Hotel Estheréa

Hotel Estheréa has been run by the same family for more than 80 years. It began as a modest guest house with 12 rooms, founded by Maria Flieger-Gruyters, and has grown, building by building, into a four-star hotel that now fills several 17th-century houses on the Singel, the oldest of Amsterdam's main canals. Few hotels in the centre can point to such a long family connection.

The hotel has 91 rooms and two suites, which vary in size and outlook, as is usual in old canal houses where no two floors are quite the same. Some rooms overlook the Singel and others face the quieter rear. The rooms are set within the historic buildings, so layouts follow the old houses. Breakfast can be arranged, and the hotel also offers rooms for small meetings, as well as seasonal packages.

Estheréa suits couples and independent travellers who want to stay in a real canal house in the centre, and it is a sound choice for a first visit to Amsterdam, as almost all the main sights are within walking distance. As in many historic buildings, staircases can be steep, so mention any mobility needs when booking. A canal-view room is worth requesting for a special occasion.

The hotel can be contacted by phone or by email through its front office, and booking directly on its website is straightforward. For drivers, there is a car park nearby on Spuistraat, but it is suitable only for cars of limited dimensions, so check before you arrive; public transport is the easier option in the centre.

The Singel location puts the hotel between Dam Square and the Nine Streets. The Royal Palace, the Begijnhof and the Spui are all about five minutes' walk away, and the Anne Frank House is around ten minutes to the west. Trams stop nearby on Spuistraat and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, and Central Station is about 15 minutes on foot or a short tram ride. Evening walks along the canals of the Grachtengordel start from the front door, and some of the city's oldest brown cafés, including Café Hoppe on the Spui, are close by for a drink.