We met at Gatwick Airport with energy and enthusiasm at the delightful hour of 6 am, ready for an unforgettable weekend. Each Smart Friend received a personalised luggage tag revealing their weekend haven at the stunning Soho House Amsterdam. After breezing through security, a quick caffeine fix awaited us before boarding the plane!

Upon arrival, our Friends were whisked off into the centre of Amsterdam where they were greeted by incredible acoustic musicians, welcoming them to board stunning saloon boats for a lunch experience on the canals. The sunshine arrived just in time! We relaxed drinking the finest wine and eating delicious food, whilst seeing the local city sights. We had the option for our Friends to paint a watercolour postcard and were armed with stamps ready for them to be posted straight away. We docked just outside Soho House and the musicians came together to perform a grand finale, canal side and dutch style. Lots of fun and we caused quite the spectacle!

After checking in, we had free time — some dipped into the rooftop pool, others indulged in a massage at the Cowshed Spa, and a few explored the city or caught up on zzz’s.

Promptly at 7 pm, we set off for dinner, and when in Amsterdam, there’s only one way to get around! Boarding a stunning canal boat with champagne in hand, we sailed to our elegant dinner location, The Amstel. Adhering to a black-tie dress code with a Dutch orange twist, everyone looked spectacular. Canapés, more bubbles, and stunning canal views set the stage. Seated for dinner after a couple of speeches from the hosts, we indulged in the most delicious fine dining cuisine. This was then topped off by a spectacular performance from Kim Deboer.

Post-dinner revelry led some back to Soho House for a nightcap, while others retired to their luxurious super king-size beds for well-earned rest. We packed a lot into Day One and even more into Day Two…

It was another early start for our Smart Friends, but we’re sure it was worth the wake up call. After a delicious breakfast, our Friends were whisked off to the shipyard where they were greeted with mimosas and other culinary treats…

It was of course a private tour of our new venue, Oceandiva London which was conducted by our CEO Greg Lawson, giving our Friends access to exclusive information about the venue.

Following the site visit, we headed straight to the stunning lunch location. The Harbour Club welcomed us with jeroboams of blush rosé, free flowing champagne and espresso martinis for good measure. All served alongside Asian fusion food, featuring a stunning fruits de mer platter and an incredible melting chocolate dessert.

The live DJ, combined with the delicious rosé, meant that the lunch ended with an impromptu dance, a sing-song and some napkin swinging, before departing with sparklers in hand to our next method of transport – a convoy of rickshaws!

We embarked on a somewhat peaceful rickshaw tour of Amsterdam which rapidly turned into a race back to Soho House – who would have thought that a group of event professionals would be so competitive?! There were some who took shortcuts through parks, some who raced down the canals, through museum entrances, all very much impromptu and absolutely hilarious.

With around two hours of free time, many guests explored the local culture, while others found a perfect spot to sample more champagne.

As the evening unfolded, dinner awaited at the enchanting Shaffy Restobar. The décor, a pink and blue haven, set the stage for an exquisite four-course menu designed exclusively for Smart Friends. What’s more, each course came with a carefully curated wine pairing! Guests were then invited to party the night away as a live DJ and saxophonist took to the floor.

We wanted the final day in Amsterdam to be a chance for our Friends to recover from a pretty heavy weekend. We planned a stunning hangover brunch inside Soho House, featuring freshly baked muffins, delicious pastries, avocado bagels and of course, Dutch pancakes with all the trimmings. After this, alongside some extra spicy Bloody Mary’s, everybody was feeling a bit perkier.

We also exclusively booked the Cowshed Spa for our Friends to feel relaxed and rejuvenated, ready for the week ahead by receiving an incredible back, neck and head massage – it was dreamy!

Our weekend in Amsterdam was made possible by our fantastic agency community. What a wonderful bunch of people to spend a weekend with, we enjoyed every minute.