Canal House Hotel in Amsterdam

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Updated: November 10, 2020

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Review of Canal House Hotel in Amsterdam.

Canal House – Sumptuous boutique hotel in a beautiful canal ring setting.

Encompassing three 17th-century merchants’ houses, this intimate boutique hotel is old-world grandeur meets quirky 21st-century style. Beyond the grand marble entrance, the decor is an atmospheric mix of black walls with gold-gilded mirrors, Mori spider lamps hanging from white stucco ceilings, and reproductions of Dutch masterpieces in black frames. The rooms are all plush purple velvet, heavy wooden beams, pastiche art, and leather headboards; some come with fireplaces and skylights, and all are fitted out large TVs. Most of the bathrooms are open-plan; some come with free-standing tubs. The staff is approachable and knowledgeable, and the location is ideal for sightseeing.

Canal House – Location

  • Address: Keizersgracht 148,1015 CX Amsterdam.
  • Nearest Tram: Westermarkt.
  • Area: On a quiet street overlooking the Keizersgracht canal in the historic Canal Belt, just a few minutes’ walk from the lively Jordaan district and the boutiques, cafes, and bars of the trendy Nine Streets neighborhood. The Dam Square and the Royal Palace are a 10-minute walk away, Anne Frank House is less than 5 minutes on foot, and the Museum Quarter is around 20 minutes away by tram. Good tram connections to the Centraal Station from the nearest tram stop (less than 5 minutes’ walk).
  • How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then tram #13 to the Westermarkt stop, a 4-minute walk from the hotel.
  • Handy to: Anne Frank House, Nine Streets, historic canal ring, Dam Square.

Canal House – The Basics

  • Ages: The hotel has a romantic retreat vibe, and most guests tend to be couples on a city break, but children of all ages are welcome.
  • Pet Policy: No pets allowed.
  • View: Over half of the 23 rooms overlook the Keizersgracht canal, while the rest overlook the quiet garden.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools/jacuzzi.
  • Laundry: In-room laundry service.
  • Extras: The wonderful garden out back is one of the largest in the Canal Belt, and there are several secluded sitting areas (and a summer house) for quiet relaxation. The Garden House can be booked for private dining. The toiletries in the bathrooms are the all-natural, herb-scented house brand, Green & Spring. The minibars are stocked with locally-sourced alcoholic beverages. Checkout is at noon – later than most Amsterdam hotels. Bicycles are available for rent.
  • When to Book: Reserve 3 months in advance for the mid-March to mid-May tulip season, the July and August high season, and the Christmas-New Year period.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: 020-622-5182
  • Email: reservations@canalhouse.nl
  • Website: canalhouse.nl

Canal House – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No on-site spa, though in-room massages and beauty treatments can be arranged.
  • Fitness Center: No fitness center, though personal trainers can be booked via reception.
  • For Disabled Guests: Disabled guests can be accommodated in the ground floor rooms.
  • For Families: Baby cots and extra beds are provided for €75 per night, and babysitting services can be arranged.

Canal House – Food and Drink

  • Restaurants: There’s no in-house restaurant, but the bar serves a mix of burgers, wraps, soups, and cheese platters throughout the day. • $$.
  • Lounge/Bar: There’s an intimate feel to the lobby bar with its matt-black walls, mirrors, subtly-lit counter, and a cozy lounge area. Good for a quiet glass of wine or draught beer.
  • Breakfast: A generous complimentary buffet breakfast complete with cold cuts and smoked salmon is served from 7 am to 11 am in the high-ceilinged Great Room that connects the 3 canal houses. Hot items cost extra.
  • Room Service: Room service is available from the bar; you can have breakfast brought to your room, with snacks available after 11 am.

Canal House – Rooms

  • Room Types: Good • Better • Great • Exceptional • Outstanding • Best
  • Smoking Rooms: Canal House is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: The Best Room is the hotel’s only suite – very spacious, with excellent canal views, 2 sitting areas, and a free-standing bath. Guests who prefer private ablutions to open-plan bathrooms may wish to book Great Room 3 and Exceptional Room 15.
  • For Families: The larger rooms can accommodate extra beds and baby cots.

Canal House – Local Transport

  • Walking: Anne Frank House, the Medieval Center, the Royal Palace, and the characterful Jordaan district are just minutes away on foot, the Red Light District is 10 minutes’ walk away, while the Museum Quarter is less than 20 minutes by tram from the hotel.
  • Tram: From the nearby Westermarkt stop, trams run to Centraal Station via the Medieval Center. To head south towards Leidseplein and the Museum Quarter, catch a tram from the nearby Dam stop.
  • Taxis, Uber: Taxis and Uber charge around €35 from the airport to the hotel. Within the city, Uber rides cost around half of taxi fares. It’s often quicker to walk, cycle, or jump on a tram.

Canal House – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

  • Gs Brunch Boat – The world’s only brunch boat sets sail year round from Keizersgracht 177. Extensive menus are accompanied by mimosas and bloody marys, together with an hour and a half’s Amsterdam canal tour. Start location: 2-minute walk. 
  • Lovers Canal Cruises – Hour-long small boat canal cruises depart from the dock near the Anne Frank House. Start location: 2-minute walk.
  • Secret Food Tours – Sample raw herring, stamppot, stroopwafel, pancakes, and more on this walking tour of traditional Dutch food hotspots. Meet at the Anne Frank House. Start location: 3-minute walk.
  • Jewish History Amsterdam – Themed walking tours of Jewish Amsterdam; tours of the western canal ring typically start at the Anne Frank House. Start location: 3-minute walk.

Nearby Restaurants and Cafes

  • Spanjer en van Twist – Frequently changing, internationally-inspired menu, excellent apple tart, and a great canal-side terrace for people-watching. 2-Minute walk.
  • Restaurant Bleu – Salads, hamburgers, and croquet monsieurs for lunch and carpaccios and steaks for dinner at this hip brasserie. 3-minute walk.
  • Pancake Bakery – Traditional Dutch pancakes with sweet and savory toppings, cooked in an open kitchen opposite the Anne Frank House. 4-minute walk.
  • Breda – One for special occasions. Multi-course, seasonal lunch and dinner menus by some of the city’s most creative chefs, plus 15 wines by the glass. Reservations essential. 5-minute walk.
  • Koh-I-Noor – Established Indian restaurant specializing in tandoori dishes and curries. 5-minute walk.
  • Japanese Pancake World – Thimble-sized Japanese spot where you choose what goes on the iron grill before eating the okonomiyaki pancake. 5-minute walk.
  • Bistro Bij Ons – Homestyle Dutch dishes such as stamppot (potatoes mashed with sausage and vegetables) and poffertjes (pancakes with butter and sugar). 5-minute walk.
  • La Perla Pizzeria – Thin-crust pizza wood-fired in a traditional stone oven. Bring your family, or bring a date. Bookings recommended. 6-minute walk.

Nearby Bars and Breweries

  • De Twee Zwaantjes – The Two Swans gets particularly lively on weekend nights with karaoke sessions. 3-minute walk.
  • Café de Vergulde Gaper – Former apothecary turned popular canal-side bar, with vintage posters and sunny terrace. Good for a coffee, beer, burger, or light lunch. 3-minute walk.
  • ‘t Arendsnest – Dutch beer only: almost 200 bottled brews, and 30 on tap. Choose between the canal-side terrace, or the gorgeous brown café interior, complete with copper jenever boilers. 4-minute walk.
  • ‘t Smalle – 18th-century jenever distillery turned beautiful brown café, with porcelain beer pumps and appealing riverside terrace. 4-minute walk.
  • Bar Prik – Retro gay bar that attracts a crowd in their 20’s and 30’s, with live DJ sets in the evenings. 6-minute walk.
  • Wijnbar DiVino – Superb selection of Italian wines – by the bottle and by the glass – with a supporting cast of cheese and charcuterie platters. 6-minute walk.
  • Pulitzer’s Bar – Stylish art deco cocktail bar inside the eponymous hotel. Classic cocktails as well as expertly-mixed signature drinks. 7-minute walk.
  • De Drie Fleschjes – Characterful 17th-century tasting house that specializes in liqueurs and jenevers. The accompanying snack of choice here is meatballs. 10-minute walk.
  • De Admiraal – Amsterdam’s largest traditional tasting house, with 16 jenevers and 60 liqueurs. 11-minute walk.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

Canal House – The Hotel

The tranquil garden has plenty of seating.

The large, tranquil garden has numerous sitting areas that make for a quiet retreat from Amsterdam’s hustle and bustle.

The entry hall is adorned with Dutch Masters' reproductions.

The entry hall is covered with reproductions of Dutch Masters.

The cozy Summer House in the garden is a good place to relax in.

The Summer House in the garden is a cozy place to retreat to if it starts raining.

The Garden House can be reserved for private functions.

In the depths of the garden, the Garden House can be reserved for private functions.

The Great Room is where an excellent continental breakfast buffet is served each morning.

A generous continental breakfast buffet is served in the Great Room from 7 am to 11 am, with hot dishes cooked to order.

The lobby bar is a popular place for chilling with a beer or glass of wine.

The atmospheric lobby bar/lounge is good for a quiet beer or glass of wine.

The cozy Good Rooms have standard amenities and garden views.

Good Rooms are the coziest, and come either with a king-sized bed or twin beds (on request), as well as standard amenities. They look out onto the garden.

Good Room bathrooms have 2 sinks and either a shower or a shower-bath combo.

The bathrooms in the Good Rooms have 2 sinks and either a walk-in rain shower or a shower-and-bath combo.

Better Rooms are quiet and feature open-plan bathrooms.

The quiet Better Rooms look out over the internal light well and come with open-plan bathrooms – something to be aware of, if you’re shy.

Many of the Great Rooms feature heavy wooden beams and unique artwork.

Many of the Great Rooms come with period features such as heavy wooden beams, as well as unique artwork. Views vary, so request a garden or canal view in advance.

Exceptional Rooms feature comfortable seating and standard amenities.

Exceptional Rooms overlook either the canal or the garden, and have comfortable sitting areas in addition to the standard amenities, as well as separate soaking tubs and showers in the bathroom.

The Outstanding Rooms feature excellent canal views, bathtubs, twin sinks, and rain showers.

The 2 Outstanding Rooms have the best views of Keizersgracht canal, as well as deep soaking tubs, twin sinks, and rain showers.

The top floor Best Room has a separate lounge with sofas.

The hotel’s only suite, the Best Room is particularly spacious and has a separate lounge with sofas, as well as sweeping views of the canal below. Since it’s on the top floor, reaching it means ascending several flights of stairs.

Best Room bathrooms feature a tub big enough for 2.

The bathroom in the Best Room is equipped with a free-standing tub big enough for 2.

Spanjer en van Twist serves an imaginative and ever-changing menu.

A block and a half to the southwest, Spanjer en Van Twist is one of the more imaginative restaurants in the western canal ring, with a frequently changing menu and a nice canal-side terrace.

The Tulip Museum showcases the country's centuries-old obsession with tulips.

The Tulip Museum is across Prinsengracht canal from the Anne Frank House. If you’re not in Amsterdam during tulip season, it’s well worth visiting the museum to understand the country’s centuries-old obsession with the flower.

De Twee Zwaantjes is a very local Dutch pub.

Next to the Tulip Museum, if you want to experience a very local Dutch pub, try De Twee Zwaantjes, particularly on weekday evenings.

Universe on a T-Shirt lets customers choose the design.

Nearby is one of Jordaan’s many independent gift stores – Universe on a T-Shirt – where you get to choose the design.

Rock Archive sells limited edition music prints.

On the edge of the narrow Egelantiersgracht canal, Rock Archive is the place to shop for limited edition prints of David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and other music icons.

‘t Smalle is popular for its selection of local jenevers and outdoor terrace.

Just across the canal, ‘t Smalle is one of the most atmospheric bars in the city for trying the local jenever spirit. Great little outdoor terrace too.

Japanese Pancake World is a popular cook-it-yourself okonomiyaki pancake place.

A block west, the narrow street is lined with a number of good eateries with an ethnic bent; Japanese Pancake World is a cook-it-yourself okonomiyaki pancake joint.

Rebel Wines sells organic, bio-dynamic, and specialty wines.

Look for your organic, biodynamic, and other specialist wines at Rebel Wines, just around the corner.

La Perla is one of Amsterdam's best pizzerias.

A block away, along Tuinstraat, is La Perla, considered one of Amsterdam’s best pizzerias, with thin-crust pizza fired in a traditional wood-burning oven. It’s super-popular, so book ahead.

Wijnbar DiVino is an excellent Italian place known for its huge charcuterie platters.

3 blocks away, along busy Westerstraat, is Wijnbar DiVino, one of several excellent Italian places in Jordaan. This is more a wine bar than a restaurant, with lots of Italian wines by the glass, plus huge charcuterie platters. Bring friends.

I Love Vintage is popular for its vintage apparel and accessories.

There are a few independent boutiques dotted around the part of the historic canal ring by the hotel; I Love Vintage stands out for its vintage dresses and accessories, as well as vintage-style women’s apparel.

The Pancake Bakery serves delicious traditional Dutch filled pancakes.

Nearby, the Pancake Bakery is good any time of the day for traditional Dutch pancakes with sweet or savory fillings.

Café de Vergulde Gaper is set in a former canal-side apothecary.

Around a block north, the Café de Vergulde Gaper is one of the few bars in the northern part of the canal ring; it’s a former apothecary with a popular canal-side terrace.

Restaurant Bleu is known for its burgers, salads, and steaks.

Half a block east, Restaurant Bleu is the pick of casual dining options in the northern canal ring, with burgers and salads for lunch, and more substantial steak dinners.

Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam's most popular destinations.

A couple of blocks southwest of the hotel is the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis, and one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions. Book your ticket online to beat the queues.

Wiil Graanstra is an excellent place to have Belgian fries.

Right nearby, Westermarkt square is where you’ll find one of the best places for Belgian fries in the city – Wil Graanstra. Have them with mayo, ketchup, peanut sauce, or sambal.

Koh-i-Noor is a local favorite for its curries and North Indian dishes.

Across the street, Koh-i-Noor is a longstanding local favorite for curries and Northern Indian dishes.

Bistro Bij Ons serves large portions of hearty Dutch classics.

Around the corner, Bistro Bij Ons serves gut-busting portions of hearty Dutch classics.

Dam Square is a popular gathering point in the center of the Medieval Center.

From Westermarkt, a short walk or one stop on the tram brings you to Dam Square, the popular gathering point in the heart of the Medieval Center.

The Royal Palace is a popular tourist attraction.

The big attraction here is the Royal Palace – the official residence of the King of the Netherlands. When the king’s away, you can check out the sumptuous rooms.

Nieuwe Kerk is known for its beautiful oak chancel and excellent exhibitions.

On the north side of the square, Nieuwe Kirk is well worth a look for its beautiful oak chancel and excellent temporary art and photography exhibitions.

Madam Tussaud's is located at the corner of the square.

Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam is on Dam’s southern side, in case celebrity wax works are your thing.

Mark Raven Amsterdam Art sells Amsterdam-inspired memorabilia and t-shirts.

Just north of Dam, there are several shops along Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal worth checking out: one is Mark Raven – Amsterdam cityscapes, prints, and t-shirts.

Rush Hour Records is popular for its superb vinyl range.

Another is Rush Hour Records, a large vinyl and CD shop with a particularly good house and techno selection.

De Drie Fleschjes is very popular for its range of jenevers and local liqueurs.

The maze of tiny medieval alleyways north of Dam is dotted with bars and eateries. The 17th-century De Drie Fleschjes is not to be missed if you want to try jenevers and other local spirits.

Bar Prik is a popular gay club on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.

There is also a lively gay nightlife in this part of the Medieval Center; try Bar Prik back on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal if that’s your scene.

Puccini Bomboni specializes in the city's best handmade chocolates.

Back in the canal ring, there are 2 worthwhile shops facing the tiny Torensluis square that overlooks the Singel canal: 1 is a branch of Puccini Bomboni – some of Amsterdam’s best handmade chocolates.

Reypenaer Cheese Tasting offers cheese tastings in its cellar.

Across the street is the Reypenaer Cheese Tasting; there are cheese shops with a wider range of Dutch cheeses, but this place does regular cheese tastings in the cellar (book ahead).

Amsterdam Duck Store specializes in novelty rubber ducks.

A short walk west is the Amsterdam Duck Store; novelty rubber ducks range from Harry Potter and Madonna to Game of Thrones characters.

Breda offers imaginative, seasonal, multi-course tasting menus.

Just south of Torensluis is Breda, one of the most imaginative restaurants in the city, the higher-end sister to Guts & Glory (off Rembrandtplein), and a great place to bring a date. Reserve well ahead for the seasonal, multi-course tasting menus.

The Otherist is a weird but fun independent shop.

Right near the hotel is one of the canal ring’s weirder independent shops: The Otherist.

‘t Arendsnest serves 200+ bottled and 30+ on tap Dutch beers.

A block north of the hotel, facing the Herengracht canal, is ‘t Arendsnest. Local beer lovers swear by it: it only serves Dutch beer – over 200 bottled brews and around 30 on tap. Atmospheric interior and great canal-side terrace.

The views of the Herengracht canal are particularly good outside ‘t Arendsnest.

Just outside ‘t Arendsnest you get excellent views of the stately Herengracht canal.

Nine Streets shopping neighborhood is close to the Keizersgracht canal.

While Canal House is not quite in the hip Nine Streets shopping neighborhood, which is densely packed with boutiques and cafes, Nine Streets is only a short walk south along Keizersgracht canal.

Mendo is an excellent bookstore with a good selection of coffee table books.

One of the best specialist bookstores in the city, Mendo stocks a wide range of books on art, architecture, and design.

De Admiraal is popular for its selection of jenevers and local spirits.

A block east, along Herengracht canal, De Admiraal is a must for those wanting to try local jenevers and liqueurs – it’s the largest tasting house in the city.

Pulitzer’s Bar serves excellent cocktails by the canal.

Back along Keizersgracht canal, Pulitzer’s is a superb cocktail bar with a great canal-side terrace.

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