Art & Literature
Collections of the Ambassade Hotel
„Cobra hat mein Herz gestohlen…und wie es immer so mit der großen Liebe des Lebens läuft, kam es wie ein Schlag aus dem nichts. Plötzlich, hat es mir den Atem verschlagen mit all den wonderfullen Dingen: die Farben, die Freiheit, die Verspieltheit, das Unkonventionelle, das Experiment, das Intuitive…ich wusste nicht wohin ich zuerst schauen sollte. Es war überwähltigend – all die hunderten von Kunstwerken in unzähligen Variationen. Ölbilder, arbeiten auf Papier, Skulpturen aller art und größen gefüllt mit Leidenschaft…in 40 Jahren haben Sie keiner ihrer Kraft verloren, im gegenteil. Ich stand wie angewurzelt an einem Punkt und hatte Gänsehaut am ganzen Körper.
Der Moment der Faszination war auf einer Austellung in der Neuen Kirche, am Dam Platz in 1988. Ich war so insperiert bei all den Kunstwerken; von diesem Moment an bekam Cobra meine volle Aufmerksamkeit. Ich bin dankbar das unsere Ambassade Hotel Kollektion, zusammen mit über 5000 signierten Büchern und signierten Gästebüchern, einen so schönen Platz an der Amsterdam’s Herengracht und Singel Gracht gefunden haben, die nun für Alle zugänglich ist.“
–
Wouter Schopman
Inhaber
CoBrA Art
Seized by the expression, the management of the Ambassade Hotel started with the collection of Cobra art in late 2001.
At the time of writing the collection contains more than 800 works of art. The goal is to allow the collection to grow into a comprehensive and complete overview of Cobra; a unique, post-war art movement with members throughout Europe, including Asger Jorn, Pierre Alechinsky and Karel Appel. In addition, the Ambassade Hotel owns some late 19th-century works by leading figures from the Amsterdam Impressionists movement: Isaac Israëls and George Hendrik Breitner.
This year marks 75 years since the revolutionary CoBrA movement was founded in Paris. It goes without saying that the Ambassade Hotel wishes to celebrate this anniversary year with you.
Literature
In the Library Bar you will find a unique collection of signed books by authors who have all stayed at the Ambassade Hotel: more than 5000 of them.
The Ambassade Hotel has traditionally maintained close links with publishers in Amsterdam and the surrounding areas. Many of these publishing houses, as well as some of Amsterdam’s best-known bookshops and authors’ cafés, are located within walking distance of the Ambassade Hotel.
Although authors have long been staying at the Ambassade Hotel, the aforementioned collection of signed books was not started until the year 1986. The Ambassade Hotel owes this interesting collection to the fact that Dutch publishers generally book their foreign authors into the Ambassade Hotel for the launch of the Dutch translation of their books.
Private tours
We offer our guests a unique form of hospitality to discover the best Amsterdam has to offer with our private guide Eduard.
As the management and staff of the Ambassade Hotel, we feel privileged to run a hotel in the historic canal ring. This canal ring area is featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Being located in the canal ring area, the hotel can perfectly operate as a springboard to explore the most beautiful and historic parts of the city.
Eduard offers three different tours; a tour of the hotel, a walking tour through the different parts of Amsterdam and a bicycle tour. Furthermore, it is also possible to request a personalized tour.
The Literaire Salon
Since 2016, the Ambassade Hotel organizes every month de Literaire Salon @ Ambassade Hotel, in collaboration with producer and media-artist Babeth M. VanLoo. A journalist or writer will be in an one-hour dialogue with an author about a book, oeuvre or a (topical) theme. In the end of the conversation the audience has the possibility to ask questions. Every edition closes with a festive drink and a signing session by the author.
Previous guests included Dick Swaab, Judith Herzberg, Remco Campert, Annejet van der Zijl, Murat Isik, Arnon Grunberg, Tommy Wieringa, Connie Palmen, Abdelkader Benali, Jan Siebelink, Femke Halsema, David Sedaris en Tom Lanoye
Twice a year de Muzikale Salon is organized. This is alternately provided by violinist Svenja Staats and string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
