A weekend filled with fresh stroopwafels, bitterballen and cycling between bars is always a good idea in our eyes
With the Eurostar it’s never been easier for us Londoners to visit Amsterdam and we did exactly that recently, checking in to boutique apartment brand Eric Vökel during our stay. Eric Vökel has apartments across five cities in Europe, with two sets of apartments in Amsterdam itself. We stayed in the newest addition, the Eric Vökel Riverfront Suites, which only opened earlier this year.
The apartments are in the cool Houthaven neighbourhood, right on the riverside and in a prime location, being only a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute cycle to the centre of the city. There’s also a ferry stop right outside that takes you straight to Amsterdam Noord. The apartments themselves are housed on the ground floor of the mighty Pontsteiger building, an iconic property which can be seen from afar (very helpful if, like us, you happen to lose your bearings when cycling). It’s relatively off the beaten track and very quiet, so there’s no worry of being disturbed.
Once inside, we were taken aback at how spacious and bright our apartment was. All apartments are mezzanine-style, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the IJ River. This flooded the apartment with lots of light and meant our morning coffees were often spent taking in the views.
As with all Eric Vökel properties, the apartments have a Nordic/Mediterranean style to them, meaning they’re practical and colourful. The suites are well-equipped with everything you could need during your stay. Kitchen amenities include a microwave, coffee machine and dishwasher – ideal if you fancy dining in the apartment.
When it comes to breakfast, you’ll receive a bag of goodies on arrival to set you up for your stay, packed with essentials like bread and milk, and of course plenty of Gouda cheese. If you’re staying over a weekend, we suggest heading to the building’s courtyard on Saturday morning to get your pastry fix from the super cute mobile bakery. Any other day, try cult Amsterdam bakeries loof or Fort Negen for some mega pastries – head early to avoid those long, hipster-filled queues.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay that is more than just a place to lay your head, then definitely check out Eric Vökel Riverfront Suites. Not only does it tick all the boxes for space, design, comfort, and ease (you can check in and out of the apartment online, which helps if you’re arriving late or leaving early) but its location had us feeling like a local in no time at all.
Pontsteiger 195 · 1014 ZP, Amsterdam
ericvokel.com