Rosewood has opened its first property in the Netherlands in the former 17th Century Palace of Justice at the heart of Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal district.

This is the last new hotel development which will be permitted within a monumental building in Amsterdam.

A stay at the luxury 134-key hotel or one of its five 'houses' gives access to the property’s 560sq m Asaya Spa, which blends Eastern healing, Ayurvedic rituals and Western therapies to create an urban sanctuary.

Rosewood’s philosophy, ‘a sense of place’, is a way to immerse guests in each of its destinations and interior designers, Studio Piet Boon, have achieved this by preserving the building’s heritage throughout a 10-year renovation process.

Piet Boon has also connected guests with the Netherlands’ diverse creative communities by installing around 1,000 artworks within the hotel, honouring both the masters and modern creatives. These include bronze sculptures by local artist Frederik Molenschot.

World-renowned Dutch landscape artist Piet Oudolf has also created an inner courtyard garden called De Tuin, to make a living space that has something new to offer each season.

Named after the city’s area code – Huis 020 – the five residences sit alongside the hotel on one of the city’s most picturesque waterways. The design of each captures a unique facet of the city’s heritage and they all have large windows typical of Dutch architecture, inviting the outside in.

About The Asaya Spa

The spa has five treatment rooms – including a couples’ suite with a private hot tub – a 14 metre indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna and a steamroom. There will also be a fitness centre and a separate boutique studio as part of the hotel’s wellness facilities.

Spa interiors by Studio Piet Boon are inspired by wood, water, wind and fire. Arches within the spa space have been retained from the existing structure (which was originally built in 1665) in consultation with the architects, Kentie Architecten.

Treatments and programming

Body treatments have been curated by both Netherlands' skincare brand The Tides (which specialises in raw, locally-sourced ingredients) and Subtle Energies (known for its Ayurvedic therapies). The menu includes aromatherapy, breathwork, massage, body scrubs and wraps.

The menu has a 2.5-hour couples’ suite package that includes a 30-minute private hot tub session, followed by a face and body massage designed to relieve stress with active ingredients including ashwagandha and mogra, plus gold and Himalayan rose. This is combined with a glass of champagne or a CBD-infused mocktail. The price is €595 (US$662, £501).

Partnering with Dr Barbara Sturm, the spa also offers a number of facial treatments designed to strengthen the skin, treat fine lines through hydration and target hyperpigmentation.

A number of Eastern-inspired therapies are available, such as acupuncture, reiki and monthly group soundbaths.

Movement classes at the studio will include yoga and barre, plus private reformer Pilates and personal training sessions.

Holistic lifestyle coaching appointments on offer as well, addressing guests’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. After these sessions, a personalised wellness plan will be created to help guests achieve a balance in mind, body and spirit during their daily lives.

Read the Spa Business profile of the top team at Rosewood here.