I Visit Amsterdam Every Year — Here’s Why This Hotel Stands Out From the Rest

As a fourth-generation Florida girl who’s happiest in tropical places, I tend to surprise people when I tell them Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. I appreciate the quaint Dutch architecture, charming canal-lined streets, and easygoing yet direct personality of the locals (and, OK, pancakes as a major food group).

Since our first visit to Amsterdam in 2019, my husband and I have returned every year, and sometimes several times a year. Because we prefer to “live like a local,” we’ve stayed in houseboats, canal houses, and apartments — all of which we find on Airbnb or Booking.com — but residents can only legally rent out their homes 30 days per year, so the selection and availability varies quite a bit from visit to visit.

That’s where the value of a good hotel comes in — and Amsterdam has many. On a recent visit to attend Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, we stayed at the iconic De L’Europe. Owned by the Heineken family, this historic luxury hotel is a landmark of the city thanks to its opulent interiors and prominent location at the intersection of the Amstel River and the Rokin canal.

Amsterdam has no shortage of unique accommodations — there’s a hotel in a moving crane, suites spread across 28 old bridge houses, and even futuristic Burning Man–inspired pods inside an old church — but still, the most memorable place we’ve stayed is a little more understated.

Located outside the inner canal circles, Conservatorium sits between Vondelpark and the Rijksmuseum — which has a colorful little garden where my husband and I love to sit and people-watch after grabbing a latte and cinnamon bun from nearby Coffee District Willemsparkweg.

Here, find my in-depth review of Conservatorium, the best hotel in Amsterdam as voted by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2024 World’s Best Awards.

The Rooms

At this luxury hotel, even base-level Superior Rooms have elegant touches like dark hardwood floors, travertine stone bathrooms with a large rainfall shower, and a comfortable workspace for the modern traveler. At the other end of the spectrum, the entire sixth floor (with seven separate rooms) can be reserved exclusively as the Penthouse Wing for VIP guests. In between, there are a variety of elegant rooms and suites, all filled with natural light and neutral colors.

Food and Drink

Guests and locals alike flock to Mediterranean-inspired Barbounia, which has both atrium and terrace seating. The hotel is also home to the Asian-inspired Taiko Cuisine and Taiko Bar.

Activities and Amenities

Considered the “living room of Amsterdam,” the Conservatorium’s lobby is an architectural marvel. When Lissoni modernized the hotel, he encased the historic building’s interior courtyard in glass, bringing the outdoors in and creating an airy, beautifully lit space to meet, work, lounge, and enjoy a drink or bite.

The hotel also offers extensive fitness and spa facilities, including a 60-foot lap pool, and the petite in-house Van Baerle Shopping Gallery has luxury boutiques from Bonebakker, Skins Cosmetics, Bert Visser, Club Cinq, La Casa del Habano, and The Hand.

The Spa

The underground (but, again, with abundant natural light from a tree-filled atrium) Akasha Spa is another highlight. Its spacious treatment facilities and gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and hammam make it one of the top luxury spas in the Netherlands.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The Conservatorium has two spacious, mobility-friendly rooms. Facilities in these accommodations are on the same level and the bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible.

The hotel also has a focus on sustainability and has been Green Globe certified for 10 years.

Location

Many of the main attractions in Amsterdam — the canal-ringed Centrum, Vondelpark, and the Museum Quarter — are within a short walk from the hotel. Plus, it’s just a 20-minute drive from the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. There’s no need to rent a car, but when in the Netherlands, consider doing as the Dutch and rent a bike to explore the city on two wheels.

How to Get the Most Value From Your Stay

The Conservatorium belongs to a collection of around 20 grand hotels known as The Set Collection. While this luxury hotel is going to be pricey no matter which way you slice it, look for occasional discounted offers on multiday stays.

The property is also included in American Express Travel’s Fine Hotels & Resorts, which offers elevated benefits like early check-in and late checkout, room upgrades upon arrival (when available), daily breakfast for two, and property credit to Platinum card members. Cardholders can also pay with points.