He enjoys two things most: traveling and being pampered. Ivo knows better than anyone where to book a room or suite. This time he highlights two beautiful places, a room with a view over the champagne valley, but also one closer to home. One thing is certain, you will sleep like heaven.
There used to be a small farmhouse, a type of old inn, so old that Napoleon once stayed there on his way from Reims to Paris. Me, too. The floral wallpaper was popular at the time, the restaurant already had a Michelin star and the rooms, with panoramic views over the champagne valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), were cozy and cozy. Now it has been renovated. In the sense that only two outer walls of the former building remain standing and these have been incorporated into a gigantic, overarching, ultra-modern building. The luxury has also been stepped up a notch. An army of porters, doormen and other helpers rush to meet you upon arrival, in the lobby hangs a more than impressive chandelier by the Dutch designer Tord Boontje, among which the reception ladies (three, dressed in subdued black) jump up in ranks and even more helping hands to offer. What can be said about something being perfect? Beautiful architecture in a civilized color palette, one of the chicest spas I ever saw with a mega swimming pool and endless terraces. The suites, all the same, are large and have a balcony with the ancient views, because yes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, nothing man can do to change that. The owners, an American couple, have experience in the luxury hotel sector; they also own Le Barthélemy Hotel on St. Barths. And then the restaurants: Le Royal (note the article: when the French act chic they always put 'le' or 'la' in front of it) has a Michelin star and is incredible in terms of food, but it looks stuffy and enclosed, without views and the openness of the rest of the complex. Brasserie Le Bellevue (with huge terrace) has all that, so I would say, book a room, lunch at Le Bellevue, then dive into the spa, relax in the room and then, when it's dark, have dinner at Le Royal. Make sure you save room for the desserts (after not skipping the cheese): the new pastry chef Claire Andreux makes the most divine desserts with much less sugar than usual. And what about the regional product champagne? I have never seen such an impressive champagne menu. And of course everything is reassuringly expensive.
The Grote Kerk in Hoorn is still large, but it is no longer a church. It now houses a hotel, appropriately called Heavens. The architect has done a nice job: the restored church has been left completely intact and a modern 'box' has been placed inside, giving you a view of the original pillars, trusses, stained glass windows and the impressive barrel vault from everywhere. I love Hoorn. It was once prominent and wealthy due to its port and trade with the VOC, and many ancient majestic buildings from that time remain. Eating fish at the harbor between the antique ships lying there, musing about the turbulent waves and our no less turbulent Golden Age history. Heavens only recently opened but has already become a hotspot catering attraction in the town, given the steady influx of Hoornaars (or Horinezen). Okay, don't compare it all with the above five-star hotel and its Michelin, but the food in The Saint restaurant (how did you come up with that?) is classic and excellent with many regional West Frisian products (terrine of candied lamb shoulder with pea salad), and the welcome is at least as warm. Do choose the bridal suite, especially for the view over the church interior. Tip for the hotel managers: place a table next to the freestanding bath, because what to do with your shampoo, soap and glass of wine?
This article is from MASTERS MAGAZINE. The winter issue of MASTERS was created in collaboration with Jordi van den Bussche. Many will know him as YouTuber Kwebbelkop, but he has been working hard as an entrepreneur for some time, as he explains in the Great Interview. What is new is that his company JVDB Studios offers to do social media marketing and short format content marketing for other companies. “They can also figure it out themselves, but we cracked the code.” Jordi gives a platform to like-minded entrepreneurs such as Jay-Jay Boske, Demy de Zeeuw, Chahid Charrak and Marcella de Bie, and discusses developments surrounding games, crypto and NFT: “Just as bitcoin turned the financial system upside down, will that also happen with gaming.” This extra thick winter issue also focuses on Lengers' first own ship, an interview with Corendon CEO Atilay Uslu, specials about the new BMW 7 Series and Samsung foldables, and - exclusively for MASTERS! – an interview with Max Verstappen.
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