Boasting 129 rooms on eight floors, Amsterdam’s Conservatorium hotel sits inside the former Rijkspostspaarbank (Dutch savings bank) which turned into the Sweelinck Conservatory of Music in 1983. Today, the spacious, post-modern hotel boasts authentic Old World touches and sits across the street from the Van Gogh and the Stedelijk museums, and within walking distance of the Rijksmuseum.
Among its 129 guestrooms, accommodations range in size from 269 square feet to 1,829 square feet. The junior suite offers floor-to-ceiling windows, brushed-oak flooring and beige furniture that create a warm autumn color scheme. Hidden in the walls are sliding cupboards and drawers that allow for more space within the room. Known for his conversion of steel structures, Piero Lissoni took on the hotel’s renovations project which began in 2011. The transformation included Corten steel stairs, multiple catwalks and unique television sets for each room.
At the Brasserie & Lounge, the restaurant’s internal courtyard, all-day dining is served as well as traditional afternoon tea. For another dining option, Taiko is the fine-dining restaurant overlooking the Paulus Potterstraat and the Stedelijk Museum. Helmed by Dutch chef Schilo van Coevorden, signature dishes include sashimi and beef from the Binchotan grill. For a more laid-back evening within a chic ambience, Tunes' bar is an elegant-yet-casual haven (including a separate smoking lounge) serving sushi and Asian tapas. However, from Thursday to Saturday nights, an in-house DJ spins beats and brings up the energy within the bar.
Within the hotel also sits the over 10,700-square-foot Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Spa. Divided into four different areas corresponding with the elements of nature: earth, water, fire and air, the facility includes a bar lounge, pool, hamamm, Jacuzzi, sauna, the gym, yoga and Pilates. The first floor also features a gallery of shops to visit such as Bentley, Bonebakker, Meraki salon, CLUB CINQ and Skins Cosmetics.
Those visiting in the near future should take some time to explore the Van Gogh Museum which is currently hosting an exhibition entitled Easy Virtue. The exhibit depicts prostitution (legal in Holland) through the eyes of Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso and other well-known 19th-century artists. At the Stedelijk museum, Edward Kienholz’s The Beanery features a walk-in bar as a metaphor on time—each person has a clock for a face.
This year the Conservatorium launched the Art of Musical Expression, in which deserving students are awarded over $5,600 in tuition for the Amsterdam University of the Art’s diverse music conservatory program. In addition, the students are provided with a podium to perform every weekend at the hotel. Currently, three bands will play in the Symphony Room over the course of 2016.
