When I take the ferry from Amsterdam Central station to the NDSM werf  I am overwhelmed by a blissful feeling immediately. I love crazy concepts, raw areas and hip corners. This is the place to be. The NDSM werf is completely transformed into the alternative hot spot of the city. Art and creativity, that is what counts here. Fancy students climbing out of their home container, ecologic eateries are all round and just about any wall is sprayed with graffiti. There is a raw, industrial atmosphere and it bursts of creativity here. I like that.

The Faralda NDSM Crane Hotel fits perfectly into this creative hotspot of Amsterdam. It hosts a TV studio within and 3 suites are built in this former industrial crane, a now monumental crane of 50 metres high. All 3 suites overlook the river IJ in Amsterdam and each have a very cool design, full of contemporarily art. I step into the elevator of the hotel to get to my suite and find myself getting more and more excited – the elevator goes along the outside and stops directly in front of the door of your room. Right from the first step through that door I run to the large windows. That view! It is evening now and I can count all flickering lights of our beautiful capital. The suites are built up in two parts: a spacious living room with different corners, a tv, a bathroom with rain shower and a a staircase leads you into the bedroom with bath and tv. And…once again…that view. Amazing. View. And that interior design is pretty epic too. An international team is responsible for the interior & exterior design. There are collaborations with interesting brands, designers and artists and that makes each suite unique. The beds sleep like heaven and don’t be surprised if you find a a red pig, a stuffed peacock or a hammock in your room. Wake up while the sun is rising above pretty Amsterdam and enjoy a champagne breakfast. A night in a crane does you good. Ideal as a special gift, surprise or bridal suite.

Wanneer ik met het pontje van Amsterdam Centraal naar de NDSM werf dobber word ik al overspoeld door een gelukzalig gevoel. Ik ben dol op gekke concepten, rauwe buurten en hippe hoekjes. Hier zit ik goed. De NDSM werf is volledig getransformeerd tot de alternatieve hotspot van de stad. Kunst en creativiteit, dat is waar het hier om draait. Hippe studenten klimmen uit hun wooncontainer, de ecologische eethuisjes schieten de grond uit en zo’n beetje elk brokstuk is bespoten met graffiti. Er hangt een rauwe, industriële sfeer en het barst er van de creativiteit. Vind ik leuk.

Foto 5/11 The Crane Hotel, Amsterdam