Review of Grand Hotel Amrath Amsterdam, by Jeroen Bergmans

The Grand Hotel Amrath is the latest addition to Amsterdam's luxury hotel scene. Located across the street from Amsterdam's stately Central Station, the Hotel Amrath is housed in a mysterious, turreted building that wouldn't look out of place in Gotham City or Gormenghast and which stood empty for years.

Once a year on architectural open days a few lucky locals got sneak peaks at its spectacular, original Amsterdam School interiors. But then the Amrath hotel chain braved its rigid building regulations and transformed it into arguably the most spectacular luxury hotel in Amsterdam.

The facilities

Christened the 'Scheepvaarthuis', it was built in 1913 as a showcase HQ by Holland's six most powerful shipping companies to establish Amsterdam as a global trading hub. Specially-commissioned sculptures of Neptune, Dutch scholars and sea-faring merchants adorn the exterior. The entrance hall of the luxury hotel resembles the bow of a ship and the spectacular marble staircase is topped by a stained glass ceiling depicting the seven seas and the twelve signs of the zodiac. There's decorative wood panelling, architectural ironmongery and original furniture at every turn. Even the hop-on, hop-off wooden elevators that were so cutting-edge for a luxury hotel in their time are still functioning, although health and safety regulations mean they now just display contemporary artwork.

A visit to the glitzy Wellness Centre is a must, as Amsterdam luxury hotel spas are surprisingly rare. If you're planning to impress, a dinner or power-meeting in the stunning Beraadzaal where the shipping barons once controlled their empire is not to be missed.

The rooms

All 165 rooms at the Grand Hotel Amrath have high ceilings, extra-long beds and broodingly luxurious décor - make sure to specify a canal view. The Roof Garden Suite, three-storey Tower Suite and Monumental Suite are set to become favourites with visiting media moghuls thanks to their palatial proportions and bathrooms housed in glass cubes.