Amidst the hustle and bustle of Keizersgracht, in Amsterdam's Canal District, an extraordinary space hides behind a beautiful entrance. La Retraite is a tasteful and surprising event space where it is possible to both live and work. The space, measuring approximately 159 m², is located on the ground floor and is part of the monumental canal house at Keizersgracht 378.
La Retraite was completely renovated in 2017, creating a tasteful blend of classic and modern. The space features classic double glass doors, creating an elegant separation between the front with a multifunctional open pantry and the rear with ample space for workspace, meeting space, and/or relaxation space.
The current, well-thought-out layout of this space also makes it ideal as a home or pied-à-terre. With living/cooking in the front part, subtly separated from the living area by classic double glass doors, and a sleeping area elegantly marked by a platform with curtains. Both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
The residential use is currently only permitted on the basis of the current zoning plan. For the conversion of commercial space to residential use, an environmental permit will need to be obtained and the deed of division will need to be amended.
Whether it's an event space, executive office, or residence, this hidden gem is an exclusive urban oasis offering the perfect balance between elegance, comfort, and functionality. This space is designed for those who appreciate aesthetics and functionality and wish to settle on the canals of Amsterdam.
Details
• National Historic Landmark
• Foundation under the front section repaired and thoroughly renovated in 2017
• Live & work
• Turnkey condition
• Current fixtures and furnishings are included in the sale
Building
The canal house was probably built in 1685 for Matthijs and Pieter Bartelsz. At the time, the building had a gable facade and was used as a soap factory. Later, it was used as a warehouse. Various renovations Location , including a major one in 1800. The facade was then changed to a straight cornice with two consoles. A floor was added at that time and later, around 1890, removed again. It is striking that the height of the building has remained unchanged. For about 15 years, a publishing house (Electrische Drukkerij Vooruitgang / De arbeiderspers) was located at this site.
In 2017, the current owner had the foundations repaired and thoroughly renovated the ground floor space into attractive office space and an event space. The space is part of a small-scale owners' association. The first to third floors are used as residential space. The entire building is in good condition on the outside and is located on freehold land.
Interior design
The canal house was probably built in 1685 for Matthijs and Pieter Bartelsz. At the time, the building had a gable facade and was used as a soap factory. Later, it was used as a warehouse. Various renovations Location , including a major one in 1800. The facade was then changed to a straight cornice with two consoles. A floor was added at that time and later, around 1890, removed again. It is striking that the height of the building has remained unchanged. For about 15 years, a publishing house (Electrische Drukkerij Vooruitgang / De arbeiderspers) was located at this site.
In 2017, the current owner had the foundations repaired and thoroughly renovated the ground floor space into attractive office space and an event space. The space is part of a small-scale owners' association. The first to third floors are used as residential space. The entire building is in good condition on the outside and is located on freehold land.
Neighbourhood + hotspots
La Retraite is located in the Grachtengordel-West. This cozy and centrally located area in the heart of the city is home to countless chic restaurants, popular food hotspots, fashion boutiques, and art studios. This section of the Keizersgracht, between Berenstraat and Runstraat, is part of the popular shopping area known as "De 9 Straatjes" (The 9 Streets). With the Leidsestraat shopping street on one side and the traditional Jordaan neighborhood on the other, you can find hustle and bustle and conviviality. The lively Noordermarkt and Lindengrachtmarkt markets are within walking distance on Saturdays. Thanks to its central location, everything is within cycling and walking distance; a very pleasant and sought-after location for working, entertaining guests, or living.
Accessibility
Thanks to its central location, La Retraite is very easily accessible. The southern part of the canal opens up via the Stadhouderskade to the Vijzelgracht and via the Spiegelgracht. For those who cycle, walk, or drive to work, there are several routes, including via the Leidsegracht. Public transport is just around the corner: tram lines on Vijzelstraat and the metro stop on Vijzelgracht are Immediately . Public transport provides access to all parts of Amsterdam, including the Zuidas. The nearest tram stops are Koningsplein and Westermarkt, and buses Rooms Elandsgracht. The Rokin metro stop (North/South line) is a 10-minute walk away.
Parking facilities
Parking is available on public roads via a payment or permit system. Information about conditions and options for obtaining a (business) permit and any waiting times can be requested from the Local authority .
The Q-Park Europarking parking garage on Marnixstraat is a 10-minute walk away. Various parking subscriptions are available here.
1016 GB Amsterdam
Vinkeles (**)
Enclosed by the Dylan hotel, restaurant Vinkeles is like a small piece of France close to home. With a beautiful location on the Keizersgracht, the restaurant is pre-eminently a chic affair. The kitchen bears the signature of chef Jurgen van der Zalm, who earned his second star with it in 2023.
1016 GK Amsterdam
Screaming Beans
Screaming Beans is an Amsterdam brand known locally and internationally for its high-quality coffee. This location is situated in the middle of Amsterdam's historic Nine Streets. With its cozy and familiar atmosphere, the shop on Runstraat has become a second living room for entrepreneurs, residents, and visitors to Runstraat. Come by and enjoy a delicious pastry baked by Sara or Mateen.
1016 GK Amsterdam
Smelt Restaurant
Smelt is a cozy and atmospheric restaurant in Amsterdam's 9 Straatjes district. The restaurant specializes in cheese fondue and offers five different types of cheese. In addition to classic cheese fondue, Smelt also offers special flavors such as truffle and pesto. If you are not a big eater, you can also order single portions. Smelt's interior is cozy and warm, with lots of wood and candlelight. It is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious cheese fondue with friends or family.
1016 GK Amsterdam
Café de Doffer
Café in the 9 Streets with a cozy terrace and a simple but good menu. You can also come here for lunch and snacks. De Doffer has been a household name in Amsterdam's 9 Streets since the seventies and therefore attracts a nice varied crowd with, of course, a good portion of Amsterdam conviviality. Something for everyone here!
1016 ER Amsterdam
Café de Pels
Café de Pels is a truly intellectual creative café. Many a book or column has been written here, good conversations are held here, and fun or stupid jokes are tried out here. In the Pels, people also flirt in the Amsterdam way, discuss and, as it should be in an Amsterdam brown café, drink beer. The walls are covered with art made by regular guests themselves. It is a brown café with a creative edge, sandwiches with 'kroket' and a daily special on Mondays.
1016 GH Amsterdam
Chun Café
In the busy Negenstraatjes (Nine Streets), Chun Cafe has recently expanded their bubble tea menu with a selection of special sandwiches. The sandwiches are available in four flavors. The options are: egg salad, bacon egg and cheese, garlic shrimp egg, and rib-eye bulgogi. Deliciously buttery and perfectly toasted.
1016 EP Amsterdam
Café Wolf
Bakkerij Wolf opened its doors a year ago. And now, in addition, Café Wolf has opened, where you can enjoy refreshing dishes full of vegetables in a beautiful Scandinavian interior. The dishes here are not your standard fare, but offer a unique culinary experience of a high standard. The Café is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (the kitchen closes at 5:00 PM).
1016 TV Amsterdam
Fou Fow Ramen
This ramen restaurant used to be a well-kept secret tucked away in the Chinese neighborhood. But now Fou Fow has two locations in the city and is a household name for Amsterdam residents who love ramen. On the lively and bustling Elandsgracht, you can enjoy Fou Fow's delicious and reasonably priced ramen, which originated in China. You can choose from four types of soup based on different broths, which are then topped with various ingredients, including, of course, the main ingredient: noodles!
1016 TV Amsterdam
Gifu Ramen Bar
Chef and co-owner Ryoji Miyachi pays tribute to the Japanese ramen culture he grew up with at Gifu Ramen Bar. Together with the team behind Chun Café, he positions ramen as fully-fledged chef-driven comfort food. The cuisine revolves around perfectly balanced broths that are simmered for hours to achieve maximum depth and umami. In addition to ramen, Gifu serves izakaya-style dishes that complete the Japanese dining experience. The atmosphere is calm and warm, with a minimalist interior and a view of the open kitchen.
1016 TM Amsterdam
Rakang
The Thai restaurant Rakang is located on the always pleasant Elandsgracht. Friendly service, pleasant atmosphere and delicious authentic Thai food! And according to some, even the tastiest Thai in Amsterdam... We'll leave it up to you to agree. But if you are looking for a tasty, fresh, Asian restaurant. Then Rakang is definitely worth it. And after that delicious Thai meal, the Elandsgracht offers plenty of opportunity to have a beer in one of the many pubs.
1016 VL Amsterdam
Bar Parry
Bar Parry is the younger brother/sister of Restaurant Balthazar’s Keuken. At Bar Parry, they have been serving delicious small dishes, charcuterie and cheese with a nice glass of wine since 2018. They have been working closely with De Wijnwinkel (Runstraat 23) for almost 25 years. A large part of the assortment is on the menu in the bar. Special: they use a fixed surcharge on the store price so that they can also serve the more special wines for a good price.
1016 TN Amsterdam
Ela Restobar
ELA Restobar is happy to welcome you to their 'all-day' food concept. In the morning and afternoon it is the ideal location for a delicious cup of Spanish coffee, a tasty lunch or a (business) meeting. As the day progresses, it turns into a place where you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail or a flavorful Italian beer. And for those who are hungry, chef Teun Dikkers offers a unique twist on classic Mediterranean cuisine.
1016 AS Amsterdam
The Lebanese Sajeria
Every day, long queues form in front of the The Lebanese Sajeria branches in Amsterdam. This establishment started as a food truck where the owners served Lebanese fast food with a twist. In 2016, they opened their first restaurant in the 9 Straatjes (9 streets) and it became a great success. They now have three locations in Amsterdam where they serve delicious dishes from Lebanese cuisine every day. At The Lebanese Sajeria, they cook with a traditional Saj; a dome-shaped plate on which breads can be baked. They make their manoushes and saj breads on the saj, which are used for the flavorful wraps such as the Manoushe Zatar and Halloumi or the Beef Labneh.
1016 EE Amsterdam
De BorzoGallery
De BorzoGallery, located on the Keizersgracht, is a leader in the field of NUL/Zero, minimalism and conceptual art. Linking the recent past to contemporary art is one of its most important priorities. As they say themselves: “Artists of today ‘stand on the shoulders’ of their predecessors, and we do not shy away from stark contrasts.”
1016 HJ Amsterdam
Galerie Ron Mandos
In 20 years, Galerie Ron Mandos has gained a prominent place within the Dutch art scene. The gallery opened its doors in Rotterdam in 1999 and has since moved to its current gallery in Amsterdam's gallery district in 2010. Galerie Ron Mandos is a gallery for contemporary art and presents exhibitions by internationally recognized artists, among others, but the focus is on emerging artists.
1016 TW Amsterdam
Bart Gallery
Galerie Bart is a contemporary art gallery in Amsterdam that focuses on both established and young artists who graduated in the Netherlands and excel in their innovative craftsmanship. At Bart, you will find artists who create work that is either playful and fresh, robust and sharp, serene and light-hearted, or serious with a touch of humor. They explore the boundaries of their medium and question them, with the aim of pushing those boundaries.
1016 HT Amsterdam
Galerie Madé van Krimpen
Galerie Madé van Krimpen, formerly known as Multiplemadé, presents a mix of exhibitions showcasing work by both established and emerging artists. While the gallery mainly focuses on solo exhibitions and group exhibitions, they also regularly collaborate with creative collectives and makers to organize pop-up events and take-overs.
1016 AH Amsterdam
Ellen de Bruijne Projects
Ellen de Bruijne Projects is a gallery that, since its first exhibition in 1999, has focused on new trends in contemporary art by comparing the new with the recent past and experimenting to develop new standards, with an emphasis on performing art, socially related art, installations and works in progress.
1016 GJ Amsterdam
Cheese Chamber
The name says it all; at the Kaaskamer you can go for cheese. From floor to ceiling, this store is filled with cheese, with craftsmanship and tradition being paramount. At this cheese specialty store you can buy between 300 and 400 types of cheese from all over Europe. You can have your sandwich topped with a wide choice and to top it off you can also choose between different homemade sauces. The cheeses are collected from France every two weeks and in the Netherlands the focus is on organic cheeses that come directly from the farmer. Wines, salads, olives, hams and nuts are also sold for a complete cheese board.
1016 ES Amsterdam
Pompadour Chocolate Shop
Chocolaterie Pompadour is a patisserie on Huidenstraat. Here, everything revolves around craftsmanship, pure products, and a passion for chocolate and pastries. Each chocolate is carefully crafted and beautifully decorated. In the adjoining tearoom, you can enjoy delicious tea or Catalan coffee in the beautifully nostalgic interior. With each cup of coffee, Pomadour also serves a homemade financier, a delicious French cake made with Spanish almonds and brown butter. In short, this is the place to be for the best pastries with pure flavors.
1016 EP Amsterdam
Wolf Bakery
Bakkerij Wolf is located in Amsterdam's Nine Streets. Stay a while or take some tasty treats home with you. The sourdough breads are displayed on rustic wooden racks behind the counter. This bakery on Wolfstraat offers breads, croissants, and pastries of the highest quality. The smell of cinnamon rolls and croissants is irresistible, and you'll be amazed by the display case full of delicacies. Be sure to try the almond croissant and the strawberry tart.
1016 VS Amsterdam
Foodware
Foodware is the place for honest food: freshly prepared and without artificial additives. Combine different dishes into a meal by choosing from a range of fish, meat, or vegetarian ingredients. Foodware was originally a caterer, but nowadays you can also eat their delicious fresh meals in the restaurant on Looiersgracht. But are you in a hurry? Then you can always just take the food with you. The range of dishes is fairly fixed and not very large, but this promotes quality. Fancy tasty, healthy, and not too complicated food? Then Foodware is the perfect place to go.
1016 HP Amsterdam
Anouk Beerents
Since 1987, Anouk Beerents has become a household name in the import and export of antique mirrors. The studio on Prinsengracht houses their collection of over 300 mirrors from the 18th and 19th centuries, most of which originate from France and Italy and are gilded in gold or silver leaf.
1016 VS Amsterdam
FEST
FEST is a Dutch interior design brand that was started in 2013 by Femke Furnée. The core idea behind FEST: making beautiful surroundings accessible to everyone. FEST offers high-end furniture and home accessories—without the high-end price tag. The cheerful, timeless, and sustainable collections are developed in collaboration with international designers. At FEST, you will find everything you need to give your interior a (colorful) boost.
1016 DN Amsterdam
360 volts
Located on Prinsengracht, you will find 360volt, founded by Hilde de Lange and Emile de Cock. 360volt now has one of the largest collections of vintage original industrial lamps and unusual objects. The lamps at 360volt are unique because all lamps are restored while retaining their authentic look—industrial, with clean lines, simple shapes, and durable materials.
