The most famous hotel in the Netherlands, Hotel Des Indes
Fairy tale
The upscale coastal town of The Hague in the Netherlands (Den Haag in Dutch) is not far from urban Amsterdam and contains a fairy tale palace, now what many of the Dutch consider to be the most luxurious hotel in the country, Hotel Des Indes. It is located in a stately square surrounded by modern fantastical outdoor public art and many beautiful historic embassies. The Hague is the epicenter for diplomatic relations in the country — the perfect spot for a hotel fit for royalty and heads of state.
My family recently toured the Netherlands and Belgium. On our way to The Hague from Noordwijk, we had the rare opportunity to eat with a Dutch family at their home. When they learned Hotel Des Indes was next on the itinerary, the name was met with oohs, ahhs and exclamations of envy. With 134 years of grand history, the hotel has cache. It also has a history full of romance, tragedy and intrigue.
Sorted history
Willem D.A.M. Baron van Brienen van de Groote Lindt en Dortsmunde hired architect A. Rodenburg to build a mansion in the centrally located Den Haag in order to have an impressive venue for parties, meetings and to host the most influential people in the region, among them royalty. In 1867, the home was sold to hotelier Paulez, who gave the building to his daughter. Along with her husband, they turned the mansion into a hotel. In the early 1900s, Hotel Des Indes lead the march to modernity with the installation of hot and cold indoor plumbing in each room, telephones in each room and a hydraulic elevator. During WWII, both occupying Germans and fleeing Jews used the hotel. Famous hotel guests include the Empress Eugénie of France, Sheik Feisal of Saudi Arabia, Mata Hari, and Josephine Baker. The legendary Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova died in the hotel in 1931 of pneumonia after refusing a surgery that would have ended her career. Her last words were reported to be, “Get my swan costume ready.”
The Hague
Hotel Des Indes lies gracefully in a stately square surrounded by outdoor public art and many beautiful embassies. The Hague is the epicenter for diplomatic relations in the country — the perfect spot for a hotel fit for royalty and heads of state. A short walk down the square will land you squarely in front of a pedestrian-friendly shopping area and the beautiful Binnenhof, the Dutch Parliament building.
The rooms
My husband and I reserved a Superior Room with a king bed near a beautiful oval staircase in a wing of the hotel not too far from the lobby by elevator. Next door to us our two boys also had a Superior Room with two beds. Each of these types of rooms feature gorgeous bedding (heavy-weight bed drapes in some cases), marble countertops in the bathroom, period-style furniture, thick carpeting, a writing desk and decorative mirror. The hotel uses the word “thoughtful” when describing room amenities. That is a perfect way to describe the care that obviously went into the 2006 renovation. The hotel is so well cared for, the rejuvenation could have been months ago.
Breakfast, Dutch-style
Hotel Des Indes serves breakfast in its breathtaking restaurant just off the lobby. In the morning after a restful night, we were seated at a table with a full view of the columns, grand staircase, upper balcony and swag-decorated entablatures of the dining room. A small room to the left of the restaurant was adorned with smoked salmon, pastries, eggs, bacon, muffins and more artfully presented tasty breakfast selections. With a busy day of sightseeing ahead, we took our time and lingered over the delicious food, coffee and tea.
My recommendation
I recommend the Hotel Des Indes of Den Haag as one of the most beautiful and historically interesting in the country. I enjoyed my time there very much.
For more information on Hotel Des Indes or to book a stay, please visit their website.
My thanks to Naomi Bonnet of Starwood’s public relations division for arranging my stay!
