Astoria

The Astoria building on Keizersgracht in Amsterdam is a striking example of Dutch Art Nouveau, known here as Nieuwe Kunst. Designed by H.H. Baanders and Gerrit van Arkel, it served as the headquarters of an insurance company starting in 1905 and was one of the first office towers in the country. Its architecture stands out for a copper-clad roof, a small tower, and a mosaic on the facade depicting a guardian angel. For more than fifteen years, the building was the international headquarters of Greenpeace, and today it holds the status of a national monument. Visitors can admire the historic facade and the gilded lettering, and the building sits on the same block as the Anne Frank House.