The Doelen Hotel is the oldest Hotel in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a lot of special wonders to offer to its guests. And there is one place that you can`t ignore if you want to experience the historical and architectural legacy of the city.

This spectacular 5-floor building located in the historic center of town, where the River Amstel meets the ancient Kloveniersburgwal canal is the oldest grand hotel in the city. The Doelen Hotel has roots dating back as far as 1481 when the Dutch built the defence tower and shooting range as part of the fortification of Amsterdam.

The old inhabitants of Amsterdam enjoyed the best kitchen and the nicest meals in the Doelen. Mostly the guests of the city were brought down over the night in this “gentlements logement”.

The first stones of the Hotel Doelen were laid down in 1819. The building as it is known today was erected for the world exhibition in 1883. The owner was the architect J.F van Hamersveld and he got the assignment to change the hotel from the old military and parliamentary structure to a Grand Hotel.

The best internal part of the hotel from the 19th century is the lobby with the marble stairs and the two big candlelights. The decorative paintings were made by G.H. Heinen who was also known for decorating the Royal waiting chamber of the Central Station. Around 1900 the Doelen Hotel was modernized by architects A.L van Gendt en Zonen when elevators would have been added to the grand staircase, along with further electrification of the rooms.