Advertorial • October 2016
How to spend 24 hours in Amsterdam
Much like clogs and canals, Heineken is inseparably linked to Amsterdam’s distinctive character. Here, Anne-Martine Speelman, brand ambassador for the famous purveyor of pilsner, gives her top tips for spending time in the city
Eat
The people behind restaurant group BAUT seek out empty buildings and disused warehouses and turn them into restaurants, bars and exhibition spaces. Their latest offering, BAUT & Dreesman can be found on the top floor of former department store Vroom and Dreesman, through a graffiti covered corridor. An international menu includes everything from mouth-watering Asian oysters to South American ceviche.
Stay
Recently reopened after a series of renovations, Hotel Arena is set in a beautiful, old Dutch building filled with ornate staircases and plush furnishings. When you want to get out into the city, simply hop on one of the hotel’s bikes and explore. If you prefer staying in, the hotel’s large sunny terrace is the perfect place to relax in the summer.
Meet the locals
The hippest spot in East Amsterdam at the moment is Louie Louie. Filled with cool prints and serving a generous selection of craft ales, the bar is a great spot to meet and interact with the Amsterdam locals. Enjoy a long al-fresco brunch on the expansive terrace and be sure to order the Eggs Mexicana or the smoked mackerel. Louie Louie is also a great nightlife spot with a rotating list of DJs packing out the dance floor most nights of the week.
Party
De Martkantine is a new multi-purpose events space that contains restaurants, black box theatres, shops, gig venues and nightclubs. The space is housed in the iconic Marcanti building on Jan Van Galenstraat, originally built in 1936 as a canteen for merchants in the neighbouring market. Briefly turned into a nightclub during the 1990s, the building has now been revived once again as one of the most cherished and innovative nightspots in the city.
Relax
Located next to Amsterdamse Bos (a scenic, English-style park with an expansive lake that makes for a great swimming spot), Spa Zuiver is the ultimate place to unwind in Amsterdam. Palatial gardens provide plenty of relaxation space beside a gigantic outdoor spa pool, and an incredible range of treatments – from hot stone massages to manicures and pedicures – are on hand to help you feel your best.
Buy a Rock the City ticket and enjoy the Heineken Experience, followed by a canal tour that leads to A’dam Toren where you can experience LookOut, the 360° observation deck, for spectacular views of Amsterdam. Find out more at heinekenexperience.com
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