The first sunny days are arriving, terraces are slowly filling up: time to get out and about. Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to take a plane to do so. From an intimate farmhouse on the Amstel to a private residence on the Herengracht and a hidden gem on Texel, these are places where you can completely disappear from the daily hustle and bustle for a while, without being far from home. After all, spring is the perfect excuse for a short escape.
Waking up on the Amstel
Some places whisper rather than shout. Over-Amstel Boerderij is one of them. A small-scale sanctuary with just a handful of rooms, situated on the banks of the Amstel, surrounded by polder landscape and silence. The initiator is none other than Karen Roos, former Elle Decoration editor and the woman behind the iconic hotels Babylonstoren (South Africa) and The Newt (England). Here, too, her touch is immediately recognizable: rustic elegance, understatements in linen and lime paint, and a natural class that is never ostentatious. And it is not just about sleeping. There are themed dinners in the former stable (arrival by romantic boat, private transport is also permitted), featuring dishes centered around seasonal heroes such as fish, asparagus, or French classics, all conceived and prepared by chef Herb van Drongelen. There are workshops, guided walks, a cheese dairy where you learn to make your own cheese… In short: Over-Amstel is a bed & breakfast where sleeping is just the beginning.
Extra exclusive
On the Herengracht, where Amsterdam's elite once splashed the cash, stands the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: six monumental canal houses, together boasting a history full of grandeur. But those seeking a truly distinct setting choose The Mayor's Residence – the crowning glory of this already regal address. Once the home of Mayor Hendrik Hooft, it is now a private accommodation spanning 944 square meters across three floors, featuring nine rooms and suites, a private entrance, and a butler ready to assist you before you even know what you need. Here, you don't check in – you enter a private domain. A place where bespoke gastronomy is served in silence, where the city stays outside and time listens to you. The spa is just around the corner, but relaxation begins the moment you enter. The Mayor's Residence is not a hotel. It is a lifestyle for those who view privacy and perfection not as a luxury, but as a prerequisite. Price upon request, for true exclusivity has no standard rate.
Private office suite
Albert Plesman was our national aviation pioneer and the very first director of KLM. Anyone looking him up on Wikipedia will see all the honors bestowed upon him during his lifetime, but only this year has a hotel been added to the list: De Plesman, situated between The Hague and Scheveningen in the former KLM headquarters, a building from 1939 that is as immense as it is magnificent. Despite its size, it feels intimate everywhere, even in the enormous lobby, thanks to the interior design duo the Nicemakers. Their style is cozy and accessible, never overly designer-like, always soft in color, balancing between old and modern, semi-vintage, with chairs that are always comfortable. The hotel exudes unpretentiousness, which is a welcome change from all the other top-segment hotels that boast about all kinds of über-luxury and design. No wonder the hotel was fully booked by various delegations during the NATO summit, not least due to the appeal of the extraordinary Plesman Suite, situated in the former private office of the good man himself. The suite still features the original wooden paneling from his time, now adorned with various Andy Warhols from his Queen series, a green marble kitchen area, and a few other extras. And all that for a paltry (around) seven hundred euros, usually the entry price elsewhere for the simplest hotel room.
Jewel of a hotel
Shoemakers don't stick to their last (shoe designer Christian Louboutin has a hotel, as does the Spanish shoe brand Camper), so why should jewelry brands? Bulgari already has several hotels, Boucheron has one, diamond jeweler Graff owns a magnificent resort in South Africa, and now Chopard has joined this illustrious list in Paris, right near their store on Place Vendôme, at number 1—could the address be any chicer? It is small, has only fifteen rooms (well, only five rooms; the rest are suites), costs at least as much per night as one of their rings, and is super discreet. Marble floors, silk curtains with tassels, heavy, gold-colored room keys, sheets as soft as butter and supple as water, and washbasins anchored in Louis XVI-style wooden sideboards. In a sort of conservatory, you might think you are dealing with particularly colorful wallpaper (palms, flowers, peacocks, birds of paradise), but on closer inspection, it is a mosaic of thousands of tiny stones. There is no restaurant, but you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper in all the conservatories and salons, and of course, there is also 24-hour room service. An ultra-chic and intimate hotel for people who have no need for a spa, swimming pool, gym, beauty salon, or terrace, because none of that is there. The starting price is around 1.500 euros. Those who want something bigger will quickly reach four thousand, which is more than twice the price of a white gold/diamond Happy Diamonds Happy Hearts ring from the brand. But I would say go for it anyway, because it is certainly worth the effort and cost, and as L'Oréal's slogan goes: 'Because you're worth it.'
Where silence tastes good: an ode to Texel
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and step into the vast landscape of Texel, where Op Oost is nestled in a restored farmhouse and seaweed shed. Just a few minutes' walk from the mudflats, you will experience plenty of peace and space here. The hotel features twelve unique rooms. farm chic suitesSpread across the farmhouse and former cheese room, each with its own character and view of herb and vegetable gardens or the dike landscape. The atmosphere is natural, understated, and full of detail: materials, colors, and decor exude a connection with nature. In the accompanying Kook Atelier, awarded a Michelin Green Star, a Served by Nature menu is served, in which fermented products, wild herbs, vegetables, fish, and local meat come together in an artistic way. Each course is a walk through the ecosystems of Texel – from mudflats to dunes, from dike to polder. Accompanying this is a wine pairing featuring micro-cuvées, natural wines, and top Dutch selections, or a botanical pairing based on homemade infusions, kombucha, and herbal drinks. Op Oost feels like a hidden piece of land where returning becomes a matter of course. Here, silence, craftsmanship, and taste are combined into a delicate balance.
