Koan Float

This is not a great place for your FIRST floating experience.
If you’ve done it before, I’m sure it’s completely fine. The tanks look pretty standard, the rooms are quiet and relaxed, the lounge area is serene and complete with tea and cookies.
But I had my first experience here and I really think it would have gone a lot smoother with just a TINY bit of reassurance from the staff, either before or after. I was nervous, and even told the lady «I’m terrified», to which she laughed and walked out of the room! I spent the session anxious, tense, and miserable, cursing myself for blowing 40 euro on such an unpleasant experience. I was left to let myself out of the room and the building, and nobody stopped to ask me whether it went well and how I felt.
I found out through my own research that this kind of experience is quite normal for the first time, but if they had taken a second to explain that to me, I wouldn’t have been so frustrated and disappointed with the place. I know I probably should try floating again, but I really have no desire to come back to this place.

A great way to relax assuming you have no claustrophobia
is kept clean and staff is friendly. You can enjoy a cup of tea before or after your float & they have nice quality products for you to use, such as lotions. Make sure to wear your ear plugs so you don’t get salt in your ears. I walked out thoroughly relaxed but I won’t lie… I prefer a massage instead.
This place is great to experience but I probably won’t be coming back.

First float experience will NOT be my last. I was a stressed out knotty mess and after 45 minutes I was like jelly. A relaxed mass of wiggly jelly. My appointment was for a float and a massage and really the massage was pointless. Nothing for him to iron it. I only wish this place was closer. Nothing more jarring than biking back home in the cold after.
One advice — ladies — bring a swim cap. Or bring your own heavy duty conditioner to condition your hair after. 45 minutes of salt water did quite a number on my split ends.

Have you ever «floated like a log» on warm water surrounded by silence and complete darkness?
Go. Now.
It’s about € 30 for 45 minutes floating. You get a private room, with towels and a robe. They give you additional time for a shower before and after the float because it is super salty. You don’t need to bring anything along with.
Afterwards, I felt on top of the world for a couple hours. Soo relaxed. The only thing better would be a massage after.

I love this place! So tranquil, so professional. Their massages make me feel like new again.

My first Amsterdam massage and float was quite the eye-​opening experience. The only knowledge I had of isolation tanks was via that William Hurt movie «Altered States» where he took mushrooms, got into the tank and turned into a primordial blob. Of course I had to try it.
I loved floating in the isolation tank — once I figured out how to turn off the music and the lights, I embraced the quiet and womb-​like environment, floating in salty warm water and before I knew it, a voice was coming through the loud speaker to wake me up. Then it was off to my massage.
So, in Amsterdam/​Europe? they do things a bit differently then they do in the US — where’s there an elaborate tucking of sheets around your naked bod so that nothing pokes out and makes you feel uncomfortable. The massage therapist leaves the room, gives you 5 minutes to yank off your clothes and get on the table and then knocks politely and gets things underway. Here, the massage therapist asks what’s up, and then stays in the room while you pull off your clothes and dive onto the table. There’s a towel or two to cover up your bum but that’s it. I got over it cos I wanted my rub-​down but after that I decided to always request a female massage therapist. I did see a male therapist once and he left the room to let me get ready.
Anyway, Wynne was my favorite masseuse at Koan Float. I loved her peaceful energy and she could really had some good shoulder moves — unfortunately for me, she was moving on to become a teacher. I had some other great massages there but you have to reserve well in advance. I think this place is popular with the tourists and is next door to a hotel so there’s a lot of traffic. You’re tempting fate if you try to get in at the last minute.