About this hotel
General information
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam occupies historic buildings between two canals in medieval Amsterdam. The site began in 1411 as two convents, St Catherine’s and St Cecilia’s. After the Reformation, in 1578, one of them became the Princenhof, a lodging for the city’s distinguished visitors; in the 17th century the Admiralty took over the site, and its main façade is still the hotel’s entrance. The complex later served as the city hall for close to two centuries, and its murals are now protected city treasures.
Today it is a hotel of 178 rooms and suites, where traditional and contemporary French design meets Dutch detail, and 30 suites come with butler service. It houses restaurant Bridges, the Mediterranean Oriole Garden Bistro, a terrace in a quiet inner garden, a Sofitel SPA with an indoor pool and 19 meeting and banqueting rooms covering 1,400 m², five of them listed monuments. A florist, The Floral Designers, works from the ground floor.
Location
The hotel lies in Amsterdam’s old centre between two canals, a few minutes’ walk from Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk. The Nine Streets, the floating flower market and the Anne Frank House are close by, as is the museum district with the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Concertgebouw. Amsterdam Centraal station is a 10–15-minute walk away. From Schiphol Airport guests can take a taxi, the train to Amsterdam Centraal, or the hotel’s chauffeured Mercedes S-Class or V-Class, whose driver waits after customs with a name sign. Valet parking runs around the clock.
Spa
Sofitel SPA blends therapies from around the world with French cosmetology and uses Cinq Mondes products. The menu covers massages, facials and body care, manicures, pedicures, hair and make-up, along with the Celebration for Two couples’ ritual and the Imperial Experience; treatments can be booked until 21:00. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, sauna, hammam and relaxation room.
Sports & leisure
Sofitel FITNESS, reached directly from the spa, is open 24 hours with a Technogym Kinesis resistance system, cross trainers and Technogym bikes; a personal trainer can be arranged. Bicycles are available from the concierge for rides along the UNESCO-listed canal ring and out to the Vondelpark, and the hotel arranges private cruises on a classic saloon boat through the narrowest canals of the Jordaan and the old town. A daily tour for hotel guests explains the history and architecture of the building.
For children
Families can book the Family Room: two interconnecting rooms from 60 m² for up to four guests, with amenities for children. Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times and carry valid identification; the hotel may ask for proof of parental consent.
Restaurants & bars
Dining revolves around the inner garden, and room service runs 24 hours.
- Bridges — classic French cooking with international influences and a local accent, with a focus on fish and sustainably sourced produce; a Menu du Chef or à la carte, a Chef’s Table inside the kitchen for up to six, and a private dining room for up to 12 overlooking a canal.
- Oriole Garden Bistro — seasonal Mediterranean dishes among lush greenery, aperitivo and cocktails made with ingredients from the hotel’s rooftop garden.
- Garden Terrace — al fresco tables in the inner courtyard garden serving the Oriole menu, with dishes from Bridges and The Flying Dutchman when the weather allows.
- Library ‘Or’ — a lounge in the lobby lined with books on local culture and architecture, serving The Grand Afternoon Tea and a cake of the day.
- The Flying Dutchman — a traditional Dutch brown café overlooking the garden, pouring Dutch and Amsterdam beers alongside snacks, signature cocktails and spirits.
Swimming
The heated indoor pool is part of the Sofitel SPA; hotel guests use it, together with the sauna, hammam and gym, free of charge.
Pets
Pets may stay in guest rooms and join their owners on the Garden Terrace, in Library ‘Or’ and in the Coupé area of Oriole Garden Bistro. They are not allowed in Oriole’s main dining room, Bridges, The Flying Dutchman or the Sofitel SPA and fitness area (registered guide dogs excepted); dogs must stay on a lead, and the restaurant should be told when booking a table with a dog.
Rooms
The hotel has 178 rooms and suites; in the 30 suites from the Prestige Suite upwards a butler prepares the suite in advance, unpacks luggage and presents pillow menus and bath rituals. Interiors combine traditional and contemporary French design with Dutch touches, while the buildings’ high ceilings, tall windows and timber beams have been kept; the hotel is non-smoking.
Sofitel MyBed, air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, work desk, safe, minibar, complimentary daily water, Nespresso machine and tea set, walk-in rain shower, luxury toiletries, bathrobe and slippers, 24-hour laundry and free access to Sofitel SPA and Sofitel FITNESS; most suites add a separate living room and a Bose sound system with DVD.
Classic Room
A snug room for a solo traveller with a double Sofitel MyBed and a rain shower, looking onto the garden or the city.
Superior Room
High ceilings and large windows, a queen-size bed or two singles and a rain shower, for two guests; garden, street or courtyard views, with a canal-view version also bookable.
Luxury Room
A generous canal-view room with a king-size bed or two singles and a bathroom with bathtub and walk-in rain shower; sleeps up to three.
Family Room
Two interconnecting rooms for up to four, with a queen-size bed and two singles, children’s amenities and garden, street or courtyard views.
Junior Suite
A spacious bedroom with a king-size bed and a lounge area, plus a bathroom with bathtub and shower; sleeps up to three.
Prestige Suite
A bright suite with large canal-facing windows, a king-size bed, a separate living room and bathtub and shower; up to three guests, with butler service.
Canal House Suite
One of 12 apartments in former 17th-century homes of Dutch admirals, with original timber ceiling beams, a king-size bed, a living room with dining table, canal or city views and a butler; sleeps three. Selected units add a private entrance on the neighbouring canal, a balcony, a kitchenette, a bathtub or a split-level layout, allocated subject to availability.
Opera Suite
A lavish suite overlooking the quiet inner garden or the historic courtyard, with a king-size bed, a living room with dining table and bathtub and shower; up to three guests, with butler service.
Imperial Suite
A canal-view suite with paintings and 20th-century décor: a king-size bedroom, a living room with dining table, a walk-in closet, Hermès amenities and an interconnecting Superior room with two singles, for up to five guests, with butler service.
Royal Suite
On the third floor of a former canal house, overlooking the hotel’s grand courtyard, this suite pairs monumental beamed ceilings with contemporary design; a king-size bed, a living room with dining table, bathtub and shower, up to three guests and a butler.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.