Wellness in Amsterdam: this way to switch off

On a freezing cold winter’s day like the one we are currently experiencing in beautiful Amsterdam, a few warming activities are more than welcome! The city is great for exploring on foot and is quickly transformed into a true winter paradise in the rarely seen sunshine. On the way, you can warm up with a coffee or mulled wine to go and spend your days browsing the many cosy bookshops or taking an interesting guided tour of the city. How about a cultural food tour, for example, or an Anne Frank guided tour? Nothing rounds off your trip to Amsterdam better than a dip in the warm water + sauna + massage. We’re talking about a wellness trip, of course!

Like us Germans, the Dutch are known for their hard work. Of course, a little relaxation and balance is essential, both in everyday life and on holiday. Amsterdam therefore offers you countless opportunities for the perfect wellness day. As you have probably already realised, Amsterdam is not exactly an affordable city. We have therefore put together the best options for all budgets – including our very personal tips 🙂

1) The best value-for-money package: Spa Zuiver

Spa Zuiver in the south of the city is our personal favourite for several reasons: Firstly, it is beautifully located in the countryside, right next to the Amsterdamse Bos (a large forest between Amsterdam and Schiphol). Secondly, you have great public transport connections and can get there from the city centre in 30 minutes or less. But what makes Spa Zuiver so special is the wide range of facilities, pools and saunas that you can use there. In a cosy city like Amsterdam, you rarely find large spas, as there is often no space for them in the centre. You don’t have that problem here.

Spa Zuiver is a beautiful wellness hotel, but its packages go far beyond what is on offer in the city centre. On over 13,000^m2, you can relax there for at least half a day (or longer if you prefer) – and at fair prices by Amsterdam standards. You only pay €38/person to use the wellness area (including the large outdoor area). Caution: For this price, it’s best to bring your own slippers and bathrobe, otherwise you’ll have to pay even more.

In addition, Spa Zuiver has great package options that will make your stay even more of a relaxing bargain! Just take a look at the page to see which one suits you best. We can highly recommend the “Renew & Relax” package: Admission + 25 min massage + warm winter tea for €79.50.

2) Hotelspas

For those who like it quick and direct, there are of course also wellness options in the centre of Amsterdam. Of course, the operators here have to adapt to the city’s narrow layout, which is why most spas are smaller. If you want to enjoy a spa day right in the city centre, we recommend booking a hotel that also has a spa. For example, the W Hotel and the Jakarta Hotel have great spas that are guaranteed to sweeten your day.

However, there is also one that is not part of a hotel: the Sauna Deco. Located in the middle of the Herengracht (in the heart of the Jordaan neighbourhood), you can spend a few relaxing hours there – on an impressive ^600m2. For wellness in Amsterdam, that’s a pretty good deal! It’s also good for your wallet, by the way, as entry here costs €28.50 + possibly €12 for a towel/bathrobe/slippers. In terms of price, this is pretty unbeatable in Amsterdam.

Attention: It can get crowded here! Sauna Deco has long since ceased to be a secret and we therefore recommend that you go there outside peak times (Friday to Sunday from 18:00 – 22:00).

3) Special relaxation in the stimulation-reducing water tank: Floating

If you don’t have time for a whole spa day or just want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city between activities, floating is just the thing for you! Here you lie (or “float”) in warm, saltwater-filled tanks, which is supposed to relax your muscles and soul enormously. These tanks can often be darkened so that you can be all to yourself and also have the option of playing your own music. Also located in the Herengracht is Koan Float, where you can soak in the warm water to your heart’s content!

Floating for 60 minutes costs €52. Of course, you can also book an optional massage on site (from €78). We highly recommend floating, especially for people who suffer from overstimulation, anxiety or chronic stress.

4) Family wellness in Amsterdam

Wellness is often portrayed as something that exists exclusively for couples and adults. This is, of course, total rubbish. We would also like to show you ways in which you can spend a great wellness day in Amsterdam as a family. However, it depends on the age of the children. For younger visitors up to the age of 12, the classic spas are probably rather boring. So we’re looking for a good compromise for the whole family!

The chic Okura Hotel has a unique offer here. The family package here includes 2 double rooms for 2 nights + rucksack with painting utensils + scavenger hunt through the hotel + entry to the wellness area. Truly the best of both worlds! This package costs €995 all inclusive. Sounds a lot at first, but it’s a pretty good price for Amsterdam if you’re looking for wellness and the perfect stay for the little ones too.

If that’s beyond your budget, you can take a look at the Marnixbad instead. This is a hip and modern swimming pool not far from the Jordaan neighbourhood, where children and families are expressly invited. Here you can splash around in the heated water all year round and have a great day out together. Although the Marnixbad does not offer classic wellness services such as massages, they do host cool events several times a month that make the swimming experience even more special. Have you ever been to an “open pool film night”? That’s right, you’re not in an open-air cinema, but in an open-water cinema. Grab a swimming ring, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the film!

5) Massages in Amsterdam

Last but not least, you can of course also book a single massage without all the frills. The advantage here is that there are numerous offers within Amsterdam, so you can find exactly the massage you want. Most of them last between 60 and 120 minutes, but there are also plenty of options for visitors who only have a short time (30 – 45 min massages). There’s also something for everyone in terms of price: if you’re really looking, you can find massages from €40, which may also suit a smaller budget. 😊

Whether you want to treat yourself to a real luxury experience or just a little pampering moment in between: Wellness in Amsterdam is for everyone! And if you look hard enough, you can often find good deals…

The Amsterdamliebe team wishes you lots of fun on your wellness day ♥️