The neoclassical facade of De L’Europe graces the banks of the Amstel and is ideally positioned for visitors who want to explore the center of Amsterdam before retiring to their well-appointed rooms.
After the hotel first opened its doors to Europe’s fin-de-siècle elite in 1896, it was purchased by Alfred ‘Freddy’ Heineken in the 1950s.
The story goes that Freddy was such a regular that he had his own table in the hotel’s brasserie, best known for his fabulous wealth and an unfortunate kidnapping escapade. After regular disagreements with the in-house sommelier, he decided to buy the hotel outright. The hotel, now a registered monument, has remained in the family ever since.
After 125 years, any revered grande dame would need a facelift. That is why the Amsterdam interior architecture studio Nicemakers was purchased in 2021 to renovate the 97 suites, the large lobby and three restaurants of De L’Europes.
The result is a retro-modern space that both restores the grandeur of the venerable hotel and has transformed it into the place where Amsterdam’s brightest young people come together to see and be seen.
Most inventively, De L’Europe made the most of the renovation period and pandemic travel restrictions by inviting local artists and designers to live in the unfinished rooms.
The creative energy of these ad hoc studios proved so feverish that these residents were invited to redesign 14 of the suites. The result is unique rooms that, if you are lucky enough to book, offer a truly unique hotel experience.
Design details
It was a fine line to bring history into the present and encourage a new generation of guests without alienating history buffs, but Nicemakers have done it masterfully.
Guests enter through the revolving space into a luxurious lobby area called Titanic, via Annabel’s nightclub. The original Delft tiles on the reception desk have been retained, shielded behind rich velvety curtains that connect the space without overwriting the past.
Mirror panels above doorways provide a true appreciation of the lobby’s formidable ceiling height. Timed curtains are pulled back in the evening to reveal the Heineken family’s impressive art collection, rehung against polished bronze panels that reflect the light from the glittering (and carefully restored) glass chandeliers.
Nicemakers has also expertly unraveled some of the retro missteps from a 2008 expansion, where a quick revamp had given De L’Europe’s grand function rooms all the charm of an airport lounge. Vintage and antique furnishings have been carefully selected to complement the historic details.
In 2008, the hotel was expanded by purchasing the adjacent building, a former bank. Nicemakers transformed this extra wing into ‘T Huys, with a new entrance from the street. In addition to a concept store (more about that later) and trattoria Graziella, there is The Wunderkammer, a fantastic florist and curio shop put together by friends of De L’Europe Florian Seyd and Ueli Signer. Expect rare plants and fascinating trinkets.
Which room?
If you’re tired of boring plug-and-play hotel rooms, the ‘T Huys suites are an abundance of individual design that captures the imagination. Be warned: you may return home wanting to change your own living space in a radical way.
The RVDK Suite by sustainable haute couture designer Ronald van der Kamp is a dream for fashion lovers. A slash studio with walk-in closet is dominated by a custom desk made from repurposed objects and an editorial collage in the background – making it the perfect Devil Wears Prada-esque Zoom backdrop for a work holiday.
The all-white bedroom features wall-to-wall mirrors, deep-pile carpeting and wrap-around white curtains with fringes that place the camp in Van der Kamp.
For a sensual experience, the Sisters Jannssen Suite is painted in pulsating red and purple, with murals and sculptures that evoke the divine feminine.
When you’re ready for a little zen, creative studio D/Dock’s suite completely breaks the hotel room mold with moody gray walls lined with fringe, a wall of ceramic vulvas and tatami mats that let you sleep wherever you want. conceivable surface.
Art history buffs will delight in the Van Gogh Museum Suite, with replicas of the painter’s work and sketches that will whet your appetite for a tour of the museum itself, just below the river.
For those seeking a more standard luxury hotel experience, the original Nicemakers-renovated rooms offer classic continental elegance. Extra-large beds are framed by beautifully patterned fabric headboards and high curtains. The spacious wardrobes have a built-in bar that takes the hotel minibar to glamorous heights.
Try to book one with a balcony overlooking the canal and order an extravagant hotel room service for breakfast with the best view in all of Amsterdam.
Good to know
Be sure to have a drink at Freddy’s Bar, named after the original Heineken patron. British national treasure Nigella Lawson filmed her Christmas special here. We have heard from a reliable source that her favorite drink is the Tuschinski, starring blackcurrant brandy from Wynand Fockink.
If a stay in the suites at ‘T Huys has given you a bad case of shoppies, make a pilgrimage to the IN HUYS concept store on the ground floor.
In addition to pieces from the designers and artists who designed the rooms (including RDVK’s wonderful scent Mind Vaccine), pieces have also been curated from Amsterdam’s coolest artisans – including hats crocheted by one of the staff from the trattoria next door.
Make sure to leave room in your suitcase for art books or a one-off Afghan coat. The hotel is also dangerously close to the wonders of the Negen Straatjes shopping district.
Knowing you’ll be loaded with finds is an excuse to opt for the Eurostar and enjoy the far more civilized alternative to flying: a comfortable train journey – unlimited champagne refills if you treat yourself to first class.
You don’t even have to leave the hotel if you want to taste the culinary delights of Amsterdam. Chef Bas van Kranen won the hotel’s restaurant Flore two Michelin stars – plus a green star for his commitment to sustainability. The menu is constantly changing, but if you’re lucky you can try the delicious boozy gummy bears that inspire childlike wonder when sipping an adult cocktail.
How to book
Rooms at De L’Europe Amsterdam start from €759 (approx. £650) based on B&B, with a stay in the hotel suites ‘t Huys from €1,500.
Thanks to Eurostar.