Grand Hotel Amrâth is a five-star hotel of 205 rooms inside the Scheepvaarthuis, the Shipping House built in 1913–1916 as the head office of six shipping companies. It is the first great building of the Amsterdam School style, a seven-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal. It suits travellers who care about architecture, and anyone arriving or leaving by train.
Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam at a glance
| Address | Prins Hendrikkade 108, 1011 AK Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Category | 5 stars, Amrâth Hotels |
| Rooms | 205 rooms, including 22 suites |
| Neighbourhood | Old centre, between Centraal Station and the Nieuwmarkt |
| Nearest tram | Centraal Station, trams 2, 4, 14, 17, 24 and 26: 7 min walk · Dam, trams 2, 4, 14, 17 and 24: 12 min walk |
| Nearest metro | Centraal Station (51, 52, 53, 54): 7 min · Nieuwmarkt (51, 53, 54): 7 min |
| Nearest train station | Amsterdam Centraal: 7 min on foot (510 m) |
| Schiphol Airport | Train to Amsterdam Centraal, then a 7-minute walk |
| Lift | Yes; the historic paternoster lift can be seen but not used |
| Wellness | Saunas and a fitness room for guests; see the note on the pool below |
| Dining | Restaurant Seven Seas and the Bar Lounge, with high tea daily |
| Check-in / check-out | From 14:00 when booked direct, otherwise 15:00 / until 11:00 |
| Pets | No; assistance dogs only |
| Parking | Small underground garage, paid; reserve ahead |
Checked in November 2026 against the hotel’s own website and booking sites. Walking times from OpenStreetMap routing.
Why stay at the Amrâth
The Scheepvaarthuis was built where the first Dutch fleet left for the East Indies in 1595, and it was designed to show off the wealth of the shipping trade. Johan van der Mey designed it, working with Michel de Klerk and Piet Kramer, and it is seen as the first building of the Amsterdam School.
Almost every surface tells the story of the sea. The facade carries the heads of seafarers alongside Poseidon and Fortuna, and above the central stairwell is a leaded-glass ceiling by Willem Bogtman showing a world map of the shipping routes. The original paternoster lift still runs, sealed behind glass so that guests can watch it but not ride it.
The city’s transport company used the building as offices from 1983. After a long restoration it opened as a hotel in 2007, and a new courtyard wing added 40 rooms in 2018. The hotel runs historical tours of the building.
The rooms: what you should know before booking
Read the room description carefully before you book; these are the points that matter most here.
- Layout. The building is a maze of inner corridors without windows, lit by porthole-style lamps. It is atmospheric, but some guests find it hard to find their way.
- Views. Front rooms look over the water of the Prins Hendrikkade and the old harbour. Courtyard rooms are in the 2018 wing.
- Families. Children of all ages are welcome. Cots and extra beds are limited, depend on the room type and are charged at the hotel.
- Accessibility. There is a wheelchair entrance with a platform lift and mostly step-free corridors. Adapted rooms are available on request.
Restaurants, bars and facilities
Restaurant Seven Seas
The hotel’s restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, under a stained-glass ceiling by Christie van der Haak that was unveiled in 2018.
Bar Lounge
Cocktails, light meals and a daily high tea.
Wellness
Saunas and a fitness room are free for hotel guests.
The pool is closed for now. The hotel’s indoor pool and steam cabin are out of service, and booking sites list the pool as unavailable until at least the end of 2026. Do not choose this hotel for the pool until it reopens.
Getting there and getting around
From Schiphol Airport
Take the train to Amsterdam Centraal (14 to 19 minutes) and walk east along the Prins Hendrikkade, about seven minutes. It is one of the easiest five-star hotels to reach with luggage.
Getting around
Metro 51, 53 and 54 stop at Nieuwmarkt and at Centraal, each about seven minutes away. Trams for the Dam, the Museumplein and the Leidseplein leave from Centraal. The free ferries to Amsterdam Noord leave from behind the station.
Nearest stops
| Stop | Walk to the hotel · lines |
|---|---|
| Centraal Station | 7 min (490 m) · trams 2, 4, 14, 17, 24 and 26 |
| Dam | 12 min (910 m) · trams 2, 4, 14, 17 and 24 |
| Nieuwezijds Kolk | 13 min (920 m) · trams 2, 17 and 24 |
| Centraal Station (metro) | 7 min (510 m) · metros 51, 52, 53 and 54 |
| Nieuwmarkt (metro) | 7 min (530 m) · metros 51, 53 and 54 |
| Amsterdam Centraal (train) | 7 min (510 m) · trains to Schiphol and the rest of the Netherlands |
Walking times measured with OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026. Lines as in the GVB timetable.
What is around the Amrâth
| Place | Walk from the hotel · why go |
|---|---|
| Nieuwmarkt | 7 min (500 m) · Square with the medieval Waag and its cafés |
| Oude Kerk | 8 min (620 m) · Amsterdam’s oldest building, with a tower climb |
| NEMO Science Museum | 11 min (830 m) · Hands-on science museum with a free rooftop square |
| Rembrandtplein | 18 min (1.3 km) · Cafés and terraces; an ice rink in winter |
| Hortus Botanicus | 18 min (1.3 km) · One of the oldest botanical gardens in the world |
| H’ART Museum | 18 min (1.4 km) · Exhibitions on the Amstel |
| Dam Square and the Royal Palace | 20 min (1.5 km) · The city’s main square, with the 17th-century palace on one side |
| Magere Brug | 22 min (1.6 km) · The white drawbridge over the Amstel, lit at night |
| Noordermarkt | 22 min (1.6 km) · Saturday farmers’ market and Monday flea market |
Staying here in winter
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, and many of the festival cruises leave from the piers around Centraal Station, a short walk away. NEMO and the waterfront of the Oosterdok are a nice winter walk from the hotel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Scheepvaarthuis?
The Shipping House, built in 1913–1916 as the head office of six Amsterdam shipping companies. It is a national monument and the first major building of the Amsterdam School style. Grand Hotel Amrâth has occupied it since 2007.
Is the pool at the Amrâth open?
Not at the moment. The indoor pool and steam cabin are out of service, and booking sites list the pool as unavailable until at least the end of 2026. The saunas and fitness room are open.
How far is the Amrâth from Amsterdam Centraal?
About seven minutes on foot (500 m), along the Prins Hendrikkade.
What is the nearest tram stop to Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam?
The nearest tram stop to Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam is Centraal Station, served by trams 2, 4, 14, 17, 24 and 26, about 7 minutes on foot. The nearest metro station is Centraal Station (51, 52, 53, 54), about 7 minutes away.
Can you ride the paternoster lift?
No. The original paternoster still runs, but it is sealed behind glass. Guests use the modern lifts.
Are pets allowed at Grand Hotel Amrâth?
No. Only certified assistance dogs are allowed.
Other hotels nearby
Compare the whole area on our old centre hotels page, or start with where to stay in Amsterdam.