The NDSM yard is one of Amsterdam’s most cultural locations. A former shipyard from the industrial era, transformed since the 2000s into a festival ground, artist hub, and event location. On the western side of the yard, directly on the IJ, stands one hotel. Faralda Crane Hotel: three suites on a restored harbour crane, fifty metres above the water, with a private rooftop jacuzzi and panoramic views over Amsterdam. No other hotel on the yard itself, no other crane hotel in the Netherlands, and no other hotel in the world set on an industrial monument quite like this.
NDSM stands for Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij. From 1894 to 1984, ships were built on this yard, with more than five thousand workers at its peak and the construction of hundreds of seafaring vessels. When shipbuilding declined in the 1980s, the yard fell silent. From 2000 onward, the area was gradually taken over by artists, festivals, and cultural initiatives.
Today NDSM is a district in its own right:
The yard is reached by the free F4 ferry from Centraal Station in twelve minutes.
Faralda stands on the western side of the NDSM yard, directly on the IJ. The crane itself is a restored harbour crane from the shipbuilding era, restored under the Pieter van Vollenhoven Award. The restoration preserved the industrial character of the crane while three suites were built on different levels.
Two levels at the highest point of the crane. Freestanding bath, panoramic views over the IJ and Amsterdam Centre on the opposite shore. Discover the Secret Suite →
Two levels, king-size bed, rain shower, full jacuzzi access. Discover the Free Spirit Suite →
Curated art, freestanding bath, full jacuzzi access. Specifically suited for couples. Discover the Mystique Suite →
NDSM has several former shipbuilding cranes still standing on the yard. Faralda is the only one that functions as a hotel. Three elements set it apart:
The restoration. The crane was professionally restored, not just preserved. The industrial character remains intact with the original steel construction visible, while interiors and infrastructure have been fully renewed. For travellers interested in industrial heritage, this is a working combination of preservation and reuse.
The elevation. At fifty metres, Faralda is the highest point on the NDSM yard. The view exceeds any other building on the yard and offers direct sight of the IJ and the Amsterdam skyline on the opposite shore.
The scale. Three suites, a maximum of six guests per night. No lobby with festival visitors or yard tourists. Private and by invitation.
The yard itself is interesting to explore. Within a five hundred metre radius around Faralda:
Restaurants and bars:
Culture and art:
Festivals and events:
For travellers visiting during festival weekends, staying at Faralda offers direct access to the festival ground without travelling from the Centre.
-Adriaan T.
The yard has a different character at different times of the year.
Spring (March, April, May). Easter is festival time. DGTL draws tens of thousands of visitors to the yard. For festival visitors, staying at Faralda offers direct access. For those seeking quiet: weeks without festivals are calmer and the IJ views undisturbed.
Summer (June, July, August). High season for the yard. Pllek beach is full, terraces busy, events on multiple weekends. For travellers with a festival goal: ID&T and Awakenings have weekends in this period. For quiet: midweek works better than weekends.
Autumn (September, October, November). ADE in October is the largest event period on the yard alongside Easter. Dozens of events on the yard and at nearby locations. For other weeks: the yard is quieter and sunsets earlier and more dramatic.
Winter (December, January, February). The quietest period on the yard. Restaurants more limited in opening hours, few events. For travellers seeking quiet and singularity without the festival crowds, winter is the best time on the yard. The rooftop jacuzzi at fifty metres in cold air is, for many guests, the most striking moment of the stay.
-Edgar E.
-Moritz W.
-Smarshall
Answers to the questions we receive most often about the NDSM yard and Faralda.
Faralda Crane Hotel is the only hotel on the NDSM yard itself. Three suites on a restored harbour crane on the western side of the yard, fifty metres above the IJ. Other hotels in Amsterdam North are in different districts.
By the free F4 ferry from Centraal Station's Buiksloterweg side. Twelve minutes across the IJ to the yard, then two minutes on foot to the crane. The ferry runs every fifteen to twenty minutes.
NDSM was an active shipyard from 1894 to 1984. Since the 2000s, the area has been transformed into a cultural zone with festivals, restaurants, artist studios, and event venues. The yard is an open area with multiple former shipbuilding buildings, cranes, and industrial structures.
DGTL (Easter), ID&T events, Awakenings, and large ADE events in October. The yard is also the main venue for summer festivals and pop-up events.
Yes. Faralda sits on the western side of the yard, away from the main stages. The three suites are relatively soundproof. For guests who want to experience the festival, this is ideal access. For guests seeking quiet during festivals: the festival crowd does not reach the crane itself, but it can be busy in the surrounding area.
Pllek (beach bar), Hangar (local dishes), IJver (café/restaurant), NDSM-Loods (in the former shipbuilding warehouse). All within five to ten minutes on foot from Faralda.
Yes. Faralda has a private access arrangement separate from festival access. Faralda guests have no interaction with festival visitors unless desired. Discover Faralda as an ADE venue.
Three suites on a restored harbour crane. Private. By invitation.
