With all Dutch covid restrictions lifted and with an AMB-voucher ready to use,
we thought to return back to Kimpton de Witt Amsterdam and see if normal services have been resumed.
During the pandemic, the penthouse de witt was attractively priced around the €375 per night,
now with normal life returning and the Dutch May-holiday weeks (King's day, labourday, memorial day and liberation day) plus the influx of American, British, Indian and Spanish tourists, the price can soar up to double or even triple!
Was it worth the money ?
And how is the InnerCircle recognition?
Read on and let me take you on a photo heavy informative tour:
1)
Arrival
The hotel is located close to Amsterdam Centraal station (5 min walk).
And can be an option for those travelling on the European rivercruises departing on the Northside dock of the station. To reach the main international cruiseterminal for the bigger ships you can take tram 26 or walk about 35 min.
At the moment there is some street resurfacing going on the Nieuwezijdse Kolk meaning there is less traffic. The Amsterdam municipal leftist citycouncil is transforming many streets into one way or for taxi/tram only to give way to pedestrians.
We received a warm welcome as we checkedin early at 12.00 midday,
Our room was ready and our status as InnerCircle members was acknowledged by the friendly girl at reception No upgrade possible because we had already booked the top room catagory.
We did receive the €15 raid the bar credit as an IHG elite member.
Note: English is the default language at the hotel
Atacama40 : Let's start with some history
Memorial statue of hotel renovation in 2009:
Born and built 1987 as a Holiday inn,
Later the ugly duckling of Crowne Plaza Amsterdam centre transformed into the first EU Kimpton
Memorial plaque of the goddess Ceres/Demeter on the hotel's outerwall
Hotel entrance:
A warm welcome to all persons of all identities and canine companions,
This is the only place where it is allowed to smoke
First thing to hit you is the hotel's signature scent in the lobby.
This can be purchased at the specialty boutique of Marie Stella Maris at Keizersgracht 357
https://marie-stella-maris.com/en/#weglot_switcher
A look at reception, it may look small but if you look to the other side.....,,
You will find a lot of spacious seating area in the lobby
More seating area in the lobby
Even more seating area in the lobby
Herbal & fruit infused water is available
Cozy nooks to sit & socialize
And this is the complete view of the Kimpton hotel complex viewd from Nieuwezijdse voorburgwal street.
Before i show you the penthouse, let me point you to its location,
See the 2nd traditional house on the left, the penthouse terrace is to its upperright with the two mini-trees on top
2)
suite #622 Penthouse de Witt
We stayed here before during the heights of the pandemic as a staycation and it was a welcome retreat from our own attic home. The room was again clean, so kudos to the housekeeping team!
The appeal is ofcourse its big terrace which faces the south and west sun. We had fortunately good weather and had our morning coffees there aswell as our sundowner drinks. The terrace furniture was in good shape and clean.
Noteable in the suite compared to the previous visits:
- the notepad + pencil returned
- decorative bedpillows + foullard returned
- Frette linnen his & his bathrobes
Thoughtful touches were:
- InnerCircle welcome amenity was ready for us
- complete set of plates & cutleries for inroom dining
- the movies selection has new releases
Designated signs
Double doors leading to the suite
The penthouse is devided over two floors:
This is the entrance on the lower floor
This is the spiral staircase to the upper floor
The living room / dining area
A seperate toilet off the living room
The wetbar area:
- Nespresso capsules machine
- Water cooker
- Mini fridge (2x water cartons)
- Wine fridge (empty)
* left, door to closet
My customized InnerCircle welcome amenity:
- complete tea set
- IPA beers
- chocolate tulips
- crisps
New furniture (see my previous review to spot the difference)
King bed
View towards dressingroom and bathroom
Dual sink with amenities of Marie Stella Maris "poivre" pepper scent
Signature Kimpton Yoga mat
Laundry pricelist and bluetooth soundspeaker
Welcome letter in Dutch
Most important:
Kimpton social hour is back from 16 - 17 H daily held in the conservatory
Minibar can be restocked upon demand
Terrace: seating area
ninjalad : individual pieces of soap are still present here
Bathrobes are by Frette linnens
Pressreader app is available for periodicals in different languages,
You can guess my interests......
Morning coffee on the terrace
Views from the terrace
3)
Climate control
Especially for our American friends who like to be in control of the temperature and are acustomed to airconditioning, These are the options available:
Note:
- there are 3 control units
- climate control of living room, dining area and bedroom will auto-switch off if one of the terrace doors are open
- there is a silent mode but als a max burst mode (not the most eco-friendly but cools the room in 5 min)
- settings are 1) auto 2) dry 3) cool 4)heat 5)fan only
- fan intensity can be adjusted
4)
Terrace by nightfall
We were lucky with dry spring weather but imagine the sultry pulsating tropical nights in summer.....
We had the doors open at night, Besides the jingling of trams and (sometimes) loud rowdy tourists, we had no bother of mosquitos and such
Sunset
Nighttime
You can peek into some rooms, fortunately this man doesn't like to watch television in the nude
5)
Gym & Business centre
Located in the basement, you'll find the underground gym and business centre.
The business centre is actually a room with two computer workstations that share a HP colour laserjet printer
The gym is a square space that can hold about 6 people without bumping into each other
Reminder: both areas can only be accessed by your hotelkeycard
Coming out of the elevators, you are greeted by the automated shoeshine brush machine which seems not being plugged into the electric socket
Looking left into the gym,
It was all clean and equipment was working in good order
Looking right into the gym
Towels, waters and sanitizer tissues are available
Although lots of mirrors it still feels pokey bevause it is underground
Free weights
Machines
Lockers and yogamats
Houserules
Business centre
PC workstation
6)
Bar SuperLyan
Located off the lobby and the conservatory is the entrance to the bar.
There is also a street entrance off the Nieuwezijdse voorburgwal
Currently the bar is only open from Thursday untill Sunday,
You can use the "Kimpton - Raid the Bar credit" here.
we passed by on Saturday night and their private room was booked for a birthday
Entrance from inside the hotel
Left: the private room
Seen from the other side
7)
Restaurant Celia
Part of the hotel is the restaurant Celia.
It first started as restaurant Wyers but made a full switch of rebranding because of the pandemic .
This venue is used for breakfast, lunch and dinner, bills can be put on the hotelfolio and are EQP earning. It also accepts the "Kimpton - Raid the Bar credit".
Every saturday the restaurant hosts a lady DJ and creates a fun buzz environment that attracts outside walk-in guests. There were several hen-parties aswell as birthday dinners.
We were treated as royalty by Mrs. LJ from LA, the hostess and the whole restaurant team!
InnerCircle benefit like the chef's taste were remembered and delivered.
Celia's bartender can make custom-order cocktails
View into the restaurant area
The seating area in the back can be turned into a private room
Service was excellent by good staff ratio
Part of the drinks menu
Part of the drinks menu 2
DJ's table: She went the extra mile in providing the complete playlist for us
A place to dine together on a first date
Complimentary warm bread with hummus dip
Kimpton InnerCircle amenity: Chef's taste small plate of burrata
Small plate: tuna crudo
Small plate: excellent calamari (crispy and not chewy!)
Plate for 2: Seabass with ponzu sauce
Large plate: seabass with pumpkin
Small plate: seabass crudo
Mushroom Ravioli
Rotiserie chicken
Passionfruit sorbet
Hostess Mrs. LJ is always enthausiastic to make a group photo!
Espresso martini
Because sunday was mother's day, all ladies received a yellow/white carnation from Mrs. LJ at the end of dinner
8)
Social hour - signature Kimpton feature
The well anticipated return of the Kimpton social hour.....
Very popular as most of the guests were American and we were the only locals
Back daily from 16 - 17 H at the Kimpton conservatory in the centre of the hotel under the green canopy.
A red & white wine is offered with a small nibble.
(but for those not into wine you can choose coffee/tea, coca cola or a Heineken beer)
The friendly serving girls and the supervisor made sure everyone's glasses were filled and were having a good time, it created a fun relaxed atmosphere in the conservatory area,
Let us count the amount of refills offered and see if you can get sloshed while sussing it out.......
You can't escape the signage
All ready ....... set....l.
And Go! (Round #1)
The white on offer
The red on offer
Good to people watch
Refill round #2
Nibble: cream cheese with onion
Refill round #3
A place where everyone can sit back and mix & mingle
Nibble: duck breast on pumpkin
Refill round #4
Heineken beers and tea also complimentary
Or chose a Coke and cappucino, if like me you have to temper your alcohol intake
Some guests go for refill round #5
While others prefer to tank non alcoholic and take the rest up to their rooms
Conclusion:
Glad to see the hotel returning back to normal and providing a safe and comfortable stay for everyone.
All prepandemic service have been resumed and have impressed us and our guests.
Service was all in English and all staff were happy to be busy (and properly staffed) and really provided the familiar Kimpton feel-good buzz!
We didn't have breakfast this stay because we were staying on the Ambassador BOGO voucher but i was told the buffet has returned. However from 1st of June, complimentary breakfast will be offered to Diamond elite guests.
Goodbye gift upon checkout: 2x stroopwafels
Let me end with these last photos and my personal top 10 Amsterdam Binnenstad tips for those travellers staying at the Kimpton de Witt hotel:
Personal top 10 tips for Amsterdam binnenstad
(Things in walking distance from the Kimpton hotel)
1)
Non touristy/rowdy redlights, safe for squimish travellers
Quintessential Redlights on my usual bike route:
West of Nieuwezijdse Voorburgwal
But focused on mostly local clientele and tastes
wander and you will find.....
2)
The pussycat boat / Poezenboot
Houseboat / floating nonprofit volunteer catshelter
Singel 38/G
https://depoezenboot.nl/en
Poezenboat
3)
Authentic Nepalese & Tibetan owned craftshop "Palbu"
(statues, painted thangkas scrolls, clothes)
Sint Luciënsteeg 24
https://www.facebook.com/palbuamsterdam/
4)
Laidback relaxed Nepalese owned restaurant "Bhatti Prasal"
(limited seating)
https://www.bhattipasal.nl
Voetboogstraat 23
5)
Amsterdam-made Puccini Bomboni
Handcrafted chocolate shop
https://puccinibomboni.com
Singel 184
Mentioned:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/t...s-in-the-world
6)
Essential Men's Hatshop "English Hatter"
Established 1935
https://www.english-hatter.nl
Heiligeweg 40
7)
Independent operated Bookexchange
Used English books only
https://www.bookexchange.nl
Kloveniersburgwal 58
8)
all Female owned & operated cookieshop Van Stapele
https://vanstapele.com/en/home/
Heisteeg 4
Popularity of Van Stapele cookies,
get there early to avoid the Q or pre-order online and skip the Q to pick up
9) Spui book market every Friday
Every friday bookmarket at Spui, always an interesting find...
Around the corner from family operated American Book Centre : https://abc.nl
10)
Royal palace on the dam square;
where Lex & Max of the House of Orange host their international partys
Entry is €10 and you are allowed to take photos inside
You can't take big bags inside but they have a guarded wardrobe service
https://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/en/visit/
And to finally end this review:
We walked out the hotel and experienced the buzz returning to the city:
2022: normal life returns for all birds of a feather
and the familiar sounds of wheeliecases hitting the pavements is a good sign that travel is back!