Discovering Amsterdam; An Event Destination For All Occasions

Last weekend we were discovering some of Amsterdams finest venues with our event partners Great Hotels of The World and DMC Advantage along with other award winning event professionals.

Amsterdam is a perfect European event destination. It’s well connected thanks to Schiphol Airport, a key international flight hub and it is also serviced by many international train services. We travelled by Eurostar, our preferred method of transport when travelling to destinations they serve.

We love travelling by Eurostar as it is so much more environmentally friendly than flying. Travelling by Eurostar is also a much more effective use of time, with a quicker check in process than flying, the option to start an event as soon as you jump on the train by privatising a carriage and the option to dine well and start working whilst on route with the trains Michelin inspired dining and super speedy wifi. We could talk all day about Eurostar, so if you would like to find out more, just let us know.

Amsterdam is an event destination that is suitable for all types of events. You’ve got trendy events spaces, particularly those in the Noord area. There’s many heritage event spaces and traditional dutch properties, mostly in the Centrum area and there are lot’s of luxury properties and hotels dotted all over the city. To show just how versatile the city is, below we have detailed a selection of the venues we visited over the weekend along with the types of events they best suit:

Hotel Okura

This Japanese style hotel screams opulence with an artistic twist. Here you will experience Omotenashi which is the art of Japanese hospitality; world class hospitality!

This hotel is the perfect place to kick back after a busy conference, with tranquility at it’s core. The impressive in-house ballrooms also make for the perfect pairing.

The property is really a destination within itself, your delegates will want to stay a few days so they can experience all three of the in-house Michelin Star restaurants!

Perfect for: Five Star Accommodation & Michelin Starred Dining

A’Dam Lookout

If you are looking for a venue with a view, there really is no better placer than the Lookout at the A’Dam Tower. The venue is situated just behind Amsterdam Centraal Station and boasts 360 views of the entire city.

This venue is exciting, young and hip. From the moment you arrive, the experience begins! Each elevator has it’s own theming, and they really are an experience in themselves, your choice include a disco elevator and a karaoke one.

At the top there’s various indoor venue spaces, all with fantastic views and then there’s the rooftop, perfect for an outdoor reception! There’s also a couple of fun experiences, one of which is Europe’s tallest swing, hanging off the side of the rooftop.

Perfect for: Drinks Receptions and Parties with a view.

Straat

Straat is a graffiti art museum located in North Amsterdam. This part of Amsterdam used to be very industrial and is now very trendy. We like to think of it as the Shoreditch of Amsterdam.

Straat is located in an old warehouse and consists of two vast open plan spaces and a balcony looking them. The artwork in the museum is constantly changing and can be moved. We think that this venue would be perfect for an event with an edgy/industrial theme. The venue would be perfect for fashion shows, with plenty of space for a long catwalk.

Perfect for: Fashion Shows and Warehouse Vibes

Bartolotti house

Bartolotti house is situated in central Amsterdam and is a traditional dutch property steeped in history. Perfect for those looking to host an event within an authentic Amsterdam property situated next to a canal.

The venue is from the 17th century and was originally the home of a rich dutch merchant. The venue has kept many of it’s original features and now you can host your event among them.

Perfect for: Private Dinners and Receptions

Felix Meritis

Originally the home of the Intellectual Society, a place that promoted education and research. Now this ethos lives on in the form of an event venue which hosts many kinds of events, including educational conferences and seminars.

The super central venue boasts event spaces on each floor, all with their own theming. The venue is also part of a wider venue group Amerpodia who have three venues in Amsterdam and are renowned for their world class events. They are able to provide in-house catering and production, meaning that planning events in these venues is a breeze.

Perfect for: Small Scale City Centre Conferences

Harbour Club

The Harbour Club in east Amsterdam is a super fashionable and chic venue. When you’re there, you imagine you’ll bump into a celebrity at any moment.

The venue is well known for their boujee dining and epic parties. The venue has two large restaurant spaces, which usually include DJ’s and they have a large outdoor terrace next to the canal.

Newly built during the pandemic is the venues theatre, perfect for cabaret style events and immersive dining experiences.

Perfect for: Gala Dinners and Shows

Hotel Arena

Hotel Arena overlooks Oosterpark, so you can expect bedrooms with superb and tranquil views. This 19th century property with many modern touches was built on the site of a former orphanage and has so much character.

Our favourite part of the property is the Chapel space (seen pictured). It’s the centre point of the hotel and can be used for all kinds of events, even late night gigs and has all of it’s own production inbuilt and ready to go.

Perfect for: Accommodation & Gigs