Scheepvaarthuis

The Scheepvaarthuis on Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam is an architectural landmark built in 1913 as a shared office building for six leading Dutch shipping companies. It is considered the first structure designed entirely in the Amsterdam School style. The design was by Jo van der Mey, assisted by the architects Michel de Klerk and Piet Kramer. The building stands at the western tip of the Waalseiland, on the very spot from which Cornelis Houtman set out on his first voyage to the East Indies in 1595. This is reflected in the rich maritime symbolism that defines the building both inside and out. The floor plan was deliberately laid out in the shape of a ship, with the administrative offices housed in the bow.

The luxurious interior, shaped by a wide range of artists, is especially impressive. The central staircase is topped by a stained-glass roof created by Willem Bogtman, while the wrought-iron railings give the impression of holding up the floors. The large meeting room on the third floor was designed by Theo Nieuwenhuis and is paneled in dark tropical woods such as mahogany and ebony. The facade and interior reflect an enormous investment in materials, including special types of brick, valuable natural stones such as granite and marble, exotic hardwoods, and elaborate stained-glass windows. The building was listed as a national monument in 1974 and underwent a careful restoration of its facade and ironwork in the 1990s.

Today the historic building houses the Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam, which opened in 2007 after a comprehensive renovation. The conversion into a five-star hotel was led by the architect Ray Kentie, who drew inspiration from the original Art Nouveau style. Artists such as Gerti Bierenbroodspot and Christie van der Haak enriched the interior with maritime motifs like shells, fish, and mermaids. In the Seven Seas restaurant, a large bronze mermaid greets guests, while the rooms and hallways are decorated with handcrafted artworks and textiles. In 2018, the hotel was expanded with a new annex containing a parking garage and additional rooms, whose architecture blends in with the existing structure.