SERGIO HERMAN'S HIDDEN GEMS

Sergio Herman shows us some of his secret spots, three of which are in the Netherlands. Discover which five hotspots made his list.

Sergio Herman shows us some of his secret spots, including three in the Netherlands! Nice restaurants and special places. Curious which five hotspots are on the list? Read along.Text: Sergio Herman | Online editor: Natasha Hendriks
Image: Rahi Rezvani

The White Lily, Antwerp

A monumental building in a historic and quiet street in the center of Antwerp. Upon entering, the design immediately catches the eye: in the lobby a black and white checkered floor with a mega-large blue sofa and round-shaped works of art, in the adjoining lounge room a bright blue rug with equally colorful benches, a rack full of magazines, trendy photos. the wall and an artful chess game. The path to the suites runs past a courtyard, The Bronze Bar and alcoves and corners that form a perfect backdrop for beautifully stylized still lifes. Recommended: reserve room 7. This is one of the three suites, of the twelve in total, that was furnished by the owner's wife, Ann Derijck (see also report 'The land of Sergio' elsewhere in this edition; ed.). Her style is idiosyncratic and certainly not subdued. The starting point for every room is the wallpaper. The floor, bed and other furniture are adjusted accordingly. The bathroom of room 7 is especially special, with flowers on the walls, a purple mosaic shower, a central wooden bath and Hermès products. It may sound busy, but the design is designed in such a way that it exudes tranquility. Also nice: the Loewe television at the foot of your bed and the indoor parking garage.

Ferry Breskens-Vlissingen, Zeeland

Nowadays you have a foot ferry between Breskens and Vlissingen. There used to be a ferry that could also accommodate cars. Getting to the other side was always a game of do I make it or don't I make it? A race against time. If you didn't get it, you had to wait half an hour. On the ferry we often went upstairs to eat pea soup or a croquette sandwich. In the first boats you still had that loose furniture. It then shifted with the waves from left to right. I'll never forget that feeling, boy. Sometimes we also stayed in the car and closed our eyes for twenty minutes. I can still smell the smell of that boat. In Oud Sluis we often had guests who had to take the last ferry back to the other side. It was always pushing in the kitchen: making sure they got coffee and everything on time, and then off they went.

The NoMad Hotel, New York

“When I'm in New York, I like to have an appetizer in the Boom Boom Room at The Standard Hotel and I always go to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, because there are a lot of creatives there. And I often drop my suitcases in the NoMad. That has the effect for me look & feel from Costes in Paris – they had the same interior designer, Jacques Garcia – but with a higher level of service and food. The kitchen is supervised by Daniel Humm of three-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park, number 5 in the list of S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants of 2013. A very inspiring hotel in terms of experience. Pure enjoyment!”

Flemish Broodhuys, The Netherlands

“The owner is Dimitri Roels, a childhood friend of mine. We cooked together at De Swaen in Oisterwijk. He was one of the first Dutch people to start making sourdough bread. He has a large bakery in Vlaardingen and several shops. A great company that supplies top bread. He makes for The Jane and Pure C custom made bread."

Restaurant Toscanini, Amsterdam

“For years one of my favorite addresses in Amsterdam. Was good, is good, stays good. The hustle and bustle, the messy atmosphere, the wine boxes on the cupboards, the turbulent kitchen, the voices of the people... And then chef Leonardo Pacenti, who explains the dishes very passionately at the table. I always start with a selection of barbecued vegetables. And for the rest, I usually eat from his hand: whatever Leonardo thinks is great at that moment.”