It’s undeniable: the Coronavirus has changed work, travel, and life as we know it. We have to work from home as our professions allow; schools are closed; we’re all crammed into our cozy little apartments together… and we’re going slightly nuts. In tiny Amsterdam, space, privacy, and room to focus are more precious than ever. And if you have kids, good luck getting any actual work done at home.
So when Hotel Boat&Co, a luxury aparthotel in Amsterdam’s up-and-coming Houthavens neighborhood, invited Instagrambloggers for a work day in one of their long-stay apartments, we jumped at the chance. Boat&Co is among the few enterprising Amsterdam hotels that, responding to low demand for international travel, has turned its rooms into cool offices that you can rent for a day.
Call it a workcation, turn it into a staycation—it’s pretty genius. Here’s a review of our work and stay at Hotel Boat&Co Amsterdam.
How does it work?
Book a hotel room at Boat&Co. for the day, from 8:00-20:00 for €39 (single occupancy). With lunch from Boat&Co’s in-house restaurant Vessel, it’s €49.
Turn your work day into an overnight stay for €129. I brought the fam and they liked it so much, we added an extra night to our booking.
Is it Corona-proof?
Online booking is of course contactless. When you get to the hotel, check-in is done from a safe distance of 1,5m. Gym and wellness facilities are closed; guests are requested to use the elevators one at a time.
On-site dining and bar is closed during this period, so bring snacks, but you can have room service delivered. Be aware that lunch isn’t on the room service menu unless you book it in advance when you book the room. Room service delivery begins at 17:30 and is contactless.
Read up on Boat&Co’s cleaning policy and other COVID-19 FAQ here.
What should I expect?
- An inspiring space to work. When we first visited Boat&Co during its launch in 2019, we were immediately impressed by its cool, midcentury nautical-inspired interiors (think Mad Men or a Edward Hopper painting). After weeks of working from my bed/hallway/under my daughter’s double-decker bed/in front of a big pile of laundry, working here—in Instagram-proof space all for myself—was a very welcome change of scene!
- Fully equipped apartment facilities. Apartments at Boat&Co have a kitchen with a Nespresso machine, electric kettle, combi-oven, induction stovetop, pots, pans, dishes, cups and plates. Everything you need to make yourself a working lunch, or more if you choose to extend your stay. Which we did, making it a staycation for the whole family.
We like the Marie-Stella Maris toiletries in the bathrooms, too.
Warning: the beds are super comfy. So go on, take that mid-afternoon power nap. Experts say it’s good for focus and productivity.
- Views on the water. This is one of the things I enjoyed the most while working at Boat&Co: staring out the window across the IJ to NDSM. The play of light and clouds over the water changes every minute.
- Because this is the Netherlands, and the weather can never make up its mind, but hey at least you can enjoy the show.
- Lots of peace and quiet. In this Coronavirus period, Boat&Co’s surroundings are virtually empty. It is surreal to have a hotel almost all to yourself! Though it’s easily reachable by bus from Central Station and quite close to vibrant Spaarndammerbuurt and Westerpark, much of Houthavens is still under construction, so the density of people is much lower than most Amsterdam neighborhoods.
If you want to avoid people in the city, but still be able to stock up on essential supplies at Albert Heijn, and um, Gall & Gall (surely I can’t be the only one drinking my way through quarantine!), then Boat&Co is a very good bet.
The verdict: an Amsterdam workcation was never this pretty, or this affordable. For sure, 10/10 would do it over again. Thanks for letting us try it out, Boat&Co!
Hotel Boat&Co Amsterdam Revaleiland 500 Houthavens, Amsterdam Website | Instagram | Facebook
