A Liebherr 370 EC-B 12 Fibre tower crane is playing a central role in the construction of the new Hotel Amstel 111, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s historic city centre along the River Amstel. Operating in one of Europe’s most space-constrained urban environments, the flat-top crane is demonstrating how advanced fibre rope technology can deliver high performance, efficiency and reliability on challenging inner-city projects.
Supplied from the rental fleet of Liebherr’s Dutch partner Van der Spek, the crane is supporting complex lifting operations for construction company Salverda Bouw. The project site is surrounded by narrow streets, canals and historic buildings, placing exceptional demands on logistics, planning and equipment selection. To meet these constraints, the Liebherr 370 EC-B 12 Fibre was installed on a compact 6 x 6 metre undercarriage with a hook height of 48 metres, making it ideally suited for the limited footprint available on site.
The crane’s fibre rope technology has proven particularly valuable in this demanding environment. Compared with conventional steel rope, the fibre rope offers up to 20 percent higher lifting capacity while significantly reducing the crane’s dead weight. This allows for safer, more precise lifting operations and improved efficiency, even in extremely confined spaces. Reduced maintenance requirements, the ability to shorten the rope on site and extended repair options further help to minimise downtime and keep construction activities on schedule.
Installing the crane in such a sensitive location required meticulous coordination. Due to limited ground load capacity near the canal, the largest telescopic crane used during assembly had to be positioned on a specially prepared sand bed with wooden dragline mats. In total, 36 transport vehicles and three telescopic cranes were involved in erecting the tower crane, underlining the complexity of the operation.
Once complete, Hotel Amstel 111, developed by the Aedes Group, is expected to become a new social and cultural meeting place for both visitors and local residents. The design blends modern, sustainable construction standards with the traditional architectural character of Amsterdam’s historic centre. Glass façades, light materials and green outdoor spaces are integrated carefully into the surrounding canal landscape, demonstrating how contemporary urban development can coexist with heritage preservation.
