ALBERT VERLINDE'S HIDDEN GEMS

Albert Verlinde shares his best kept secrets. These are his favourite spots and hippest hideaways. Curious which five hotspots made the list? Read on.

Albert Verlinde tells us his best kept secrets. These are the addresses of his best tables and hippest hideaways. Curious which five hotspots are on the list? Read along.Text: Albert Verlinde | Online editor: Natasha Hendriks
Image: Rahi Rezvani

The Peninsula, New York

Albert: “This hotel on Fifth Avenue has one rooftop swimming pool: you're swimming above the New York skyline. Very special. Just like the corner suite of The Peninsula: from there you can look out over Fifth Avenue.”

The King David Hotel Jerusalem, Israel

Albert: “This is really one of those Grand Old Ladies that you have in hotels all over the world. It has a fantastic swimming pool, nice suites and a red carpet that runs through the entire hotel. Everyone who means something in the world has been there, from Golda Meïr to Kissinger to Obama. Their signatures are all on that carpet. You really feel part of world history when you are there.”

Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil

Albert: “Here on the border between Argentina and Brazil you can – and that is what makes Iguazú, which means 'big water', so special – walk over the waterfalls. That is so impressive. A bit like Grand Canyon, but with water. Lots of water: iIn total, the waterfalls are 2,7 kilometers wide and drop up to 82 meters."

Mr. Kocken, Vught

Albert: “The name is a combination of the surnames of John Kocken and his wife Kirsty de Heer, who started De Heer Kocken in Den Bosch in 1998 and moved to a beautiful old building in Vught two years later. He is very idiosyncratic in his cooking. Suddenly he had a star, even though he wasn't working on that at all. The good living room feeling combined with being a star restaurant. It's always fun, the service is perfect, it's very personal. Recommended: the tortilla with fresh tuna as a starter and brill with sauerkraut and mushroom gravy as a main course. It has become a tradition to have Christmas dinner there with my family.”

Château du Tertre , Den Bosch

Albert: “A fantastic red wine. And I like strong red wines... Wijn Verlinden in Den Bosch helps me put together my order. Sometimes I get chests that I can only open after four years. He introduced me to Château du Tertre. I liked it. Very good."