In 2020, a new boutique hotel called the Unbound Amsterdam opened about 20 minutes outside the city. It offered individual cabins and the chance to escape the city for a while. Jon and I booked a room last year in order to change things up during a long, dark lockdown. This year, with things open again, we decided to book again for some relaxation after a few stressful weeks.
The second time around, the hotel was even better than when we first experienced it in 2020. Imagine yourself in a cozy cabin playing board games and drinking red wine, walking your pup through the gardens, or spending an afternoon in a private spa barn. If this sounds like heaven to you (it certainly was to me), keep reading for all the things to know about the Unbound Amsterdam.
Xx, Kelsey
HOW WE GOT THERE
The Unbound is located 20 minutes west of Amsterdam. While it is reachable by public transport, we’ve found that taking an Uber worked best for us. This is especially true when bringing Jolene and all her things.
WHEN WE WENT
Both times we’ve visited the Unbound Amsterdam have been in November, purely by coincidence. I particularly like this time of year for the cozy vibes. There are fires burning all over the property each evening that fill the air with the scent of woodsmoke.
That being said, every time we visit, we talk about how it would be so fun to go during the summer. The Unbound has a lake in the center with a sandy beach and dock for swimming. It also has an amazing terrace and kid-friendly play structures.
WHICH ROOM WE BOOKED
The first time we visited, we booked the Independent on the boardwalk, since it was just the two of us. This time, we booked the Hideout in the field, which I liked more. The field offers more seclusion and beautiful views to wake up to. The field is also dog-friendly, so this allowed us to bring Jolene with us.
The rooms are pretty simple and cozy. There’s no TV, but a plethora of board games and a record player that makes for very cozy evenings. It’s the perfect place for an escape full of good books and quality time. We also worked from the cabin one day, and it was a nice change from our apartment offices.
HOW DOG-FRIENDLY IS IT?
We were really impressed with how dog-friendly the Unbound is. When. we arrived, they had a dog bed in the cabin for Jolene. They also allow dogs in the lobby, so we were able to take her with us for lunch or an evening cocktail. The property has its own dog, Jagger, a big brown lab who is super chill. He and Jolene became best friends very quickly.
WHERE WE ATE
The cabins we booked didn’t have the ability to cook, although they do have a fridge. We ordered the breakfast delivery (20EUR per person) which comes each morning at your selected time. There is a vegan and regular option, and both come with. a lot of food. I often found I had enough left over after breakfast to make a sandwich for lunch or a snack.
The Unbound Amsterdam also has a great restaurant which we enjoyed twice. The food is seasonal and local and very tasty. Plus the wine list is impressive. We fell in love with their house red, an organic nero d’avola from our favorite place, Sicily. What I will tell you is that the menu isn’t extensive. If you’re staying for a longer period, it’s likely you’ll get tired of the same few main dishes, especially if you’re vegetarian like me. For us, it was perfect for a two-day, three-night stay.
WHAT WE DID
Read & play games – The Unbound Amsterdam is truly great for relaxation and an escape. There’s not a TON to do in the area, but if you’re truly trying to relax you don’t need that much. I definitely recommend bringing some good books and a game or two. The rooms are stocked with backgammon and Jenga, but we brought our scrabble board too.
Private spa visit – My favorite thing we did while at the Unbound was visit the spa barn. For 75EUR, you get private access to the spa barn for 90 minutes. The spa includes. a sauna, steam room, cold shower, and hot tub. It comes with. a nice little guide recommending how to get the most out of your visit. It was literally the perfect way to spend a chilly afternoon and left us feeling so relaxed.
Barrel sauna – If you don’t want to book the spa barn, the barrel sauna is free and can be booked once a day for 25 minutes. We did this on the day of our checkout, and it was a wonderful way to start the day. The barrel sauna sits on a dock in the middle of the lake alongside a tub for a cold dip. I particularly liked sitting in the sauna looking out over the water and the grasses blowing in the wind.
Go for walks – The Unbound property isn’t huge, but it does have some lovely paths for strolls with or without your dog. We particularly loved walking Jolene multiple times a day through the gardens and field. The early evenings are my favorite because the fires were being lit under the hot tubs (booked with the Lighthouse). The smell was just so cozy.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Similar sweater (EU only) | Lululemon leggings (EU) | Zara boots (EU)
