aMStERdaM - In Your Pocket

66 oost
Amsterdam East, or simply Oost (pronounced ‘oast'),
is an incredibly diverse district of the Dutch capital that
encompasses neighbourhoods that couldn't be more
different from one another. The recently built IJburg island,
which is still under construction, is a largely residential
area that is home to modern architecture, a main street
called IJburg-laan filled with cafés and shops and a
public beach only minutes from the city centre, while the
areas known as Indische Buurt and Dapperbuurt in the
Zeeburg district are populated by immigrants from all over
the world and their children. Dapperbuurt hosts a huge
market on one of the few streets in the region not named
after an Indonesian island and is the ideal locale to try a
Moroccan cookie or a real Turkish kebab. The KNSM and
Java islands in the Eastern Docklands of the city once supported
a huge working harbour, but are now mostly home
to affluent Amsterdammers. Finally, a trip to Oost wouldn't
be complete without a visit to one of the trendy cafés on
Linnaeusstraat by the Oosterpark or the authentic pubs of
the Watergraafsmeer around Middenweg.
Getting there
Most of Amsterdam East can be easily reached by public
transport. To visit IJburg simply take tram No.26 from the
Central Station. For Indische Buurt, Dapperbuurt, Flevopark
and Watergraafsmeer you can take trams No.7 or 14 from
Leidseplein. For KSNM and Java islands take tram No.10
to the last stop.
Accommodation
Amsterdam East has a bit of everything in terms of
accommodation from recently opened design hotels to
modern hostels with 500 beds.
Upmarket
Eden Amsterdam Manor Hotel O-2, Linnaeusstraat
89, tel. (+31) 207 00 84 00, fax (+31) 207 00 84 01,
reservations.manor@edenhotelgroup.com, www.edenamsterdammanorhotel.com.
This massive brick building
that was once a hospital where legendary footballer Johan
Cruijff was born, was completely renovated and opened as a
luxury hotel by the Eden Group in the summer of 2010. Given
its historical significance to Amsterdam, much of the hotel
has been decorated with the city’s iconic triple X symbol,
including the carpets, the walls and even the duvets on the
beds. Although the façade is a stark reminder of the building’s
past, the interior and the 125 rooms within are completely
modern and conform to the latest 21st-century design trends.
Accommodation includes all of the luxurious amenities you
would expect and the layout of the junior suites is often
unique as most hotel rooms don’t place large, rotating flat
screen TVs at the foot of their beds. An Italian restaurant,
a bar and conference facilities are also available. Q 125
rooms (superior rooms from €80, deluxe rooms from €100,
junior suites from €140). PHAULGBKW hhhh
Hotel Arena O-2, ‘s-Gravesandestraat 51, tel. (+31)
208 50 24 20, info@hotelarena.nl, www.hotelarena.
nl. This historic former orphanage built in 1890 is not only a
good place for sleeping but also for meals, meetings, drinks
and a good night out. The Arena Hotel offers 116 spacious
and comfortable rooms that are similar in style and seem to
differ from one another only in size. They are a successful
mix of nostalgic, yet stylish elements and modern, trendy
furnishings. Unfortunately, the rooms that face the street can
be rather noisy at times. Q 116 rooms (deluxe, studio and
suites €159 - 259). PTAULGKXW
Symbol key
P Air conditioning A Credit cards accepted
C Swimming pool H Conference facilities
F Fitness centre U Facilities for the disabled
6 Pets allowed L Guarded parking
K Restaurant D Sauna
W Free wireless internet Minicards offers
Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre O-1,
Piet Heinkade 11, tel. (+31) 205 19 12 00, fax (+31)
205 19 12 39, hotel.amsterdam@moevenpick.com,
www.moevenpick-hotels.com. Although the name of this
luxurious hotel is a bit misleading, we highly recommend
it. Despite not being located in proper the centre of town,
it’s only a short tram ride away from the canals. But once
you’ve seen the absolutely stunning interior of your room
you might just stay put. All of its 408 rooms are stateof-the
art with all of the amenities you could require, not
to mention a superb bathroom and fantastic views from
the top floors of this 20-storey building. Q 408 rooms
(standard rooms from €179, executive rooms from €242,
junior suites from €299). PTHARUFLGB�
KDXW hhhh
Mid-range
Lloyd Hotel P-1, Oostelijke Handelskade 34, tel.
(+31) 205 61 36 36, fax (+31) 205 61 36 00, post@
lloydhotel.com, www.lloydhotel.com. Once used as
accommodation for emigrants waiting for their ship to depart,
this monumental building overlooking the water dates
back to the 1920s, but it was given a complete overhaul
by a number of popular Dutch designers before it was reopened
as a hotel in 2004. The hotel has a unique concept
as it offers rooms of varying styles and levels of comfort
for guests of all tax brackets. Stay in a five-star suite with
loads of space, a huge bathtub and a grand piano or choose
a Spartan, yet chic room with a bed, table, water view and
shared bathrooms and toilets in the corridor. A restaurant,
bar, conference rooms, a library and free wireless internet
access are also at your disposal in the Eastern Docklands
of Amsterdam. Q 117 rooms (117 doubles €80 - 300).
THA6LGBKW hhh
Hostels
Stayokay Amsterdam Zeeburg P-2, Timorplein 21,
tel. (+31) 205 51 31 90, fax (+31) 206 23 49 86, zeeburg@stayokay.com,
www.stayokay.com. This colossal
brick building complete with clock tower was once a technical
school, but since 2007 has been one of the largest and most
modern hostels in Amsterdam. Its 500 beds are spread
throughout its doubles, quads and six-bed dorm rooms all
of which include a Spartan interior with an orange and grey
colour scheme, new metal bunk beds, a sink and a separate
shower and toilet. Security isn’t a problem as guests can
only access the corridor where their own room is located,
but unfortunately you’ll have to stow your important gear in
lockers on the ground floor. A large café is also available as
well as a bar that serves pitchers of beer for under €10, but
if you’re looking for great local brews, the IJ brewery is only a
short walk away. Q 500 beds (beds in six-bed dorms from
€9, beds in four-bed dorms from €11, doubles from €32,
quads from €42). HAUGBKW
Amsterdam In Your Pocket www.amsterdam.inyourpocket.com