Timeless elegance – I’ve seen those words repeatedly displayed on the websites of notable hotels from London to Luxembourg, Bangkok to Beijing, Dubai to Doha. Some hotels have a significant history or a captivating story behind the brand. Some hotels have elegance and grandeur woven into the fabric of the bedding. One such hotel in Amsterdam has all the ingredients when it comes to timeless elegance – welcome to the iconic and world famous Sofitel Legend The Grand.
Copyright The Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
The Sofitel Legend The Grand hotel is by all means the epitome of a luxury hotel. The grounds are steeped in history – redefined and repurposed throughout the centuries. Today, guests wander around the hotel, admiring works from COBRA art movement figures such as Karel Appel with colours influenced by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Undeniable influences of French elegance and Dutch stylistic elements provide the award winning 5 star hotel with a sense of grandeur difficult to match. Stunning tulips and butterflies, rooms furnished to a magnificent standard as natural light guides you around the corridors.
Award winning
Winning awards was part of the journey – the hotel and restaurant has won a significant number of prestigious awards. From Haute Grandeur – most hygienic spa on a global level to the HSMAI Awards Europe for Sustainability to the best fine dining experiencing in the Netherlands.
World leading design
The impressive arched lobby ceiling dates back to 2011 with the refurbishment for the interior led by the renowned Parisian design agency called Sybille De Margerie – famous for hospitality and residential projects. The agency collaborated with students from the prestigious Design Academy Eindhoven and Dutch design group Droog. Marble staircases, rosewood hand rails meet beautiful banqueting halls and monumental meeting rooms each with a 1920’s and 1930’s style.
Rooms and canal houses
The hotel consists of 178 individually decorated guest rooms where natural tones such as beige, lilac and cream meet with mahogany, marble, steel and classic Dutch brick walls. Twelve canal house suites boast cream coloured walls, wooden ceiling beams matched with warm Autumnal colours and a subtle mix of classic, modern furniture. Three apartments offer a private entrance to Oudezijds Achterburgwal whilst several apartments have their own roof terrace.
Legendary suites
The Grand contains 52 suites in total. Guests can choose from Junior, Prestige, Opera to the highly exclusive Imperial and Royal. In bygone times the hotel welcomed Royalty – those suites are now named after previous guests such as the William Of Orange and Marie De Medici suites. The prestige and upward suites come with a butler service which aims to make the guests stay as comfortable as possible, assisting with car rentals, laundry services and reservations in restaurants. Modern technology has been seamlessly integrated throughout the suites and it is the top choice of accommodation for heads of state, celebrities and artists whilst here in the Dutch capital.
Restaurant and bars
The dining experience is second to none – one can clearly see the hotels sincere ambition to deliver a stand out service – this is the pinnacle of food and beverage experiences. The Hotel cite a quote from Michel Deon – the acclaimed French novelist “in order to fully appreciate a country you have to savour it, eat it, drink it and hear it singing.” It is clear that that fine dining has been made with a French zest.
The former city hall canteen is the location where guests and visitors can indulge in a feast featuring classical French dishes with international and local influence. Products are freshly sourced and options available for a la carte or 5,6,7 course menu. Executive Chef Raoul Meuwese prefers to work with fish, local products and sustainably grown or caught – guests can anticipate a seasonal menu. Those wishing to search out a unique dining experiences can find that here too. The Chef’s table, located in the heart of the kitchen allows you to enjoy a wonderful 6 course Menu De Chef, a journey through tastes and a sublime culinary experience and heartfelt service.
The award winning Oriole meaning “golden” in Latin is set in an authentic Mediterranean garden, perfect for light lunch or cosy dinners with wholesome flavours. Cocktails are served using ingredients grown on the rooftop garden.
The garden terrace is a lush, tranquil area of inner peace. It is home to examples of the Amsterdam school style of architecture – a 1931 sculpture created by Jacob Kaas is located here providing a nod to it’s historic past as the city hall.
What would Amsterdam be without the classic Dutch brown cafe? The suitably named Flying Dutchman overlooks the beautiful garden and provides visitors a classic Dutch brown cafe feel with an interior to match. It’s perfect to unwind after a long day with a beer or snacks.
The unmissable Grand Afternoon Tea
Tea in the library? Every afternoon, guests can retreat to Library ‘Or’ and enjoy a truly Grand Afternoon tea. Scrumptious scones from the Hotel’s in-house bakery with genuine Devonshire clotted cream, a selection of jams, a range of refreshing Newby teas, delicious sandwiches and a glass of Champagne or two. Guests can take in the beautiful surroundings in the Library or if the Amsterdam sunshine makes an appearance, sit outside on the terrace to make the most of this amazing experience.
A rich and significant past
In 1411 the site was created for the Catholic community – two separate convents; Catherina and St Cecilia. In 1578, the Protestant reformation saw St. Cecilia convents convert into a “Princenhof” where Royal guests stayed such as Prince William including his Sons and Queen Marie De Medici. As the Dutch Golden Age flourished, in 1655 it became the home of Dutch admiralty. A new facade was commissioned to the building which now serves as the Hotel main entrance – the building now boasted the architectural style of Dutch Baroque, Classicism, Italian renaissance with quality workmanship from a Dutch masonry expert named William Van De Gaffel. Following the exit of the Admiralty, the 19th and 20th centuries saw the building serve as a city hall during the reign of Louis Bonaparte. New decorative brick extensions to the building brought in the influences of Art Deco period and a perfect example of the Amsterdam School. Winston Churchill visited in 1946 when it was still the city hall. In 1966, the wedding of Princess Beatrix, the future Queen of the Netherlands took place under hand crafted stained glass windows. In 1988, the city hall moved to a new building complex known as the Stopera on the bend of the Amstel River – the Oudezijds Voorburgwal building now needed a new purpose and direction. At the time two French entrepreneurs founded a company called Accor. The business saw rapid expansion to serve global travellers and the business elite, in 1992, the building was opened to the public as a luxury hotel called The Grand. A second round of refurbishment works 10 years later saw the hotel be renamed as Sofitel Legend The Grand. The historical rooms and clock tower were also restored last year too.
Legendary services
The hotel offers a daily tour where you can discover everything there is to know about this fascinating 15th century building. The hotel also offers bespoke floral arrangements where special gift baskets can be delivered direct to your room. Bike rental, boat tours, 24/7 room service, valet service and even pets are invited to stay. The hotel encapsulates the material aspect of luxury but also the service – savoir-faire and savoir-etre (expertise and etiquette.) From the head butler to head of concierge to pastry chef, there is a real sense of pride working here – a recipe for success.
Sustainable and luxurious
The hotel is dedicated to reducing waste and limiting energy usage adhering to both national and international standards. The hotel has banned single use plastic for example and has a firm commitment to become a pioneer in luxurious sustainability.
Going the extra mile
The hotel is open for business when it comes to events too. The Grand covers a total of 1400m2 – 19 rooms. If you’re planning an event there is definitely a location suitable for whatever the occasion. Romantic weddings are an important part of the events calendar for couples wanting to celebrate in true style. The event spaces include the Council chamber, wedding chamber, Alderman’s, St Cecilia chamber and burgomaster, all are breathtaking. The marriage chamber has seen Princess Beatrix, Johan Cruijf and Louis Van Gaal tie the knot.
The picture perfect location
Located in an equally legendary neighbourhood of De Wallen, the hotel rests on a tranquil part of the neighbourhood sitting alongside two of the most picturesque canals. On one side – Oudezijds Voorgburgwal, a canal created to fortify the Eastern part of Amsterdam and on the other side, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, a second walled canal where enormous wealth during the Dutch golden age brought grand mansions to the area. A short walk away and you’re in Dam Square admiring another Amsterdam palace – Stadhuis Op De Dam or shopping in De Bijenkorf.
