Associates at Andaz Amsterdam are excited to open the hotel's doors today!

In case you're wondering exactly what that means, it means WE LOVE AMSTERDAM in Dutch! And that couldn't be more true, especially today as we officially open the doors of the new Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht – the ninth hotel in the Andaz collection and the brand's first property in Continental Europe.
We've been watching this hotel come to life ever since it was announced back in April of 2010, and we couldn't be more excited for its big debut in the charming, unique, and spirited city of Amsterdam.
Although brand new, Andaz Amsterdam is already full of history with its unique location on the Prinsengracht, which is the site of the city's former Public Library. The Prinsengracht is part of the iconic ring of canals that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, which puts Andaz Amsterdam right in the heart of the city where all the action is.
Andaz Amsterdam's neighborhood is filled with charming art galleries, unique specialty shops, trendy fashion boutiques, stylish restaurants and more. In fact, we asked some of the associates at Andaz Amsterdam to tell us about their favorite spots in town, and here are some of their must-see recommendations:
MENDO: The candy store for book aficionados, featuring inspirational and creative books on fashion, photography, architecture, interior design and graphic design. The store's walls are made from thousands of black MENDO books and the scenery and intimacy of the space makes it one of the most unique and inspiring stores in the Netherlands.
Parisienne: Complete your outfit with the beautiful accessories of Parisienne. In the nostalgic and intimate shop with the looks of a French boudoir, you will find a wide variety of jewelry and bijoux, evening handbags, hats and shawls.
Kaaskamer: For the best cheese in town, you need to go to the Kaaskamer. Offering more than 300 varieties of the best domestic and imported cheeses, this little shop is stacked to the ceiling. But there's more. The Kaaskamer also sells delicious wines, homemade salads and special home-roasted nuts. Or just pass by to try one of their sandwiches.
Skin Cosmetics: Offering a unique collection of exclusive and authentic fragrances, a distinctive skin care range, hair care products and home fragrance accessories, the delightful boutique of Skin Cosmetics feels like beauty heaven.
Werck: Located in the former coach house of the Westerkerk church, Werck projects a stylish and contemporary atmosphere and houses a bar, lounge, terrace and fabulous restaurant. Post-dinner DJ's turn the music up and the venue turns into a vibrant club from Thursday to Saturday.
Café Nol: Café Nol is the most famous café in the Jordaan and the perfect place to experience a true Amsterdam night. Delve into the typical Jordanese atmosphere and try to sing-along with the songs of the famous folk singers.
Vesper Bar: Leap of Faith, Lavender Love and Mary Pickford are the names of just a few of the inventive cocktails that you can enjoy at the boutique bar Vesper. Located in the middle of the Jordaan and breathing an intimate 30s atmosphere, Vesper is one of the local favorites.
We posted a video all about the neighborhood in an earlier post on Keyed Into Hyatt, but you can check it out again here to get a real feel for the city's local flavor:
Not only will guests be wowed by the neighborhood, but they will be wowed by the hotel, too. Andaz Amsterdam is infused with unique cultural flavors that are brought to life by legendary local designer Marcel Wanders. Wanders was inspired by a modern take on Dutch history and found unique ways to integrate the heritage of the hotel surroundings and the city's history into his design. Guests can see this through the artistic wallpaper in the guestrooms, the books on the shelves, and through his incorporation of things like the Golden Age, Dutch Delft blue, tulips, and the color orange.
Andaz Amsterdam features 122 stylishly designed rooms (five of which are suites), as well as Bluespoon, a specialty restaurant serving Western European seaboard cuisine. The hotel also offers the Studio, a dynamic meeting space, a fully equipped gym, and a signature urban spa.
There is so much to see and explore in Amsterdam, so make your plans soon to come and visit! Make sure to also check back to Keyed Into Hyatt for a great video with the hotel's general manager, Toni Hinterstoisser, who will talk about his favorite spots in the city and what Andaz Amsterdam is all about.
To our new family at Andaz Amsterdam...Welkom in Amsterdam (welcome to Amsterdam!)

Associates at Andaz Amsterdam are excited to open the hotel's doors today!

Andaz Amsterdam's general manager, Toni Hinterstoisser

Andaz Amsterdam features 117 guestrooms and five suites, all designed by Dutchman Marcel Wanders to reflect a modern view of Dutch history

Andaz Amsterdam’s Bluespoon Restaurant serves locally sourced, Western European seaboard cuisine

The Lounge at Andaz Amsterdam showcases an impressive video art collection, the largest of its kind in any hotel around the world