There’s a new kid in town; Anna van den Vondel, a luxury home-from-home feeling boutique hotel in Amsterdam. A stone’s throw away from Amsterdam’s most well known and beautiful city-park “Het Vondelpark”, this completely renewed and refurbished hotel just opened her doors. When the invitation came in to go there a week before the official opening for a try-out sleep, we didn’t have to think about the answer for long: Yes P-leeeasse! A night out in your own city! I like. Today I will show & tell you more about this fresh, modern and timeless jewel in the capital of the Netherlands.

Pillows Anna van den Vondel Hotel Amsterdam is situated in several interconnected 19th century majestic buildings in the quiet and peaceful Anna van den Vondel street. Before, it was already a hotel from the Sandton Hotel Group called ‘De Filisoof’ (‘The Philosopher’), cosy but it definitely became old-fashioned and boring. Now, after a massive renovations which took over 14 months, it’s called Pillows Anna van den Vondel; personal, stylish, ‘one of a kind’, beautiful and intimate.
Ever travelled to a hotel from home on your city bicycle, and arrive there within 25 minutes? For us it was the first time to do so. As citizens of Amsterdam it was a bit strange to go and ‘sleep out’, but it was also fun to pack 1 small bag for 1 night and just go on your bike…. as if we went to work or to buy some milk.
The living is an absolute lovely place to relax and escape from the bustle of the city. Get some work done on your laptop, or simply read a book or the newspaper. In winter one can do this in front of the fire, with a glass of port or a pot of tea. During summer one can sit outside on the garden terrace, with a glass of cold white wine, or a soft drink.
Anna van den Vondel is the first ‘Pillows new-style’ hotel from the Sandton Hotel Group. Their plan is to change and improve more and more of the existing Pillows hotels (for example in Zwolle and Bruxelles), into the more rustic, stylish and intimate style like Anna van den Vondel. Timeless elegance, would be a good word to describe the feeling in the hotel. A nice detail: while 20 years ago most business travellers were men, women are taking over and that’s also a reason for Pillows to focus on intimate, personal, stylish interior with a feminine touch, and a fresh feeling! We, women (okay most of us) don’t like the cold an impersonal interior of many big hotel chains in the world. They are all the same; boring and grey! I think Pillows could be trendsetter with this new idea, to create a hotel standard suitable for both professional and serious men ánd women with a mission.
In the fast and modern world people live their own lives and have their own daily routines and preferences. Therefore Rogier Braakman, director of the Pillows Hotels Group, decided that guests can decide for themselves what time is dinner or lunch, whether it’s 11am, 3pm, 7pm or 11pm. ‘Clockless eating’, all day dining with all small dishes. For everyone something to enjoy. Think Caesar salad, or Ribeye steak, but also a simple Croque Monsieur, Dim Sum, salmon or a quiche. A scoop of vanilla ice cream. And what about Melanzane all Parmigiana, my favourite Italian dish (click here for my own recipe), available 24/7. Call it simple, but isn’t that what most people travelling are looking for? I can imagine if you are here for business, it’s the best thing to get something fresh and not too big, no matter what time it is. And I can imagine if you are in Amsterdam a few days for leisure, one can go for lunch everyday in vibey Amsterdam and order something small in the evening, while reading your book or go through the photos you made that day.
There is no reception in Anna van den Vondel. In the living, there is always staff available who can do everything: serving breakfast or a drink, but also check you in or out, with an iPad. Paperless bills will be sent to your email address. In future a guest must be able to open her or his room with a smart phone. One can only pay with cards in Anna van den Vondel. It’s a cashless hotel; safer for everyone, easier, fast, clean (imagine staff counting money and serve bread and croissants the next moment) etc. Besides reception and food and beverage tasks, the friendly and professional staff also knows about Amsterdam; what to do, where to go, what is the best way to walk, how to book a table in a fancy restaurant for you, reserve tickets for the van Gogh Museum, etcetera.

The hotel is just around the corner from everything in Amsterdam; the ring of canals, Vondelpark, the luxurious P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street, van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Rijksmuseum, Concert building, the Royal Dutch Manege (horses), Anne Frank House, theatre, bicycle and boat tours and all the nice restaurants and coffee bars. On the website of Anna van den Vondel there is a simple and clear map with places to see or visit.
How cute is this vintage look a like radio?

The interior of the hotel is elegant, light, fresh and no-nonsens, but with luxury finishes and the best quality fabrics, wood, marble etc.
Upon arrival there were macaroons in our room! Ohhhhhhh!!

Get some work done in the comfort of your own room, or in front of the fire.
The next day: we slept like babies in a very comfortable bed. And then… breakfast was served! Fresh juices, fruit, yoghurt, cereals, coffee, tea, fresh farm bread, cheese, croissants, jam, eggs and more… We left the hotel with big smiles on our faces, cycling home on a freezing cold but sunny winter’s day.

The Facts

Pillows Anna van den Vondel (address: 6 Anna van den Vondelstraat, Amsterdam) officially opened her doors on Monday the 23rd of January 2017. A week before, the Mr. And I had the honour to go here for a try-out sleep in one of the 31 stylish hotel rooms. We loved it all; the hotel has such a warm, personal, ánd luxury, professional feeling. Location is just excellent and service, our room and ‘The Living’ all beautiful and up standard. We would highly recommend everyone to stay at Pillows Anna van den Vondel, when in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Click here for more information on the website of Anna van den Vondel, and to book your stay! 3 reasons why one should book a stay directly via the website of Anna van den Vondel: free upgrade to availability, a little local delicacy in your room upon arrival. Hello Macaroons! And the best rate guarantee.

*Note: I have not been asked and/or paid to write about Pillows Anna van den Vondel. It was my own idea. We were invited as their ’try-out’ guests by Anna van den Vondel, and filled in a feedback form with both positive and negative notes, in order to tick off their ‘points of struggle’ list just before the opening. With my background in hospitality and our personal experience running a Boutique Hotel in Franschhoek (South Africa), this was most of all a pleasure for us, but also a helpful addition for the Management of Anna van den Vondel. A big thanks to the entire staff of Pillows Anna van de Vondel for your warm hospitality. 

All images are mine, made with a Canon EOS M3 camera. 

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