nhow Amsterdam RAI is a four-star hotel of 650 rooms in a 91-metre tower by OMA, the office of Rem Koolhaas, right next to the RAI convention centre. It opened in January 2020 as the largest hotel in the Benelux, and today has a Latin American restaurant and cocktail bar on the 24th floor. It suits trade-fair visitors and travellers who want a modern room with a view and a fast metro into the centre, rather than a canal address.
nhow Amsterdam RAI at a glance
| Address | Europaboulevard 2b, 1078 RV Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Category | 4 stars, nhow Hotels (Minor Hotels, formerly NH Hotel Group) |
| Rooms | 650 rooms and suites |
| Neighbourhood | Amsterdam-Zuid, in the Zuidas next to the RAI convention centre |
| Nearest tram | Station RAI, tram 4: 4 min walk |
| Nearest metro | Station RAI, metros 50 and 51: 5 min walk · Europaplein, metro 52: 6 min walk |
| Nearest train station | Amsterdam RAI: 4 min walk |
| Schiphol Airport | Direct train to Amsterdam RAI, about 10 minutes according to the hotel, then a 4-minute walk |
| Dining | Selva (Latin American) and Sonora cocktail bar on the 24th floor, Moana Bar on the 1st floor, breakfast on the 17th floor |
| Gym | Gym with city views and a yoga terrace; no spa or pool |
| Check-in / check-out | From 15:00 / until 12:00 |
| Pets | Dogs and cats up to 25 kg, two per room, on approval; a nightly fee applies |
| Parking | Paid indoor parking at the RAI next door; book ahead online |
Checked in November 2026 against the hotel’s own website and booking sites. Walking times from OpenStreetMap routing.
Why stay at nhow Amsterdam RAI
The tower is the reason to look twice. OMA, with partner Reinier de Graaf leading the design, built it as a stack of three triangular volumes, each turned slightly against the one below. The shape refers to the Signaal, the advertising column that has stood in front of the RAI since 1961. The building is rated BREEAM Excellent.
Inside, the theme is cultural fusion, with symbols from around the world such as Indian mandalas, Mexican skulls and Japanese cherry blossoms. According to the hotel, each room is styled after the direction it faces, so the different sides of the tower do not look the same inside.
This is a big convention hotel in a business district, about 5 km from the centre. What makes the location work is transport: Amsterdam RAI station, with trains and metro, is a few minutes on foot, and metro 52 from Europaplein reaches Rokin in about ten minutes, according to the hotel.
The rooms: what you should know before booking
Read the room description carefully before you book; these are the points that matter most here.
- Size. The hotel publishes no room sizes. Booking sites list rooms from about 14 m² for a single to about 31 m² for a corner room that sleeps three, with doubles of about 22 to 27 m².
- Views. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Ask for a higher floor if the view over the city matters to you.
- Suites. Junior suites, some with a jacuzzi, and a penthouse suite and a private suite on the 21st and 22nd floors.
- Families. Cots for children up to three are free on request, but there are no extra beds. Premium corner rooms with a sofa bed sleep two adults and one child. Children from 12 pay the adult rate, according to booking sites.
- Busy fair weeks. Rates and atmosphere follow the RAI events calendar. During big trade fairs the hotel fills up with conference guests.
Restaurants, bars and facilities
Selva and Sonora
Selva is a Latin American restaurant on the 24th floor with views all round the city and dishes inspired by Mexico, Peru and Brazil; it serves dinner. Sonora, next to it, is a cocktail bar with drinks themed on Latin American stories and legends. Both opened in September 2023, so older guides may use other names.
Moana Bar
A round bar on the first floor with a coworking space, open from late morning.
Breakfast
An American and continental buffet on the 17th floor, which has three terraces. It runs later at weekends. A 24-hour grab-and-go shop and room service until 22:30 cover the rest of the day.
Gym
A gym with city views and a yoga terrace. There is no spa or pool.
Meetings
Nine meeting rooms on the 23rd floor and an event space on the 24th.
Getting there and getting around
From Schiphol Airport
Direct trains run from Schiphol to Amsterdam RAI, about 10 minutes according to the hotel. From the station it is a 4-minute walk to the hotel.
From Amsterdam Centraal
Take metro 52 to Europaplein, about 12 minutes according to the hotel, then walk 6 minutes. Tram 4 also runs from Centraal via the Dam, Rokin and the Rembrandtplein to Station RAI, 4 minutes from the hotel.
Getting around
Metro 52 from Europaplein runs through De Pijp, Vijzelgracht and Rokin to Centraal; see our guide to metro line 52. Metros 50 and 51 from Station RAI reach Amsterdam Zuid in about 5 minutes, according to the hotel. On foot, the Beatrixpark is 7 minutes away and the Amstelpark 10; the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp is about half an hour.
Nearest stops
| Stop | Walk to the hotel · lines |
|---|---|
| Station RAI | 4 min (300 m) · tram 4 |
| Drentepark | 6 min (420 m) · tram 4 |
| Europaplein | 6 min (440 m) · tram 4 |
| Station RAI (metro) | 5 min (400 m) · metros 50 and 51 |
| Europaplein (metro) | 6 min (440 m) · metro 52 |
| Amsterdam RAI (train) | 4 min (310 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 nhow Amsterdam RAI
| Place | Walk from the hotel · why go |
|---|---|
| RAI Amsterdam | 6 min (440 m) · The convention and exhibition centre |
| Beatrixpark | 7 min (530 m) · Quiet neighbourhood park next to the RAI |
| Amstelpark | 10 min (770 m) · Large park with gardens and a windmill |
| Zuidas (Gustav Mahlerplein) | 23 min (1.8 km) · The business district around Amsterdam Zuid |
| Amsterdam Zuid station | 25 min (1.9 km) · Trains to Schiphol and metro to the centre |
| Sarphatipark | 28 min (2.1 km) · Small park in the middle of De Pijp |
| Albert Cuyp Market | 29 min (2.1 km) · The long street market in De Pijp |
| De Pijp (Gerard Douplein) | 30 min (2.3 km) · Cafés and small restaurants in De Pijp |
Staying here in winter
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, and metro 52 takes you to Rokin, in the city centre, in about ten minutes. Tram 4 runs to the Dam, where the Christmas tree stands. Back at the hotel, the 24th floor has a view over the city lights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest metro and tram to nhow Amsterdam RAI?
Station RAI is closest: tram 4 stops about 4 minutes from nhow Amsterdam RAI, and metros 50 and 51 about 5 minutes. Europaplein, served by metro 52 to Rokin and Centraal, is about 6 minutes on foot.
How far is nhow Amsterdam RAI from the city centre?
nhow Amsterdam RAI is about 5 km from the centre, in the Zuidas business district. Metro 52 from Europaplein reaches Rokin in about 10 minutes and Centraal in about 12, according to the hotel.
Does nhow Amsterdam RAI have a pool or spa?
No. nhow Amsterdam RAI has a gym with city views and a yoga terrace, but no pool or spa.
Can I get an extra bed for a child at nhow Amsterdam RAI?
No. nhow Amsterdam RAI has no extra beds. Cots for children up to three are free on request, and premium corner rooms with a sofa bed sleep two adults and one child.
What are the check-in and check-out times at nhow Amsterdam RAI?
Check-in at nhow Amsterdam RAI is from 15:00 and check-out is until 12:00. On Sundays late check-out until 17:00 can be requested.
Are pets allowed at nhow Amsterdam RAI?
Yes. nhow Amsterdam RAI accepts dogs and cats up to 25 kg, up to two per room, on approval and subject to availability. A nightly fee per pet applies, and guide dogs stay free.
Is there parking at nhow Amsterdam RAI?
nhow Amsterdam RAI has no garage of its own, but guests can use the paid indoor car park of the RAI convention centre next door. Booking online in advance is recommended.
Other hotels nearby
Compare the whole area on our amsterdam-zuid hotels page, or start with where to stay in Amsterdam.
