Hotel Amrâth

Part of the Amrâth Hotel, which is located on the Prins Hendrikkade, on a short walk from the Central Station.

The building represents an architectural tendency from the early 20th century called the 'Amsterdamse School'. Characteristic for the Amsterdamse School is the use of bricks as the principal construction material, and the decoration of façades with (again) bricks or natural stone.

Before this building was bought by a hotel keeper (in 2004), it was resident to several shipping companies, and later the local public transport company held office in it too.

Beurs van Berlage

On the photo you can see details of the Beurs van Berlage, a building you will find right in the middle of your walk from the Central Station to the Dam square.

De Beurs van Berlage was finished in 1903 and first functioned as a merchant center. In 1985, when the merchants had already long left the building, the city council decided to convert de Beurs into a 'Palazzo Pubblico' (I guess the Italian name had to contribute to the elegance of the building...?). In the northern part now practices the Dutch Philarmonic Orchestra, while the southern part is residence to a cultural association. The 'palazzo' is so 'pubblico' that I've never seen it from the inside.