Rosewood Amsterdam
Edition No.
20
Amsterdam
,
The Netherlands
Along the storied Prinsengracht canal stands a new symbol of comfort and transformation: Rosewood’s debut in the Dutch capital. As the final heritage building granted permission for hotel conversion in the city, Rosewood Amsterdam gives this historic landmark back to the people, reimagined through the lens of purpose-led luxury. Behind centuries-old woodwork, each space tells its own story; where judges once delivered verdicts, guests now discover museum-worthy art and ingenious Dutch design that bridges past and present.
Housed within the former Palace of Justice, this landmark began its journey in 1665 as an orphanage during the Dutch Republic's Golden Age, when the city was reshaping the modern world by introducing the world's first stock exchange and revolutionizing property rights. The building stood as a symbol of Amsterdam's progressive values, and its evolution from charitable institution to Palace of Justice in the 19th century mirrored Amsterdam's own transformation from trading post to judicial center. Within these very chambers, the foundations of modern free speech were crafted, making this space a center of civil liberties.
On May 1st, 2025, after a decade-long transformation by acclaimed Dutch design firm Studio Piet Boon, the building reopened as a celebration of Dutch excellence and contemporary craftsmanship. Where justice once presided, hospitality now reigns—embodying Rosewood's philosophy of "A Sense of Place ®" in its most authentic expression.
At a Glance
History shapes each corner of contemporary Dutch design in the 134 thoughtfully crafted rooms by Studio Piet Boon. Rich grays and deep blues create a stately atmosphere, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame either Amsterdam's storied canals or De Tuin (meaning "the garden" in Dutch), enchanting grounds designed by Piet Oudolf, the visionary behind New York's High Line.
Five signature Houses, named after Dutch area codes like Huis 020, crown the collection. These expansive suites feature living spaces, dining areas, and kitchens that blur the boundaries between inside and out, offering a genuine experience of canal-side living.
The building's judicial heritage emerges through meticulously restored architectural details. In rooms designated as Monumental, an innovative "box within a box" design conceals modern amenities like bathrooms within beautifully crafted spaces, preserving the original woodwork and walls while delivering contemporary luxury.
On the way to your room, these original features tell their own stories, like the door frames' dark wood paneling, once painted to mimic expensive imported timber during the building's judicial era, now preserved as a testament to Dutch ingenuity and craftsmanship.
From courtroom to cuisine, rebellion finds new expression in the hotel's culinary spots. Eeuwen (meaning "centuries" in Dutch), the hotel’s signature restaurant, offers an immersive dining experience that embraces nature’s rhythms and the art of savouring, where Chef David Ordóñez crafts masterpieces from refined dinner plates featuring Oesterij oysters from the Dutch village of Yerseke, seafood from Zeeland and the North Sea. Every dish tells a story of its origin and season. For a casual affair, The Court welcomes you all day with Dutch classics. This lobby lounge offers an exquisite selection of local and international comfort food, indulgent patisseries, and a refined afternoon tea experience.
As evening approaches, discover Advocatuur, a bar that reimagines mixology through the lens of history and bold innovation. Named for the Dutch legal practice, this sophisticated bar tells Amsterdam's story through its signature 'Provo' Jenever. Watch this house-distilled precursor to modern gin flow from a visible still, named to honor the 1950s and 1960s movement that gave Amsterdam its bicycle culture through peaceful protests. Pair your Jenever with the exclusive "Justice" beer for a taste of Dutch spirit. The menu features traditional Indian bites, keeping a promise to the former mayor Eberhard van der Laan, who made this culinary heritage a condition of the landmark's sale.
A hidden experience awaits. Deep within former prison cells, a select few are invited to join intimate Jenever tasting sessions. Here, patrons can engrave their names on the doors alongside historical inmates and receive a temporary 'conviction' tattoo as a playful souvenir.
Over 1,000 artworks transform this former Palace of Justice into a living gallery, a true Gesamtkunstwerk, or "total work of art”, curated by Kunstmest Consulting. The entrance (inspired by the Rijksmuseum, the city's most famous museum) begins a carefully choreographed journey, passing Studio Molen's commanding Statica installation and Frank Stella's vibrant Polish Village reliefs, culminating in a mesmerizing, ever-changing digital art canvas, created with Amsterdam's NXT Museum.
The hotel features several contemporary masterpieces. Works by Sterling Ruby stand alongside tulip-inspired color-shifting pieces by Zhuang Hong-Yi. Viviane Sassen's powerful photography of sculptures in Versailles helps bridge past and present. Throughout the historic interiors and garden, urban artist Frankey's distinctive sculptures add playful touches.
The Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions pairing emerging Dutch talents with established names, while the former courtroom, now The Grand Library, hosts cultural gatherings. Next door, Ex Libris houses a collection enriched by its neighbors' book contributions, embracing Amsterdam's beloved tradition of street-side "community libraries" known as boekenruilkastjes.
Ready to wrap yourself in a plush robe and dawn distinctive, chocolate brown slippers? Twelve meters beneath the hotel lies the Asaya Spa, transforming the building's foundational depth into a modern wellness retreat.
Your journey begins above ground, with morning yoga sessions overlooking Piet Oudolf's masterfully designed gardens, where native flora weaves a living tapestry through Amsterdam's seasons, from spring tulips through winter grasses. Below, treatment rooms carved from the building's historic foundations offer cocoons of tranquility, where therapists blend Eastern wisdom with Western techniques. Here, ancient Ayurvedic traditions meet modern luxury through Dr. Barbara Sturm's sought-after facials and ocean-inspired therapies.
The fitness center blends comfort with modern equipment, while the pool area captures natural light through cleverly designed windows, creating an ethereal atmosphere that makes you forget you're underground.
Ready to check in? Book your stay at Rosewood Amsterdam
For a century, what is now the hotel's private Salon Boat lay hidden under Dutch waters until its discovery. Restored by Studio Piet Boon and crowned with artist Frankey's playful lion figurehead, this former sunken treasure now cruises the same waters that once claimed it.
Access Manhattan's most exclusive address at The Ned NoMad, where membership privileges meet hotel luxury in a storied landmark.
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