Marriott opened two new hotels in Amsterdam late January 2018 with a joint Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens and Residence Inn Houthavens project . These adjacently located hotels are at the end of a wharf on the Ij, the major waterway in Amsterdam.
These hotels are located 2.5 miles northwest of Centraal Station, about 20 minutes by bus #48 to the last stop at Koivistokade, then walk to the hotels at the end of the wharf.Â
Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens is a 120 room hotel on six floors and enters Marriott Rewards at category 5 or 25,000 points per night. This is the latest Moxy opening in Europe, where Marriott plans to open another 40 new Moxy hotels by 2020.
Residence Inn Amsterdam Houthavens is a 60-suite hotel with 3 floors at the end of the wharf and enters Marriott Rewards at category 6 for 30,000 points per reward night.
Starting rates appear to be about 200 EUR per night for Moxy and 250 EUR for Residence Inn. Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens makes a good value free night certificate redemption, like those earned from Marriott’s fall 2017 MegaBonus.
Houthavens
Houthavens consists of several ports on the Ij waterway. The area has seen major urban redevelopment in the past decade for mixed use residential, business and recreation common to most areas of the city.
While I have not been to these hotels or the Houthavens ports, I was in the vicinity last month when Kelley and I walked from Ramada Apollo Amsterdam in West Amsterdam to Westerpark and Haarlemerstraat.
I stayed at a Golden Tulip hotel near this area a couple of times on Priceline rates more than a decade ago. That hotel is now WestCord Art Hotel Amsterdam.
The Houthavens as cultural and creative neighbourhood
The Houthavens, previously an area of Amsterdam with an impressive industrial history, is located on the banks of ‘t IJ and is a state-of-the-art cultural and creative neighbourhood. A dynamic harbour atmosphere comes together with the sense of independence offered by the surrounding water, which is reflected by the creative industry hotspots located in the area. Many companies, such as Diesel, Hugo Boss, Barts, Toms, Dedato Architecten and Aegis have established offices here. The Houthavens also has its own theatre, that hosts the Anne Frank theatre production. Horeca establishments grow in numbers as well. The Houthaven district has become an easy to reach, future-proof and stimulating place to work being a creative hub of excellence with a beautiful view over ‘t IJ and its harbours.
Cycashospitality hotel development site (June 9, 2016).
Westerpark green space near Houthaven
Westerpark is an area I enjoyed walking around recently. There was an area in the park where trees had dozens of grey heron nests. I thought they were great blue herons at the time, then learned those large birds are an Americas species. Europe’s similar looking herons are grey herons.
5 Things to Do in Westerpark, Amsterdam – iamsterdam.com
My first stay at a Moxy was December 2017 at the recently opened Moxy London Stratford. I enjoyed the hotel vibe there and photos of Moxy Amsterdam offer a similar visual interior.
Loyalty Traveler – Moxy London Stratford cool space by tube station.
