W Amsterdam

Two Buildings, One Bold Vision

Few hotels embrace contrast quite like W Amsterdam. Occupying two landmark buildings beside Dam Square—the former Royal Dutch Telephone Exchange and the historic KAS Bank—the hotel brings together nearly a century of Amsterdam history under one unmistakably contemporary identity. Rather than forcing the buildings into a single style, the designers allowed each to retain its own personality. One pulses with energy. The other radiates quiet elegance. Together, they create one of the city’s most distinctive hospitality experiences.

The Exchange: Industrial Energy Elevated

Built in 1924, the former telephone exchange now houses 172 guestrooms and suites connected by a design language inspired by the building’s original communication network. After discovering archival photographs filled with cables, wires and switchboards, designers Baranowitz Kronenberg translated this hidden infrastructure into more than five kilometres of sculptural brass tubing that weaves through ceilings, walls and lighting. What once carried conversations now defines the hotel’s visual identity. The rooftop is equally dramatic. Home to the W Lounge, Amsterdam’s first rooftop hotel pool, panoramic terraces, fireplaces and resident DJs, it has become one of the city’s most vibrant places to gather from sunset until well after dark.

The Bank: Heritage Wrapped in Luxury

Across the street, the monumental 1908 KAS Bank offers an entirely different atmosphere. Designed by Office Winhov, the restoration preserves soaring ceremonial spaces, sandstone façades, original vaults and elegant architectural detailing while introducing rich materials, warm lighting and refined contemporary furnishings. The guestrooms embrace deeper colours, luxurious textiles and playful references to the building’s financial past, with minibars cleverly designed as miniature bank vaults. It’s quieter, richer and undeniably sophisticated.

Restaurants Worth Visiting

Food and nightlife are central to the W experience. Mr Porter combines a modern steakhouse with panoramic rooftop views, lively DJs and an unmistakably cosmopolitan atmosphere. The Duchess occupies the former banking hall, serving refined Southern European cuisine beneath glittering chandeliers in one of Amsterdam’s most theatrical dining rooms. The Butcher Nine Streets offers gourmet burgers with a more casual edge, while Mad Fox transforms the bank’s lower levels into an intimate late-night destination. Every venue has its own identity, yet all contribute to the hotel’s infectious energy.

Design Beyond the Guestroom

Luxury extends well beyond the accommodation. The Away Spa occupies the former bank vaults, where massive steel doors now lead to treatment rooms, wellness facilities and one of Amsterdam’s most atmospheric urban spas. Nearby, FIT provides a state-of-the-art gym, while X Bank showcases the work of more than 180 Dutch artists, designers and fashion creators through rotating exhibitions and installations. It reinforces W Amsterdam’s role as a cultural destination as much as a luxury hotel.

Why It Works

W Amsterdam understands that luxury doesn’t have to whisper. By transforming two remarkable heritage buildings into a destination where history, architecture, nightlife, gastronomy and contemporary Dutch creativity coexist, it delivers an experience unlike any other in the city. Bold without becoming excessive, playful without sacrificing sophistication, it perfectly captures Amsterdam’s modern identity—creative, confident and always evolving.