3 CITYHUB ROTTERDAM
Boldly billing itself as an ‘urban
hotel for digital natives’, these
quirky rooms are where Dutch
design meets Japanese tech.
Guests are issued a digital
wristband for room access and
paying for drinks and snacks.
An app controls the interior
lighting, while the provided
bathrobes and slippers add
a little dignity to the shared
bathroom experience. From
€56 (£51). cityhub.com4 WIKKELBOAT
Made out of 24 layers of
corrugated cardboard, the
Wikkelboat has become so
popular the operators built
a second one. Sleeping four
guests in two rooms, the
loating houseboat includes
a self-contained kitchen and
bathroom, and is designed to
maximise space, with fold-down
beds and pull-out sofas. From
€115 (£105). wikkelboat.nl
SHANEY HUDSON1 CULTURE CAMPSITE
This spot prioritises sustainability with a selection of
eight individual sleeping structures made from upcycled
materials and designed by local architects. But this is
no ordinary campsite: digs consist of everything from
grain silos to converted greenhouses, but it’s the Floating
Bricks structure — a single room constructed from glass
and rejected bricks — that’s the most eye-catching.
Along with shared facilities, guests also have the use of
a see-through, domed common area. Doubles from €75
(£70). culturecampsite.com
2 HOTEL NEW YORK
The former head oice of the
Holland America Line is now a
glamorous hotel and heritage site
with a bookshop in the lobby, a
barbershop in the basement and
a water taxi service to the city
centre. Some of the 72 rooms
have ireplaces or turrets, while
the former boardroom, complete
with wood panelling and a
freestanding bath by the window,
overlooks the river. From €155
(£145). hotelnewyork.com�otterdam
WHERE TO STAY
From cardboard houseboats to cool
campsites, the Dutch city’s new
hotels are a glimpse into the future
IMAGES: VAL ROSS; MARC HEEMAN; FRANK DE ROO - FOTOBUREAU DE ROO; TAUFIQ HOSEN; BOJE PLOEG.ALL RATES QUOTED ARE FOR STANDARD DOUBLES, ROOM ONLY. RATES EXCLUDE THE 6.5% TOURIST TAX.SMART TRAVELLER32 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel