The astonishing building which today houses the Grand Hotel Amrâth is originally the Amsterdam maritime house (“Scheepvaarthuis”) which welcomed the head office and offices of six maritime transport companies.
Renowned within the architectural community, this ship-building which dates from 1916 is one of the first representative buildings of the Amsterdam School and is of course listed in the register of historic Dutch buildings today.
Strongly influenced by the socialist ideal of the early 20th century, the Amsterdam School developed in reaction to any neo-something movement considered bourgeois. The movement is also strongly inspired by expressionism, with many purely decorative elements, sculptures and the extensive use of brick.
The maritime house was designed by Joan van der Met, who in 1906 was appointed aesthetic advisor to the city of Amsterdam, which was in the process of adopting an urban planning code.
He was chosen in 1912 to create the “Scheepvaarthuis” and was assisted by some of his fellow architects, such as Michel de Klerk, and sculptors such as Hildo Krop and Hendrik van den Eijnde. As a consequence, there are many decorative elements representing the sea, such as the floor patterns which illustrate the waves or the ironwork which represents fish.
This architectural marvel now hosts a five-star hotel, the Grand Hôtel Amrâth, equipped with a swimming pool, a gym, a hammam and several saunas. The offices have been converted into bedrooms, the meeting rooms into festive spaces, such as the dining room or the bar – all respecting the history of the building of course.
The beauty of the place is simply striking.
May 31, 2024
