Photo by Allard van der Hoek 

Even if it's not far from the city centre, you don't come down here accidentally. For me - and people will hate me for this - it doesn’t really belong to the city. Of course it does, but it breathes a totally different spirit. Located in the Eastern Docklands area, the Lloyd Hotel, by my 'little Amsterdam' standards, is such a huge building that it makes me feel rather small.  Nonetheless, the Lloyd - which was formerly a hotel for migrants, Nazi prison and later youth penitentiary -  is a place to feel at home immediately.

Photo by Allard van der Hoek

Entering the lobby of the Lloyd, I was struck by the impressive space and the well-balanced mix of old and new design. I would be more likely to find this in a museum collection than a hotel, but it works. Each item has been selected with care and contributes to this wonderful ambiance of tranquility and authenticity.

Hidden tea-spot.

The building itself simply begs for wandering around, exploring the floors (with hidden spots to drink coffee or tea), striking stairs, little corners, and ensembles of furniture where you can admire the light, smell the abundant flowers or just enjoy space.

All 116 rooms (ranging from 1 to 5 stars) feature unexpected details and innovative elements (a hidden shower, an 8-person bed, a music room, etc.). Each displays a different character. My favourite is an attic room with its original wainscoting. Here, under the roof, I started dreaming right away.

Photo by Dorien Oxenaar

The aim of the Lloyd is to establish a meeting place for artists, businessmen and locals alike. Drinking a coffee on the terrace, I had the impression that the businessmen were more represented, but who can tell nowadays? The Lloyd Hotel offers 24-hour restaurant services – quite a rarity in Amsterdam - and has a nice bar. I do think that Lloyd keeps its promise and is much more than a hotel. The Lloyd is a cultural institution.

Lloyd Hotel; Oostelijke Handelskade 34; Amsterdam

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