The Ambassade Hotel, a true haven for writers, consists of sixteen historic canal houses. These monumental buildings were once the residences and offices of successful merchants, bankers, and other prominent figures of their time. The hotel first opened its doors in 1953, starting with just one house. Over the years, it gradually expanded by acquiring and connecting neighboring canal houses, resulting in the unique and charming layout that we enjoy today.
Many renowned authors have stayed with us, including Umberto Eco, Salman Rushdie, Paul Auster, Isabel Allende, Jonathan Safran Foer, Nathan Englander, and nearly all the Nobel Prize winners for literature in recent years, such as V.S. Naipaul, Toni Morrison, Mario Vargas Llosa, Herta Müller, Günter Grass, Orhan Pamuk, and José Saramago. Dutch authors are also well represented in our collection, with frequent visits from Jan Siebelink and Arthur Japin.
The Ambassade Hotel is intimately tied to the rich history of Amsterdam’s iconic canals. Situated along the Herengracht, excavated in 1614, the hotel occupies one of the most prominent spots in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Canal District. The Herengracht, alongside the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, forms the backbone of Amsterdam’s 17th-century canal system, which is celebrated for its timeless beauty. Additionally, part of the hotel extends along the Singel canal, an integral part of Amsterdam’s medieval waterway network. This unique location offers guests an authentic and immersive experience in the heart of the city’s architectural and cultural legacy.
The Ambassade Hotel is beautifully situated on the odd-numbered side of the Herengracht, where the older, medieval houses stand. This part of Amsterdam was developed before the excavation of the city’s iconic canals, making it an integral part of the city’s early history. Like the Singel canal, this area once housed people of all ranks and classes, living and working side by side. The Herengracht, developed later, marked a division between the newly wealthy elite and the middle class, a distinction that is still visible today from the water. While the Singel canal, with its wooden drawbridges, once served as a bustling inland harbor for large ships, the elegant Herengracht, with its refined brick bridges, was reserved for smaller boats, reflecting the growing sophistication of Amsterdam’s urban landscape.
The hatred of Jews and the poor economic situation made Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decide to move to Amsterdam. There, Otto founded a company that traded in pectin, a gelling agent for making jam. The Ambassade Hotel is located next to the former site of Otto Frank’s pectin trading company, Opekta, at Singel 400 – a place steeped in history. Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, ran his business here before his family went into hiding. By 1940, however, the company had already moved to the Prinsengracht, where the Frank family later hid in the annex.
The hotel’s location, right next to this historical site, offers guests the opportunity to learn more about the history of the Frank family and their time in Amsterdam. Just a short distance away is the Anne Frank House, where Anne and her family hid. This proximity makes the Ambassade Hotel a unique place for those wanting to learn more about the legacy of the Frank family and their experiences during World War II.
The Ambassade Hotel’s rich history began in 1953 with a single canal house at Herengracht 349. Over the decades, it expanded by acquiring several neighboring properties, including historic buildings along Herengracht and Singel, gradually transforming into a renowned literary hotel.
In 1953, more than three centuries after the Herengracht was created, the first house of the Ambassade Hotel was established in the building at 349 Herengracht. This was a time of rebuilding and renewal in Amsterdam, following the devastation of World War II. Over the years, the hotel gradually expanded by acquiring and connecting neighboring canal houses, creating the charming and unique layout it is known for today. Each building has preserved its own historical features, such as wooden beams, original façades, and largely high ceilings. The hotel itself is celebrated for its rich history, unique design, and commitment to preserving the character of Amsterdam’s canal district, all while being part of the city’s revival in the post-war era.
The fact that the Ambassade Hotel is intertwined with art and literature is made visible everywhere. Since the internal structure had somewhat lost its original character over time, Cruz y Ortiz were commissioned in 2014 to reorganize the public spaces and create more unity. This allowed for enough space for a brasserie, a lounge/bar, and a prominent area for the unique collection of signed books and the extensive CoBrA art collection. Right at the entrance, guests are welcomed by a CoBrA sculpture in a golden niche, a subtle but highly significant introduction to the rest of the spaces, where art is beautifully integrated into the decor. The extensive and unique collection of signed books was also given the place it deserves in the appropriately named Library Bar and Library Lounge.
Since the mid-1980s, it has been a cherished tradition at the Ambassade Hotel to invite authors to sign a copy of their latest book and leave a few words in the guest book during their stay. In addition to inscriptions by authors, the guest book features entries from musicians, actors, painters, philosophers, architects, and politicians, many of whom have stayed at the hotel by invitation of cultural foundations.
The Library Bar boasts a collection that has grown to over 5,000 copies of works by authors from 76 different countries. The collection, curated by the hotel’s own librarian Eelco Douma, primarily consists of literary works but also includes books on a wide range of topics. The guest books are kept in a separate section of the bookcase, and upon request, guests are welcome to explore both the books and the guest books. These guest books are filled with beautiful and inspiring quotes, along with personal dedications from the many famous individuals who have stayed at the hotel, making it a truly unique cultural treasure.
