Leave the hostels and cafés to the backpacking crowd. The Renaissance-style facade of this century-old grand hotel — property of the Heineken family, incidentally — is a reliable indicator of what’s to follow inside. It’s hard to get more central than the Hotel De L’Europe, on the banks of the Amstel, and it’s no wonder that the visitors who haunt its upscale restaurant and bottle-green boardroom are among the world’s movers and shakers.

Not to mention cultural enthusiasts. 23 of the 111 guest rooms are cordoned off within a sort of museum atrium. These are the Dutch Masters suites, luxury artists’ lofts complete with replicas of paintings from the Rijksmuseum, and decorated in a historical style to match the the artworks. The rest of the rooms are scarcely less opulent, though — even the most basic mix old-world detail with such modern infusions as heated floors. Variation abounds at the higher end, with a private terrace-enhanced penthouse and a Van Gogh room featuring a starry-night ceiling.

From this spot on the river you’re poised within walking distance of a bevy of nightspots, museums and restaurants, but its extensive culinary offerings could convince even the most restless traveler to stay in. Four restaurants serve up something for everyone, from the fine dining of Bord’Eau to the casual clubbiness of Freddy’s Bar, named after Freddy Heineken, whose private collection also supplied much of the interior artwork. There’s a dedicated cigar lounge with walk-in humidor — and, at the opposite end of the wellness scale, a fitness center with a heated indoor pool (by no means a common amenity in Amsterdam’s city center).