Stylish family-friendly city pad in Amsterdam

I’m getting more and more particular about where we stay when we go away, so finding a family-friendly city pad in Amsterdam that also ticked the style box was a must. And the V-loft at Hotel V Frederiksplein was by far the most stylish place we’ve ever stayed.

We aren’t natural hotel guests. Even before having the twins, we were always more inclined to book a self-catering option over a hotel, but the V-loft offered a great compromise. Hotel V is spread along a block of 19th century apartment and office buildings on Amsterdam’s Frederiksplein. The lofts are just around the corner from the main hotel, with their own private entrance and a small kitchen (fridge, microwave, Nespresso machine, mini cooker). So you get all the services of the hotel, but still have that feeling of independence, and can prepare food if you need to (a great option if you’re travelling with young children).

The design of the V-loft was stunning. I’ve always hankered after exposed brick walls, and this was a perfect example of exposed brick done really well. The exposed brickwork brings such a great sense of the building’s age and history, and adds warmth and texture to the otherwise very clean, contemporary space. Eclectic furniture and furnishings such as the retro chairs, log slice side table and antique globe also give the design interest and depth.

The imposing fireplace is the room’s focal point, and its ornate period detailing gets a modern makeover with a coat of high gloss black paint. The matt black chimney breast also helps to draw the eye and lends a healthy dose of drama and impact. The kids slept on a sofa bed in the main living space, and our double bed was on the other side of the loft, screened off by a modern open shelving unit. When the kids went to sleep, we moved the armchairs over to our bedroom area so that we could read and chat quietly without disturbing them.

One of the best things about the apartment were the huge windows looking out over Frederiksplein. The loft we stayed in is on the corner of the building, with windows on both sides. The kids loved sitting at the windows and watching the busy crossroad below – trams, buses, pedestrians, cyclists. They relished the busyness (so different from our quiet cul-de-sac at home), and their people-watching habits occupied them so well that we didn’t need to turn on the apartment’s large TV once. I would say that if you need it to be super-quiet to be able to sleep, then this is probably not the place for you, as the tram and traffic noise goes on well into the early hours (and starts up again pretty early, too).

The main lobby of Hotel V is impressive, with bold, theatrical features such as the eye-catching circular fireplace and curved leather sofa. This is where breakfast was served every day with a great selection of mini pastries, jars of jams and honeys, meats and cheeses, cereal and fresh fruit. Add in freshly brewed coffee and fruit juices and we were all happy customers.

Frederiksplein is a great location from which to head out to explore Amsterdam, and is on the edge of the bustling Pijp neighbourhood. The number 4 tram takes you to Centraal Station, and  Museumplein with all the city’s main galleries and museums was just a couple of stops away on the 7 or 10 trams. Read my Amsterdam city guide for creative families if you want more information about what we did on our three-day trip.

 

Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Hotel V Frederiksplein, but all opinions and content are my own.