Nestled in the heart of Amsterdam, within the UNESCO World Heritage canal district, is the Pulitzer Amsterdam. Designer Wren Loucks steps inside to experiences both the past and present of the city, through the light-hearted and intriguing design narrative of this LORE Group hotel…
First Impressions
The Pulitzer Amsterdam is set within twenty-five restored 17th and 18th century canal houses. When I first arrived at the hotel, I didn’t realise this, and I found the circulation confusing, with long corridors and unexpected room locations – but when I realised that the Pulitzer is really a neighbourhood of connected canal houses, I re-associated the labyrinthine layout as historically fascinating and playful. I enjoyed walking around imagining which house I was in and how it would have originally been used.
Image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
History to Present Day
Peter Pulitzer founded the hotel in the 1970s. He saw an opportunity to refurbish the dilapidated canal houses and purchased twelve which he transformed into The Pulitzer. Over the course of thirty years, he continued to buy up his neighbours until the hotel expanded to twenty-five townhouses. In 2015 and 2016 the hotel went through a major renovation. The renovation was led by Jacu Strauss, Creative Director of the Lore Group, who took design inspiration from the city—from Dutch old masters’ paintings to the tradition of Delft pottery, to the contemporary art scene. I enjoyed being out in the city and ‘seeing’ some of Strauss’s inspiration, such as Jan Davidsz de Heem’s Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase, 1650-1685, which so clearly connects to the contemporary still life painting in the entrance lobby.
Image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
In fact, the contemporary still life in the lobby in many ways embodies Strauss’s design concept for the hotel – reimagining the past through contemporary eyes and technique, to create not a pastiche, but a novel and whimsical expression of Amsterdam.
The concept of play is woven throughout the hotel – through the maze-like circulation, the vibrant ‘pops’ of colour and mismatch of furniture from various renovations and design styles. The interior design doesn’t take itself too seriously, inviting you to relax into the space.
Image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
Function & Facilities
I was travelling to Amsterdam for work, with my husband and our daughter who was 6-month-old at the time. I found the hotel to be very practical, the rooms a good size with spacious bathrooms. They also provide equipment for travelling with a young child, like baby monitors and cots. In terms of business facilities, there isn’t a set work area or business centre, but I was able to sit in The Pulitzer Garden café to take a 7-am business video call, which was very pleasant (and they make great coffee).
The hotel is also light on wellness facilities, with a very small gym and no pool or spa area. If you are looking for a treatment, they have recently opened The Beauty House which offers massages, facials, nails and hair treatments.
Image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
When it comes to food and beverage, the hotel has several options. The Pulitzer Garden is a casual café with an outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy a good coffee, glass of wine, or a plate of pasta, and the Pulitzer’s Bar, is an intimate and dark bar that serves a fabulous negroni. They also have rooms for private dining. Jansz, the hotel’s main restaurant, was a highlight. The restaurant offers modern-Dutch cuisine in a relaxed yet elegant setting. At night, it feels much more like a well-loved local restaurant than a hotel restaurant, with an off-street entrance. In the morning, it offers an absolutely delicious breakfast buffet, full of fresh food and smoothies, delicious pastries and hot meal options. It wouldn’t disappoint anyone.
Image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
Lasting Impressions
My affection for the Pulitzer Amsterdam grew throughout my stay at the hotel. The quirky design, unexpected layout and layers of history within the spaces ignited my curiosity and imagination. Each corridor felt like a new discovery, each room a different chapter in the building’s centuries-old story. It was a peaceful retreat after a long day in the city. What struck me most was how the hotel managed to balance its playful, contemporary spirit with deep respect for its historical significance, creating an atmosphere that felt both refreshingly modern and authentically Amsterdam.
Main image credit: Pulitzer Amsterdam
