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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
You might not think of Amsterdam as a wellness capital, with its historic inclination to ignite THC rather than apply it via creams or serums. But with yoga studios and medical aesthetic clinics popping up along the canals, it’s not surprising that many of the city’s grandest hotels now house treatment rooms or thermal chambers in their lower levels.
Perched on the edge of the Herengracht Canal, in the heart of the city’s storybook center, the Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam is—like its sister hotels around the world—a standard setter in terms of quality and service. The emphasis here is on elegance and minimalism: a lobby that’s a rink of Carrara marble, gradations of beige furnishing with the pop of blue, a giant Cire Trudon candle flickering in the corner, and soft jazz music piped over the speakers. In some ways, you could be anywhere. Then you spot a giant burnished urn of tulips bobbing their heads, the glint of Vermeer-level sunshine flickering through the windows, or a bicycle whizzing by, and you realize exactly where you are.
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What’s the vibe?
I’m not sure when so many city hotels decided to confine their spas to the lower levels. Maybe it was just the best use of real estate, or that is the location for the pool that required the least structural engineering. Either way, down you go to access the Waldorf Astoria’s Guerlain Spa. Once you enter, however, it’s as if you’ve stepped inside a cozy Parisian parfumerie with a salon of cut-glass bottles surrounding the reception desk. This is the kind of place where you’re more likely to smell tuberose or gardenia than santal or sandalwood; there’s not a palo santo stick in sight. This spa offers a model of refined pampering in a classic sense, with a traditional but comprehensive menu of massages, facials, and makeup and beauty services, as well as a sauna and a small but serene pool overlooking a courtyard garden. In early spring, the daffodils stood sentry in a cheery ring around the perimeter, and the whole place was permeated with a sense of peace.
What’s the history?
The Waldorf Astoria spans six connected canal houses from the Dutch Golden Age that line Herengracht (also known as the Gentleman’s Canal). It is one of the city’s most beautiful canals—and competition is stiff. The idea for the hotel was born in 2011, and it opened in 2014 in the heart of the historic district. The hotel has been meticulously renovated and has kept much of the historic detail (like larger windows on the lower levels, which decrease in size as you ascend). One suite in the hotel even includes a beautiful painted ceiling that has been preserved from the 17th century.
What should you try?
I lay down for a deep tissue massage mere hours after shepherding my four children across the ocean on a red-eye flight. Needless to say, I had some kinks to work out. My skilled technician set to work on the hazelnut-size lumps scattered across my shoulders, digging in to dismantle them after a quick consult and a foot scrub. This isn’t necessarily the kind of place to come if you’re looking for something cutting-edge, but it is a place where you know you will get quality classics. I emerged 90 minutes later with the burden of transatlantic travel lifted from my shoulders.
My massage was in a classic vein, but there are more location-specific treatments to try if you are so inclined. The Fusion Experience, for example, uses hot oil and ice to recreate the meeting of land and earth that is so central to the architecture of the so-called Venice of the North. Other treatments pull from Guerlain’s French roots, such as the Royal Honey Repair and Renew, which uses honey-inspired products.
How environmentally friendly is it?
The entire hotel has made efforts to reduce its environmental impact. They have implemented energy-efficient lighting, a reduction of single-use plastic, and the usage of rainwater and other conservation-minded measures to irrigate and reduce water consumption. The hotel also houses six beehives.
Who can go?
The Guerlain Spa is open to people staying at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, as well as external guests who book an appointment in advance.
Booking details for The Guerlain Spa
Address: Herengracht 542-556, 1017 CG Amsterdam, Netherlands
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
