Hotel van de Vijsel

For a while in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Houthandel van de Vijsel was an unusual Amsterdam landmark, a timber and hardware shop around which had grown an upscale residential neighborhood. For a while it sat vacant, but now, thanks to hotelier Arjen van den Hof and architect Minke Wagenaar, the spirit of the place — and many of its original beams, in fact — lives on as the Hotel van de Vijsel.

That said, it’s rather more a re-imagining than a renovation, and the result is a totally contemporary boutique hotel, albeit one that derives much of its visual texture from the richly figured wood with which it’s constructed. The Small Double rooms are small indeed, but efficiently planned — this is Amsterdam, after all, and compact spaces are nothing new. Comfort Rooms, true to their name, spread out a bit, and the Suite spans two levels, with the king bed upstairs, under the peak of the roof.

In case there’s any doubt left about the inspiration for this hotel, its restaurant, Cafe Woodz, will put it to rest. And there’s much to be said for its location as well. From here, you’re more or less right between two of Amsterdam’s most desirable places — to the east, the canal district, and to the southwest, the verdant Vondelpark.