Amsterdam is a busy destination, and it can be hard to find a quiet hotel. Fortunately, we managed to do precisely that. We found a hotel that has easy access to the city’s main attractions but is just outside the craziness of downtown Amsterdam. The cool part of this hotel is how you get there: you will be taking a free boat trip to get to and from your hotel.
Amsterdam is a busy destination
Amsterdam has always been a popular tourist destination. Over the years, it has been attracting both party-seeking crowds as well as cultural enthusiasts. The Dutch capital has seen an ever-increasing number of tourists and is now facing growing overtourism problems. Precisely for that reason, the city has started redirecting cruise ships, restricting guided tour groups, and launching a serious campaign to stop obnoxious behavior from rowdy tourists.
But despite all these efforts, the city center is still a busy and loud place. Unfortunately, many Amsterdam hotels are located right in the heart of this chaos. That is why we recommend choosing a hotel that lies just outside the downtown (centrum area). Avoid the area surrounding the red light district as this is the main area that has fallen victim to overtourism.
Introducing: Amsterdam’s Sir Adam Hotel
We have been guests in hotels all around Amsterdam. We stayed at the Renaissance, the W Hotel, and some other hotels in the city. But only one hotel has truly surprised us. During a short trip to Amsterdam in November 2022, we booked the Sir Adam Hotel. The Sir Adam hotel is part of Design Hotels, which is part of the Marriott Group (category 5/8).
The hotel sits inside a striking Amsterdam landmark called A’DAM Tower. This former Shell office building lies on the opposite side of the IJ water. This waterway splits the famous tourist center of Amsterdam from the Northern areas of the city. For years, these northern areas of the town were not popular with tourists, but they have grown in importance and popularity over the years.
One of the tourist magnets in the area is the A’DAM tower itself, with a fantastic viewing experience on the tower’s top floors, including a revolving restaurant and panoramic views. Next door to the hotel, you can find the iconic EYE film museum, and This is Holland Experience.
Paranomic view from Sir Adam’s hotel rooms.
Sir Adam rooms review
Sir Adam sits on the first seven floors of the A’DAM building. Each room features a unique view of the surrounding. If you are on one of the higher floors, you can see the main waterway and large parts of downtown Amsterdam, situated on the other side of the water. The rooms are all uniquely designed with a rock and roll theme. Each room has a dark rock and roll style design with a gramophone record player and binoculars to enjoy the view. Mine even had an electric guitar and lots of books about rock music!
The rooms are relatively small, but the bed is comfortable, and the amenities are worthy of a five-star hotel. Service and cleanliness are all up to the standards you would expect from hotels within the Marriott Group.
Sir Adam Amsterdam’s rooms
Sir Adam sits on the first seven floors of the A’DAM building. Each room features a unique view of the surrounding. If you are on one of the higher floors, you can see the main waterway and large parts of downtown Amsterdam, situated on the other side of the water. The rooms are all uniquely designed with a rock and roll theme. Each room has a dark rock and roll style design with a gramophone record player and binoculars to enjoy the view. Mine even had an electric guitar and lots of books about rock music!
The rooms are relatively small, but the bed is comfortable, and the amenities are worthy of a five-star hotel. Service and cleanliness are all up to the standards you would expect from hotels within the Marriott Group.
Sir Adam Amsterdam’s amenities
The main reasons to go to Sir Adam are the location, the view, and arguably the room’s design. In addition, the hotel boasts a relaxed vibe. The best way to feel this vibe is in the main restaurant and bar area called The Butcher Social Club.
At the Butcher Social Club, you can find games such as ping pong, flipper machines, and a pool table. Next to hotel guests, The Social Club attracts a hip and young audience, and the menu card features some tasty burgers. The beer menu is somewhat limited, but there are plenty of cocktail offers. On football nights, the staff can show games on a massive screen that can be rolled down from the top of the bar.
While the Butcher Social Club is simply amazing, other amenities are relatively limited for a Design Hotel by Marriott. For example, the hotel does feature a fitness but not a spa.
What is worth mentioning are the hotel elevators. These elevators are themed in rock and roll as well. One features a light disco floor, and in the other, you are invited to sing. Unfortunately, one of the two lifts party themes was malfunctioning during our trip.
Sir Adam Amsterdam’s location – how to get there.
The Sir Adam Hotel can easily be reached by boat from Amsterdam’s central station. The boat stops in front of the hotel’s door and goes every four minutes! Not only does the ship continuously run, but it also does so in the middle of the night.
Once you get off the boat at Amsterdam central station, you are right in the heart of Amsterdam. You can either walk into the city or hop on a metro or tram. This combination of easy access while away from the crowds is why we find the Sir Adam hotel by far the best quality hotel away from the public in Amsterdam.
