There’s a new place to sleep in town – and it’s amazing!
Leave the kids behind because Amsterdam has yet again come up with something extraordinary and if you’re looking for a romantic bolthole for the night this has got to be a contender.
5 years ago a team made up of architecture firm Space&Matter and the founders of the Lloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy (the world’s first 1 to 5 star hotel) had an idea.
They wanted to transform Amsterdam’s 28 iconic bridge houses into independent hotel “suites” on the canals.
For 100 years, the bridge houses accommodated the city’s bridge keepers who opened up the waterways for passing boat traffic. However with the introduction of a centralised bridge control system the bridge houses became redundant.
So five years ago, they presented a plan to the city of Amsterdam to transform them into tiny hotel suites with a vision – to ‘introduce travellers to new neighbourhoods and unexpected experiences in the city.’
And the project is finally live with the first 11 suites of the SWEETS Hotel open and more coming soon.
Each bridge house is obviously unique, designed by a different architect and with new interiors that complement the period in which they were built – from the oldest (based on a lock in the Amstel River and dating back to 1673) to the newest – based on the manmade Ijburg island in the East of the city.
The tiny residences are perfect little sanctuaries to escape the hustle of the city and snuggle down with an idyllic canal or river view. Even access to the residences is unique. The hotel operates with a mobile key system. Before arrival in Amsterdam you receive instructions via email on how to download the SWEETS app which in turn will unlock your reserved bridge house door.
As soon as the historic Amstel River property is available this Summer (accessible only by boat!) you might just find me escaping the city and dreaming of life as a bridge keeper’s wife. See you there….
