InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, Five-star hotel on the Amstel River, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam is a five-star hotel in a Renaissance Revival building with tall windows, a marble lobby, and a grand staircase facing the river. The facade stretches along the water and preserves its original symmetrical shape, with detailed arches and gold accents visible from the street and from passing boats.
Dr Samuel Sarphati wanted a grand riverside building to put Amsterdam on the map, and architect Cornelis Outshoorn finished the hotel in 1867. During later repairs, missing lion statues on the roofline were recreated from old city archive photographs, keeping the original appearance intact.
Staff wear uniforms that have kept the same traditional look for many decades, adding to the sense of continuity in the halls. In the public areas, visitors can notice antique clocks, paintings, and crystal chandeliers that show how the building was meant to impress from the very first day.
Guests can arrive by boat and dock at the hotel quay, or use the nearby Weesperplein metro station for a short connection to the center. For a visit without staying overnight, the lobby bar and restaurant accept reservations for afternoon tea, dinner, or drinks, so non-guests can also step inside.
Local children were invited to name two of the restored roof lions, and their choices can still be spotted by guests looking up from the entrance side. The indoor pool sits below street level at the water's edge, so swimmers see passing canal boats through large windows while moving through the mosaic-lined space.
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