Playful Amsterdam hotel in a renaissance-revival building with a rich past
Lloyd Hotel / Amsterdam / Netherlands
I am a sucker for hotels with a past. This one, the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam was built in the beginning of the 20th century as a hotel for emigrants heading to South America. Leading up to World War II it was used as a shelter for Jewish refugees. After the war it was a prison until it finally opened as the Lloyd Hotel in 2004 after an extensive refurbishment. MVRDV, the company responsible for the make-over carved out the interior to open it up, to get rid of the claustrophobic feeling of the old prison and they added a lot of color and joy which was much needed.
The Lloyd sits right by the river IJ, the main waterway of Amsterdam and has a total of 117 rooms. This area in the east of Amsterdam is becoming more and more popular with great restaurants, shops and bars opening up here.
What is unique with this hotel is that when it opened (maybe this is still the case?) it was the first hotel in the world that offered rooms ranging from 1 to 5 stars. This has resulted in a hotel with a very eclectic and diverse customer group. You will see businessmen/women, back packers, ”normal” tourists, locals and everyone else when staying here. Our room was situated on the top floor, in the old attic. A room with slanted wooden ceiling and pops of color. And the most quirky feature, a swing. Yes, a classic swing hanging from the ceiling.
At the moment (when writing this in May 2022), the Lloyd is temporarily closed for refurbishment. They decided this darling needed a little boost to mark the beginning of a new chapter. I can’t wait to stay at the updated Lloyd Hotel when they reopen.
Welcome to the Lloyd Hotel, situated in a stunning renaissance-revival building from the beginning of the 20th century.
I love this entrance. Just look at the details surrounding the door!
The interior shows that this is a building that has lived. A building with a past. I am a huge fan of the mix of the old tiles and neon lights.
Our cozy room, located on the top floor.
Eclectic, colorful and fun.
The restaurant/lobby area drowning in light from the massive windows.
Not that often that I include photos from the bathrooms but I just love the color of these tiles.
Just around the corner from the hotel you’ll find the cute Czaar Peter district where locals come to hang out to get away from the masses of tourists in the centre of town.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…have done Amsterdam. If you have visited the flea markets in Jordaan, shopped in the 9 stratjes, had brunch in De Pijp and strolled around in the Vondelpark. If this has all been crossed of your list and you want to discover a new part of town, than this hotel could be the perfect starting point for you.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the eclectic customer group. Since the hotel has rooms ranging from 1 to 5 stars the people staying here come from all walks of life. I love this democratic approach when creating a hotel concept.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to hang out in the east part of town. This is an area that is often overlooked by tourists but it has so much to offer. Small shops, cafés, restaurants in cute Dutch houses.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Volkshotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Arena Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Michelberger, Berlin, Germany
