Inside the stacked triangular wedges of noted architecture firm OMA's assertive three-part form, every detail of the rooms is thoughtful, from the subtle, damask-patterned wall coverings to the round carpet under the bed. The smallest rooms are just the right size, with a desk large enough for a laptop and guidebooks and a lounge chair for taking in the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There is no extraneous art on the walls, and no art is needed, since every surface is interesting, whether mirrored, textured, or wood. With its flattering lighting, the bathroom features a first-rate rain shower head and unusual but intuitive controls, and the heated mirror doesn't fog up. The only drawbacks are, if you're on the 18th or 19th floor, minor sound transmission of voices from the restaurant terrace below. But nighttime sleep was totally quiet. Elevators are plentiful and fast. The approach from the north is anything but quaint, and elevated roadway obscures the first experience of the dynamic form; it would be improved by removal of the hundreds of cigarette butts in the joints between the brick walkway and by re-thinking the mediocre landscaping. But the convenience to the M52 subway at Europaplein and the Sprinter to and from Schiphol at the RAI station--only two stops away!--makes the location exceptionally convenient, and at 1/3 the cost of comparable options a bit closer in, nhow is a fine choice for a visit to Amsterdam. read more