Consistently ranking in the top 10 of the most popular European tourism destinations, Amsterdam has seen a surge in hotel openings of late, and with the number of visitors still rising, the end seems nowhere near. With the city’s canal district being already well provided for, new properties tend to pop up in other parts of town, adding a fresh flavour to the urban setting. The Dutch capital had been on the radar of Generator for a long time, and when the design-led hostel chain finally found the right location, they jumped to the occasion. Generator Amsterdam occupies a monumental red brick building – mind you, it was initially home to the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science – in Amsterdam Oost.

Situated right on the doorstep of the lush greens of Oosterpark, the building is listed as a historic landmark, and subsequently redevelopment honours much of the original architectural details. Generator once again collaborated with Design Agency from Toronto to create funky, modern settings that would not only appeal to its young target demographic, but also add to the neighbourhood’s happening vibe. The transformation of the premises has been inspired by both the history and park-side location of this former college building. The original lecture hall and science lab have been retained while other spaces have seen an equally meticulous transformation, using cool cartoon-like graphics and pops of colour.

Generator Amsterdam features 168 comfy twin and quadruple rooms with en-suite bathrooms, in addition to one sky suite, a luxurious apartment-style lodgings for six people with views of the park and a self-catered kitchen. Staying at Generator Amsterdam comes with a string of alluring perks. At the core of the hostel is a multi-faceted social hub named Nescio – the pen name of a renowned Dutch author – is situated, comprising of a café where to recharge and mingle over a bite and drink, and the laid-back auditorium lounge with the original lecture-style seating and a professor’s desk, wonderfully repurposed as a central bar with gas taps and reclaimed laboratory beakers.

Last but not least, there’s the library, an intimate space, featuring much of the original setting, albeit tweaked into modernity, where to relax or socialize. But that’s not all, folks! Downstairs in the basement a bar and with dance floor is due to open later this year, and adding up to the fun vibe is a program of activities, including a coffee lab and coffee masterclasses, beer tastings, movie screenings, and lots more. Hot on the heels of this inauguration, Generator is preparing new hostel launches Rome and Stockholm in the next couple of months.

http://superfuture.com/supernews/amsterdam-generator-hostel-opening