch painter and etcher Rembrandt van national interest, and on 31 May Rijn is considered to be the greatest 1800, what was then known as the artist of the Dutch Golden Age. Nationale Kunstgalerij (National Art Rembrandt’s potent depictions Gallery) opened its doors. Gogel’s of human emotions, light, mood, first purchase with the first director, space and texture are the result of C.S. Roos, was ‘The Threatened Rembrandt's Night Watch is widely considered to be the artist's greatest masterpiece due to its intense study. Swan’ by Jan Asselijn, costing 100 pioneering composition, dynamic movement and use of light and shadow. © Iwan Baan 8 Dutch guilders. It is still regarded as one of the top pieces in a museum which – along with the Teylers Museum and the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem – is synonymous with the artistic glories of the Dutch Golden Age, when the young Dutch Republic led the world in the arts, bankrolled by HENDRIKJE CREBOLDER strident advances in trade and science. Director of Development & Media It’s true that, when it opened ‘I have worked at the Rijksmuseum for 11 years in 1885, some considered the and every single day I have the feeling I’m in Rijksmuseum we know today quite the most luxurious environment imaginable. sacrilegious for its Eregalerij (Gallery The acquisition of knowledge about history of Honour) which displays world- and culture is a uniquely elevating experience, famous works by Vermeer, Hals and one that we have the privilege of sharing with Jan Steen, and lavishly decorated more than 2 million visitors a year. We would space that the architect Pierre like each of those visitors to feel at home Cuypers created for ‘The Night with the masterpieces and at home here in Watch’. In the popular imagination, Amsterdam, the same place where the likes of Dutch attitudes to luxury have Rembrandt lived and worked. When you visit long been elided with Calvinism, a our lush gardens or you dine in our Michelin- doctrine that swept the Netherlands starred restaurant, we want you to feel a new during the Protestant Reformation expression of that artistry.’ and which prizes sobriety and thrift. But, as historian Jan de Vries argues in his essay Luxury and moderately, or plentifully, so that all Capitalism, Luxury and Calvinism, may remember that God confers his the role of Calvinism in the Dutch blessings on them for the support of Golden Age is misunderstood. life.’ In essence, a bit of extravagance According to De Vries, John Calvin is fine, as long as you keep your himself shared with the Christian priorities in perspective. Humanists of his age a relativistic Bear that in mind as you dine view on the subject of wealth, writing: at the museum’s restaurant, Rijks. ‘Let all men live in their respective Executive Chef Joris Bijdendijk has stations, whether slenderly, or introduced a ‘new cuisine from the Low Countries’ characterised by the simplicity of the Dutch product, RIJKSMUSEUM and has won a Michelin star for Bask in the warm magnificence of the “This is something that his efforts. Bijdendijk continues Golden Age: discover artistic treasures you can only do once in a to glean inspiration from Dutch including The Milkmaid by Vermeer, ingredients and makes use of the and be dazzled by the 19th-century generation” many international flavours that have art library as well as the modern glass- ------------------------ influenced Dutch cuisine over the The Royal Suite of the NH Collection Grand Hotelcovered Krasnapolsky entrance offershall. centuries. The Golden Age lives on. < spectacular views over the city’s central Dam Square. Find out more: iamsterdam.com/luxury 11 * CONSERVATORIUM The Art of Hospitality Crowned as the number-one luxury hotel in the Netherlands repeatedly since opening in 2011, the Conservatorium hotel offers 21st-century luxury inH a magnificent historical setting. ‘Our location means you can be at that the Conservatorium has brought the Stedelijk Museum before you’ve to the Oud-Zuid district. And what’s learned how to pronounce its name,’ that around the corner? ‘Van Gogh is jokes Nina van het Spijker, Marketing our neighbour,’ affirms Van het Spijker. & Communications Manager at the All of Amsterdam’s cultural crown Conservatorium hotel. Indeed, the jewels – The Royal Concertgebouw, grand entrance of the Netherlands’ Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark and the number-one contemporary art trove city’s most indulgent shopping street – (pronounced, STEH-duh-lick, as are on the Conservatorium’s doorstep. it happens) is just across from the For culture and for business, there’s no entrance of the property that has location like this. repeatedly been crowned the number- The Conservatorium works closely one luxury hotel in the Netherlands with its neighbours to provide unique since opening in 2011. cultural experiences for guests. ‘In At the time of writing, the March we had the Van Gogh Suites,’ bedclothes billowing from the recalls Van het Spijker, ‘for which windows of the Stedelijk – part interior walls were decorated with of the exhibition Amsterdam, The the guest’s choice of works within Named after ancient Japanese drums said to beat with a mythic rhythm, Taiko is Schilo Van Magic Center – seem to speak to the Van Gogh’s oeuvre.’ And in the spirit Coevorden’s award-winning Asian-inspired eatery and one of Amsterdam's finest hotel restaurants. confluence of hospitality and creativity of enabling discovery, every March 12 13 to May the Conservatorium plays host to Art Months, showcasing often spectacular and thought- provoking works in and around the Piero Lissoni-designed Lobby for the contemplation of guests. In March 2018, for example, the design ISABELLE POST studio Martens & Visser installed Host Manager their captivating ‘HOLONs’: moving ‘We are very proactive with our host services objects creating the illusion of – there’s a team of 12 people taking care of waterdrops. each guest before, during and after their stay. All year round, two Artist-In- Wellness means different things for different Resident Suites – one by renowned people. I had a phone call from a guest once painter Jasper Krabbé and one by asking to fill his bath with 60 litres of cold Marie Cécile Thijs, a photographer milk because he was sunburned. An artist whose work is included in the requested a private gym within the hotel, so Rijksmuseum Amsterdam collection we redesigned our largest banquet room into – are available for unforgettable a spacious, high-end, well-equipped gym. All residential stays.