Amsterdam, also known as ‘the Venice of the North’, is a vibrant and charming city popular with tourists from all over the world thanks to its myriad canals, historical buildings, colourful tulips and contemporary yet authentic vibe. And when you’re planning a visit to this ‘city built on water’, a room at The Dylan hotel, one of the most charming in the city centre, will definitely complete your stay. Tucked behind a historical façade right on the canals, The Dylan provides an exclusive gateway to uncover the hidden treasures of Amsterdam’s past and present. The hotel is recognised for its contemporary-meets-classic design and personal service, and is a beloved destination for those who appreciate quality and style.
A building with a rich history
The Dylan is located in the heart of the ‘9-streets’ area on the prestigious Keizersgracht canal. The hotel is just a short stroll away from the city’s main attractions like the Anne Frank House, the flower market, the Van Gogh, Rijks and Canal museums. When walking through the hip and trendy ‘9-streets’ neighbourhood, guests can discover lots of galleries, boutiques, bars and eateries. To put it briefly: it’s the perfect location for a city trip to Amsterdam.
The Dylan was established at a historic location in Amsterdam, going all the way back to the year 1613, when construction workers began excavating the fifth canal, the Keizersgracht. Back in the day, the first city theatre was founded in the building, called ‘Duytsche Academie’. Unfortunately, this caught fire in 1772 and burned to the ground. Only the present ‘Van Campen’s’ doorway – the main entrance gate – was spared and today, reminds us of this location’s rich history. After serving as the Old & Poor People’s Office – a charity of the Roman Catholic Church – the building was transformed into a hotel. In 2004, the name of the luxury boutique hotel changed to The Dylan Amsterdam.
Rooms that far exceed expectations
The boutique hotel offers 40 rooms and suites, which are all individually designed in four different styles: Loxura, Amber, Loft and Serendipity.
We had the chance to discover the Loxura rooms. Their style is based on the copper-coloured Loxura butterfly. Its natural colourations are reflected in the antique mirrors, surrounding the metallic green leather headboards. The signature piece in these rooms is the wooden drinks cabinet, designed exclusively for The Dylan Amsterdam, finished inside with silver leaf, and mother-of-pearl handles. A mix of velvet chairs, original painted floors and wooden shutters complete the warm and elegant atmosphere.
Besides the Loxura rooms, The Dylan hotel also offers the Amber rooms, which are inspired by the precious gemstone itself. These rooms feature a warming palette of amber tones present throughout the soft furnishings, while the stylish interior seamlessly blends ‘the old with the new’. If you want to experience authentic Amsterdam style, the Loft rooms are the perfect match for you. With the original wooden beams combined with bright white walls and minimalistic furniture, the room gets the balance of authenticity just right. The final type of room – Serendipity – is all about modern design and historical details. These rooms offer natural, warming shades of brown and grey combined with a contemporary design and luxurious fabrics.
Service with a capital S
Besides its luxury rooms, The Dylan also offers a broad range of facilities and services. Our personal favourite? Definitely the secluded garden, which is the perfect place to relax after a busy day strolling down the city’s streets. During summer, this hidden treasure is open for drinks, a bite to eat, and more. In case you’re still up for some action after a long day, you can always use the hotel gym for a workout.
As is only proper of a five-star luxury hotel, everything revolves around the excellent service. That’s why The Dylan has put together its Les Clef d’Or Conciërge team to pamper you. The team takes care of every detail, whether a transfer, a guided tour or a reservation for a special dinner at one of Amsterdam’s most sought after restaurants.
Thanks to its beautiful, authentic building and central location, The Dylan is also a popular place to host meetings and organise events. The hotel provides several types of room where meetings, receptions and dinners can be hosted, from 8 up to 250 guests.
Culinary pleasures
The hotel is also worth a visit for its culinary offering. With the Michelin-star awarded restaurant Vinkeles, Bar Brasserie OCCO and the pop-up sushi restaurant Kit 384, foodies and lovers of fine dining certainly appreciate the hotel’s culinary facilities.
Fine dining at Restaurant Vinkeles
Restaurant Vinkeles, within the hotel, is a destination unto itself. Awarded with a Michelin star, the delicate French cuisine offers an excellent mixture of classic and contemporary styles. Set in a sunken dining room surrounded by the original wood ovens that once served in a bakery for the Old & Poor People’s Office, the restaurant boasts an intimate and elegant setting that blends the old world of the authentic Amsterdam with the new, refined style of today. Executive Chef Dennis Kuipers and Chef de Cuisine Jurgen van der Zalm use only the freshest ingredients for their seasonal menu, which showcases their dedication to purity of flavour and presentation.
Curious to learn more about the restaurant’s cuisine and the philosophy of both chefs? Read the full story of Vinkeles here.
Wining and dining at Bar Brasserie OCCO
Besides Restaurant Vinkeles, The Dylan boasts a cosmopolitan eatery called Bar Brasserie OCCO. In a stylish setting – with velvet sofas, marble table tops, and bold black beamed ceilings combined with a few historical touches such as the vintage spirits cabinet housing herbal infused home-made elixirs – guests can enjoy lunch, dinner and small bites at Bar Brasserie OCCO. It’s also in this stunning dining room that the breakfast buffet is served. With a variety of egg dishes, an assortment of breads with all manner of toppings, muesli, fresh fruit and vegetables, and even a selection of desserts for those with a sweet tooth, you’re sure to make a tasty start to the day.
Good to know as well is that The Dylan invented a completely new version of the popular High Tea, named the ‘High Wine’. This is a food and wine pairing experience, featuring a selection of four wines with matching bite-sized hors d’œuvre. To top off the experience, you finish with a sweet wine combined with a home-made dessert.
Sample sushi at the pop-up Kit 384
Hidden behind a large mirrored wall, you can find Amsterdam’s best-kept secret. With only six chairs at the bar, Kitsanin ‘Kit’ Thanyakulsajja – a 21-year-old former student – is the chef of this, his own very exclusive sushi restaurant. As a student, Kit discovered his allergy to red peppers, so he was forced to follow an adapted diet. That’s how he became intrigued by Japanese cuisine and their unique way of cooking. He wanted to share his passion for this type of food and started his own restaurant, Ephemeral, in his dorm room. Here, his friends could enjoy the best sushi in town. In no time, the place became popular and it was no longer just his friends who came to savour his creations, but sushi lovers from all over Amsterdam who managed to find their way to Kit’s Ephemeral restaurant. His talent did not go unnoticed by chefs Dennis Kuipers and Jurgen van der Zalm either, so after Kit graduated and had to leave the tiny restaurant he had built in his dorm room, they came up with the idea of offering Kit a place inside the hotel to continue his cooking concept in his very own pop-up restaurant. It turned out to be an instant success and the places at the bar are always fully booked.
Want to enjoy Kit’s remarkable sushi? Better be quick, because the pop-up only remains open until March. Afterwards, Kit will spread his wings to open a brand-new restaurant of his own.
In short
The Dylan Amsterdam is everything you would expect from a luxury boutique hotel and more. With a helping hand at the check-in desk, some freshly baked pastry and a hot cup of tea, the staff afford you a warm welcome that will put you will immediately at ease. The combination of the authentic building made of rich materials like wood and marble, the delightful secluded garden, and the modernly designed rooms make up this elegant and stylish hotel. It’s a true oasis of tranquillity and culinary delights in the heart of this busy, yet oh-so-pretty city.
Practical information
The Dylan Amsterdam, Keizersgracht 384, 1016GB Amsterdam, the Netherlands | +31 20 530 2010 | hotel@dylanamsterdam.com | www.dylanamsterdam.com | facebook.com/dylanamsterdam | instagram.com/hotelthedylan
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Text: Carline Roggeman – Sarah De Hondt
Photography: Adriaan Van Looy