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The Golden Age lives on in this tranquil pair of 17th-century canal houses, filled from top to bottom with antiques. Breakfast beneath a chandelier in the ornate salon with a view of the garden. The bedrooms are individually decorated (and priced).

Overlooking the Herengracht, the Ambassade is truly comfortable and, not surprisingly, often full. Rambling through ten handsome merchant’s houses, it blends good antiques with excellent modern service. Popular with writers, the new library showcases signed copies of their work.

A tired bridge-spotter can count seven from this charming hotel without moving. Immaculately decorated, it has wooden floors, Persian carpets and furniture that would grace any auctionhouse catalogue. There are no public rooms, so you can have breakfast in bed without a twinge of guilt.

This unique hotel’s love affair with philosophy goes beyond its name: philosophers stay and meet here regularly.

Made from three wellkept canal houses, the Wiechmann has been polishing its welcome for more than 50 years. Wooden floors, beams and panelling set off antique furniture and Oriental rugs, and the bedrooms, most with canal views, are attractively simple.

This small, quiet B&B in an attractive canal house is squeaky clean, friendly and modestly priced. Small wonder, then that its 10 pretty bedrooms (some with shared facilities) are hard to come by.

This is a luxuriously laid-back hotel in a fivestar neighbourhood, where beautiful antiques complement the even more beautiful guests. To simplify your bill, breakfast, tea and evening drinks are included in the cost of the accommodation.

There is a decidedly English air about this elegant, plant-filled villa south of the Vondelpark. The public rooms are furnished with antiques and oil paintings, and you can take tea in the delightful garden.

Recently renovated, this graceful but comfortable 17th-century canal house has all the modern technology you could wish for, and at modest prices.

Overlooking the Singel and conveniently close to the huge floating flower market, this small, intimate hotel also has a peaceful garden. Wooden beams, good furniture, new bathrooms and reasonable rates make this place hard to resist.