Rosewood Amsterdam has becomes home to a travelling cabinet of wonders, blending Dutch artistry, innovation and storytelling in an immersive jewellery experience…
Rosewood Amsterdam continues to define experiential luxury with the unveiling of Jewels on Wheels, an enchanting, roaming jewellery installation created by Dutch jeweller and artist, Bibi van der Velden in her role as House Jeweller of the hotel. Conceived as a roaming jewellery cart, Jewels on Wheels brings van der Velden’s fantastical world to life throughout the hotel – part interactive display, part miniature museum, and part mobile boutique – transforming fine jewellery into an immersive, story-led experience.
Image credit: Rosewood Amsterdam
Launching within Rosewood Amsterdam’s ground floor, the meticulously engineered Jewels on Wheels is designed to travel throughout the property, appearing in spaces such as The Court and the Grand Library, creating intimate, one-to-one encounters with Bibi’s creations. Hotel guests can ‘ring for jewellery’ by calling a dedicated telephone number, allowing guests to directly request a private jewellery experience.
Jewels on Wheels reflects Rosewood Amsterdam’s dedication to showcasing Dutch talent and embedding art into the guest journey. The cart presents a curated rotation of approximately 30 signature pieces and one-of-a-kind creations from Bibi van de Velden’s most iconic collections including Alligator, Scarab, Smoke, Waves, and her diamond-dusted Animal Kingdom. Crafted in 18k recycled gold and set with extraordinary materials such as 60,000-year-old mammoth tusk, malachite, ebony wood, baroque pearls, and semi-precious stones, each piece embodies the hotel’s ethos of refined innovation and modern heritage.
Image credit: Rosewood Amsterdam
“Rosewood Amsterdam is honoured to welcome Bibi van der Velden’s Jewels on Wheels to our distinguished property. The enchanting installation transforms into a living gallery, weaving contemporary creativity into the fabric of Amsterdam’s heritage, inviting guests to experience Dutch excellence by discovering Bibi van der Velden’s jewellery,” Thomas Harlander, Managing Director Rosewood Amsterdam.
The cart itself is a sculptural masterpiece that mirrors the artistic and cultural narrative of Rosewood Amsterdam. Its wooden form is inlaid with intricate marquetry featuring botanical motifs in black walnut, birch, oak, and zebrano, finished in natural linseed oil stained in Bibi’s signature malachite green and accented with deep Delft blue as a tribute to Dutch heritage.
Image credit: Rosewood Amsterdam
Within, a dreamlike jungle unfolds: organically shaped plants brushed with gold leaf, ceramic clouds gilded in gold, and tiny golden scarabs and ants weaving through the foliage. A sculptural alligator anchors the base, symbolising water and transformation, while the gold clouds above represent the sky and the flora within the vitrine embodies earth—an elemental harmony that resonates with the hotel’s architectural narrative. Hidden within this enchanted landscape is a scarab automaton, a subtle mechanical marvel that moves across the cart, bringing the symbolism of rebirth and transformation to life. Discreetly integrated into the cart’s structure is a circular screen that plays Bibi van der Velden’s documentary films, allowing Rosewood Amsterdam guests to gain deeper insight into the craftsmanship, symbolism, and imagination behind each piece.
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- Image credits: Rosewood Amsterdam
“It’s like a tiny travelling theatre of treasures. We’ve always believed our jewellery has a life of its own – now it has wheels too. My pieces are not just adornments; they’re stories, symbols, and tiny worlds to explore.” Bibi van der Velde, Designer
Beneath its poetic exterior, Jewels on Wheels conceals advanced technology and engineering. Precision mechanics, integrated power systems, and bespoke digital components ensure effortless mobility and flawless presentation throughout Rosewood Amsterdam, allowing the experience to unfold seamlessly wherever it appears. Guests are encouraged to interact with the cart in an intimate and tactile way: trying on pieces, opening hidden drawers, and using magnifying glasses to discover intricate details. The experience also functions as a point of purchase, enabling guests to acquire jewellery directly from the cart in an unhurried and highly personalised setting, reinforcing Rosewood Amsterdam’s commitment to curated, meaningful luxury.
Image credit: Rosewood Amsterdam
A sculptor as well as a jeweller, Bibi van der Velden is renowned for transforming precious and unexpected materials into wearable art alive with imagination and character. Jewels on Wheels marks a milestone moment in her journey, following the international acclaim of her Amsterdam flagship boutique, located just a short walk from Rosewood Amsterdam. Her studio is also nearby, embedding her creative practice directly into the fabric of the city. Together, the hotel installation, flagship, and studio extend Bibi’s universe across Amsterdam, offering Rosewood Amsterdam’s international guests a distinctly Dutch expression of craftsmanship, curiosity, and wonder.
Main image credit: Rosewood Amsterdam
