Corendon Amsterdam - A Boeing 737 in Your Bedroom and a Hammam Downstairs

Most hotels stake their identity on a lobby artwork or a rooftop bar. Corendon Amsterdam New-West went a different route and installed the front half of a real Boeing 737 on the seventh floor. That alone would be enough to earn the place a mention, but the hotel turns out to have a lot more going on - a lively Caribbean restaurant, a spa that takes wellness seriously, and a location in one of Amsterdam's most genuinely diverse neighborhoods. It earns its keep well beyond the aviation gimmick.

The hotel is a member of Marriott's Tribute Portfolio, a collection of independent properties selected for their distinct character. With 263 rooms, a resident DJ, and the Green Key Gold sustainability certification, it manages to be both a polished stay and a neighborhood hangout.

Location

The hotel sits on Aletta Jacobslaan in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, a district that came into being in 2010 when three former neighborhoods merged. It is a residential, multicultural area - not the postcard Amsterdam of canal houses and bicycle gridlock, but a place with its own texture and energy.

Getting around is easy. Tram line 2 is less than a seven-minute walk away and will have you at Vondelpark, the Concertgebouw, Museumplein, Dam Square, or Central Station in under 25 minutes. Metro lines 50 and 51, also within a short walk, connect to Amsterdam Lelylaan Station and from there to Schiphol Airport in about 20 minutes.

The Story

Corendon Hotels & Resorts opened this property - then called Corendon City Hotel Amsterdam - in 2015. That same year, a crane lifted a repainted KLM Boeing 737 fuselage into what would become the hotel's signature suite on the top floor. In 2023, the property converted to the Tribute Portfolio brand under Marriott, becoming the first Tribute Portfolio hotel in the Netherlands.

The redesign leaned into the neighborhood's multicultural character. A branded wall in the lobby incorporates artifacts celebrating the area's cultural richness, while photographic art throughout the building draws on imagery from multiple traditions.

The Bar and Lounge

The bar and lounge at the back of Mondi Restaurant is open daily. The decor is colorful and the atmosphere tips toward festive in the evenings, when a DJ sets the mood. Signature cocktails lean on Bacardi rum and Grey Goose vodka - the Spiced Colada pairs Bacardi Carta Negra with coconut and pineapple, while the De La Rosa uses Grey Goose with limoncello.

Mondi Restaurant

Mondi is the hotel's only restaurant, and it takes its brief seriously. The menu blends Caribbean and French influences, with an atmosphere that accommodates both a quiet dinner and a lively night out. The kitchen also offers a High Tea experience - premium teas, freshly prepared sandwiches and wraps, hot and cold bites, and a selection of sweets.

Live entertainment is part of the offering on a regular basis, with performers and DJs scheduled throughout the week. The restaurant has hosted Caribbean Nights with fantastic live music. The afternoon tea on weekdays is worth considering even if you are just passing through.

The breakfast buffet runs every day in the Mondi space. It is a generous spread, and if you are traveling from a few time zones away and need a proper meal before heading into the city, this is a reliable start to the day.

The Rooms

All rooms were renovated as part of the 2023 rebrand. The interiors are contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling soundproofed windows, USB outlets, mini fridges, and the hotel's own Corendon bed design. Every room has a flat-screen TV with Netflix and Chromecast, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and a walk-in shower unless otherwise noted. Air conditioning is standard throughout.

King Room

The standard King Room runs between 27 m² (291 ft²) and a little over that, with one king bed and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The layout is efficient without feeling squeezed - there is an oversized chair, a writing desk, iron and ironing board, and a lighted makeup mirror.

Deluxe Super King

The Deluxe Super King offers between 25 and 27 m² (269 to 291 ft²) built around a king super bed - slightly wider than a standard king. The main upgrade over the base King Room is the bathroom, which has a shower and tub combination rather than a walk-in shower only. The floor-to-ceiling windows and USB outlets are standard here as in all room types.

Junior Suite

The Junior Suite ranges from 34 to 39 m² (366 to 420 ft²), with a separate living and sitting area, sofa, oversized chair, and a king super bed. The bathroom steps up to a walk-in shower and includes robes and slippers - small details, but they shift the register of the stay. The suite also has a coffee maker and a kettle area, ample storage, and a room safe.

The 737 Suite

Room 737 is on the seventh floor, and the door is marked "Cockpit Suite." Step through and three steps lead directly into the rear of a real Boeing 737 fuselage - repainted from its original KLM livery in Corendon's colors before being craned into the building in 2015.

The suite covers 120 m² (1,291 ft²). Beyond the fuselage, on the port side, is a king super bed. The bathroom has a rain shower and tub combination, plus a second bathroom elsewhere in the suite - a legacy of the room's earlier life as a conference and simulator space.

The starboard side has a seating area, and there is a dining area with a round table and wet bar.

The cockpit windows align with the hotel's floor-to-ceiling glazing, with the nose of the aircraft actually protruding through the wall. The orientation faces roughly southwest toward Schiphol, so planespotting is a legitimate activity from the captain's chair.

There are three rows of dark blue leather seats, a small galley with carts, and then the full cockpit with every switch, knob, lever, and wheel accessible and usable.

The 737 Suite is the only suite of its kind in Europe. It is not a cozy room in the traditional sense - sleeping next to an aircraft door is a particular kind of experience - but as a memorable stay, it is hard to top.

Vitality Spa

The Vitality Spa occupies over 305 m² (3,280 ft²) and is open seven days a week. Spa access is included in all room rates for staying guests. Children under 18 are not permitted in the spa, though families with children can use the pool during the morning hours.

The relaxation rooms are one of the spa's stronger features. One has a beach theme, with design elements that aim to recreate the sensory experience of being somewhere sunny and far from the Dutch winter. It functions as a proper decompression zone rather than a generic waiting area.

The sauna offering is varied. There is a Finnish sauna, a steam room, an infrared sauna, an aroma experience sauna, and a traditional hammam. A tepidarium lounge rounds out the thermal facilities, providing a middle-temperature zone for gradual warming or cooling.

The indoor swimming pool is heated and available to all staying guests. It is on the smaller side relative to the overall spa footprint, but it serves its purpose.

The fitness center is free for registered guests, and massages and beauty treatments are available for an additional fee, requiring advance booking. On three days a week, the spa is reserved exclusively for women during the afternoon hours.