World's Best

Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Hotels in Amsterdam of 2023

Readers favored character-filled Amsterdam hotels in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.

By

Published on July 11, 2023

Living room fireplace at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam — Photo:
Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

The city of Amsterdam truly has something for everyone. For the history buffs, the Anne Frank House is a significant, and poignant, stop. For art lovers, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are must-sees. And everyone can enjoy the simple pleasure of biking around the city, then posting up at a quaint neighborhood café and soaking in the atmosphere. Naturally, the city also has some incredible places to stay, and Travel + Leisure readers consider many of the Dutch capital’s top properties to be destinations in their own right.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:

Rooms/facilities
Location
Service
Food
Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

Many of T+L readers’ favorite Amsterdam hotels are located along the city’s picturesque canals, so lovely views are a given. The qualities that made these properties stand out are exemplary service and striking design. Of the No. 5 Conservatorium, one voter wrote: “I’m usually a fan of historic, more traditional hotels, but the Conservatorium made me a believer in contemporary hotels. Its central space is breathtaking, and our suite was elegant, unique, and perfectly designed.”

Other readers praised the Pulitzer (No. 4) for its exemplary service. “The front desk staff were thoughtful, accommodating, and very helpful with information about getting around the city,” wrote one voter.”

But of all the stylish hotels in Amsterdam, it was the iconic De L'Europe, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2021, that captured the top spot. Read on to find out why and to learn more about the five best hotels in Amsterdam.

The Winner

De L’Europe Amsterdam

This grande dame is located on the Amstel River, and the stunning exterior is one of the highlights of a canal tour. But the interior is just as breathtaking — the hotel received a top-to-bottom renovation in 2020, and its rebirth has been well-received by our readers. “This is a top-notch hotel in an excellent area of Amsterdam. The staff and service were unparalleled,“ said one visitor. There are eight new suites in the ‘t Huys wing of the hotel, curated by some of the Netherland’s most well-known creatives, like the founders of parfumerie Salle Privée and jewelry designer Bibi van der Velden. The hotel also has three hot-ticket restaurants: the two-Michelin starred Flore, a brasserie called Marie, and Graziella, an Italian trattoria. Plus, you can’t miss having a drink at Freddy’s Bar, named after Alfred ‘Freddy’ Heineken.