Any celebrity guests?
We have lots of people from the music world, such as David Bowie, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton. Take That stayed many times and were very funny. We also get many artists and actors. Although Amsterdam is not so big, it is a very cosmopolitan city.
Any unusual requests?
I have been a concierge here for 11 years and of course there have been strange requests during that time. But we are always very private. Our work is to make our guests feel happy, so I have to care about everything.
What about a night out?
There is a very good restaurant at the American Hotel, and our sister hotel, the Amstel, has a Michelin starred restaurant, La Rive, which is one of the best in Holland. It is in a nice location, overlooking a canal, and the menu is French cuisine. However, the American Hotel is probably the best place for breakfast. It really depends what guests want, because there is food from all over the world here: Indonesian, African, Italian, Japanese. The Nightwatch bar is very famous, and there are lots of cafes and bars around Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.
What about sightseeing?
I recommend visiting some of the bigger museums, such as the Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Anne Frank museums. The markets are also interesting: there is a good antiques market in Waterlooplein. We have four main canals in Amsterdam, with many boats, which are always popular with tourists, but if you want a little more privacy we can make a reservation for a water taxi, which seats up to eight people, so you can explore the canals with your own guide. The most beautiful canal is Prisengracht, which is named after William of Orange. It is not too far from the hotel, and the best residential areas are around this canal. Also, if Leidseplein is too busy, try the area around Concertgebouw, which is much quieter and is the place to go for classical music concerts. Holland is famous for flowers and this is the best time of year to see them. There are more than 500 types of tulip at the Keukenhof flower park. The gardens are about one hour from Amsterdam and are open for the next two months. All along the way there are spectacular fields of tulips.
What happens on Queen's Day?
Queen's Day was the weekend before last and everyone comes to Amsterdam for a very big party to celebrate Queen Beatrix's birthday. It is a hell of a day, but unfortunately I had to go to London to see my brother.
American Hotel: 00 31 20 556 3205
La Rive: 00 31 20 622 6060
Keukenhof Flower Gardens: 00 31 252 46 5555
