Hilton Amsterdam
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | May 9, 1962 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam , Netherlands |
| Products | Hotel accommodation, suites, bar, hair salon |
The Hilton Amsterdam stands as a landmark hotel situated in the Apollobuurt neighborhood within Amsterdam's Oud-Zuid district, Netherlands. Positioned at Apollolaan 138 beside the Noorder Amstelkanaal, it commenced operations in 1962 as a member of the Hilton Hotels group. This establishment gained historical significance for hosting John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 "Bed-In" peace demonstration opposing the Vietnam War.
Facilities
Offering 271 guest rooms, the Hilton Amsterdam has recently undergone interior updates designed by Nobilis Paris. Its amenities encompass a hair salon, a bar, and several outdoor terraces. Accommodation options vary from traditional Dutch-style suites to deluxe and executive rooms. Among its distinguished lodgings is the John and Yoko suite—a spacious 50-square-meter luxury unit featuring a king-size bed and related memorabilia—as well as the King Hilton Junior, King Neptune, Presidential, Queen Hilton Junior, twin Hilton Junior, and Royal suites.
History
The Amsterdam Hilton officially opened its doors on May 9, 1962, marking the first international hotel chain presence in the Netherlands. Architect Hugh Aart Maaskant designed the building with a distinctive V-shape to emphasize the junction of Apollolaan and Minerva Avenue. Between 1996 and 1998, the hotel underwent extensive refurbishment that included a redesigned lobby by Peter Ellis.
This location has witnessed several notable events, such as the 1991 assassination of drug kingpin Klaas Bruinsma in its vicinity. In 2001, artist and musician Herman Brood ended his life by leaping from the hotel's rooftop at age 54; his widely publicized funeral procession started at this hotel, attracting thousands of mourners. Additionally, UK celebrity chef and television personality Gary Rhodes began his professional journey at the Amsterdam Hilton.
Bed-In for Peace
Following their marriage on March 20, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono utilized their honeymoon to stage a "Bed-In" peace campaign within the presidential suite (originally room #902, later renumbered #702) at the Amsterdam Hilton from March 25 through March 31, 1969. Each day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., they welcomed international media to advocate for peace with placards stating "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace." The rediscovery of lost photographic negatives from this event was made by Amsterdam art dealer Nico Koster, who Lennon had invited; these surfaced in 2009. After concluding their week-long stay, the couple traveled to Vienna for a Bagism press conference. This iconic episode is commemorated in the 1969 track "The Ballad of John and Yoko," which explicitly mentions the Amsterdam Hilton: "Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton, Talking in our beds for a week..."