It’s clear someone has been here before me—not yesterday, or the day before, or even the weeks and months leading to my arrival, but lifetimes ago. It’s not a heavy sense of ghoulishness or spirits; rather, it’s a sense of belonging, a sense of home, and the one sense all hotels strive to achieve—a sense of place. 

Courtesy of Pulitzer Amsterdam

In early spring, just as the tulips burst through the ground all over the Netherlands, I checked into thePulitzer Amsterdam, a property that overlooks the historic central canal belt, giving instant access to the city’s top sites. However, the best way to get to know Amsterdam was spending every second I could inside the hotel, which is actually 25 connecting canal houses, built in the 17th and 18th centuries, that have lovingly been turned into the ultimate home away from home. While it looked as seamless as could be, creating this authentic Dutch oasis while preserving its past was no easy feat. 

“The age and fabric of our four-hundred-year-old buildings meant that the renovation of Pulitzer Amsterdam was about balancing the required modern luxury with the preservation of the historical integrity,” the creative director at the Lore Group, which owns the Pulitzer Amsterdam, explained. “We started with a detailed feasibility study and involved experts from the beginning, including those with strong connections to local authorities, such as the Amsterdam municipality and heritage commission. This way, we could combine our unique and eclectic design, modern in-room amenities, and hotel facilities within buildings dating back to the Dutch Golden Age—giving our guests the very best of both worlds in terms of history and modernity.” 

Courtesy of Pulitzer Amsterdam

Historic touches like the original Italian marble flooring throughout, hand-selected vintage furnishings, the original wood paneling, and a distinct wall color in each of the canal houses allow guests to easily identify where one building ends and another begins.

“The hotel has become a collection of years of history, with a blend of traditional and modern Dutch craftsmanship,” Strauss said. “There’s a romantic feel about the history of the building and how it gradually grew to become the Pulitzer Amsterdam.” 

However, the Pulitzer is far from alone as the only historic destination turned must-stay boutique hotel. 

Courtesy of Hotel Verdant

“Zahn’s Boardroom is an ode to the former department store that once occupied the space, and guests can see photos of the building’s construction from the 1920s displayed throughout,” said Michael O’Connor, the founder and chairman of Dominion Properties, which oversaw the redevelopment of Hotel Verdant, a hotel in Racine, Wisconsin that boldly marries its old-school past as the one-time home of the 19th-century Zahn’s Department Store with modern flare.

“We embraced the large department store window heights in guest rooms; the main ballroom’s large windows are a nod to the leaded glass transom windows of Zahn’s; and the Bar 108 cart replicates the original refreshment stand that Zahn’s had for visitors.” 

Courtesy of The Ned NoMad

The Ned NoMad, a reimagined hotel inside the historic, 1903-built Johnston Building in New York City, is magical because of its preserved Beaux-Arts features and the glamor of the building’s heyday in the mid-20th century. 

“We were thoughtful with the design, paying attention to every detail from the sconces to the paint selection, vintage pieces peppered throughout, and lighting,” Peter Nicolosi, the senior associate at Stonehill Taylor, which oversaw the redesign of The Ned Nomad, said. 

Courtesy of The Ned NoMad

“Experiencing a historic property that’s been revitalized to meet the needs of travelers presents an opportunity to see first-hand the melding of past and present,” adding that guests “are taken on a journey of discovery and are fully immersed into the hotel’s history.” 

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