Amsterdam’s iconic bridge houses are being transformed into hotel rooms

What started out as an urban development project has evolved into Sweets Hotel, a concept that is transforming Amsterdam’s 28 bridge houses into an ensemble of one-of-a-kind hotel suites all over the city.

The quirky chambers, which hover over the Amsterdam’s sprawling network of waterways, were once home to bridge operators – choreographers of an industrial ballet of boats that danced beneath them – opening and closing the bridge as needed. Now due to automated technology, these houses have lost their original purpose, with many left neglected. 

In an on-going project first initiated in 2012 – Sweets Hotel is polishing these forgotten gems, offering experience-hungry travellers a truly local, historic experience. 

Tracing a history of Amsterdam’s shifting architectural focus with a variety of buildings that cover a date range from as far back as 1673 to as recently as 2009, these bijou buildings have been restored, rescued and renovated. Inside, local firm Space & Matter has smartly adapted the rooms with space-saving techniques such as walls of shelves and integrated en-suites, to create a modern, functional retreat providing (just enough) space for two adult travellers.

As of now 11 of the 28 bridge houses are available for reservations, with ten more expected to launch before the year’s out. And with a level of immersion you simply won’t get anywhere else in the city, with Sweets Hotel it's not just about bagging a canal-side location, but for a weekend at least, you can own a piece of the canal.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Sweets Hotel website