Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

104 ❯❯ Amsterdam Area by Area

Café Americain at the Hampshire Hotel – Amsterdam American
Hampshire Hotel –
Leidsegracht
5 7
Amsterdam American
MAP K6
MAP C5 • Leidse kade 97 For dream canal houses in pristine
• 020 556 3000 condition, look no further than
One of Leidseplein’s landmarks is sophisticated Leidsegracht, one of
this one-off Dutch interpre tation of the city’s most sought-after
Art Nouveau by Willem Kromhout addresses. At Herengracht 394, on
(1902), which foretold the the corner with Leidsegracht, notice
Amsterdam School of archi tecture. the fine wall plaque depicting
The hotel’s famous Café Americain, characters from a medieval legend –
with its stained-glass windows the four Heemskinderen on their
and glass parasol lampshades, horse Beyaart. Another plaque, at
offers some of the best Art No. 39, shows Cornelis Lely, who
Nouveau design in the city, all for drew up the original plans for
the price of a coffee. The literati draining the Zuiderzee.
crowd may have disappeared, but
Felix Meritis Building
it’s a welcome haven from the 8
hustle and bustle of Leidse plein. MAP L4 • Keizers gracht 324
• 020 627 9477 • www.felix.meritis.nl
Antiekcentrum
6 The splendid Neo-Classical façade of
Amsterdam
this building comes as a surprise on
MAP J5 • Elandsgracht 109 gabled Keizers gracht. Designed in
• Open 11am–6pm Mon, Wed–Fri, 1787 by Jacob Otten Husly as a
11am–5pm Sat–Sun • www.
antiekcentrumamsterdam.nl
If the shops of the Spiegelkwartier HOUSEBOATS
(see p113) are too expensive and Around 2,500 houseboats are called
rarified, try searching for antiques in “home” in Amsterdam, but it was only
this warren of stalls occupying a vast after World War II, when there was a
network of ground-floor rooms in a severe housing shortage, that they
block of houses near the Looiersgracht became popular. They are linked to the
(Tanners’ Canal). With more than city’s electricity and water supplies and
sewage is pumped into an onshore
10,000 objects, this is the largest facility. Visit the Woonbootmuseum
collection of art and antiques in (Houseboat Museum) opposite
Holland. The stall-holders host Prinsengracht 296 to find out more.
bridge sessions, which are open to all.

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