Amsterdam's Hotel de L'Europe Re-opens Following €61 Million Renovation

Long considered an oasis of calm in the midst of the city’s buzzing center, this iconic property presents to all who enter its doors the quintessentially Dutch hospitality experience with personable, warm service under the expert management of Tom J. Krooswijk. De L’Europe fuses 19th century architectural elements with 21st-century amenities, including iPad directories of the hotel, heated bathroom floors and sensory lighting in each of the 111 guest rooms, including 42 palatial suites.

Accommodations
Discerning travelers may select from seven diverse, boldly colored room and suite styles – including Amsterdam’s only six-bedroom signature suite with private wrap-around terrace overlooking the water. All guest quarters feature meticulous reproductions of Dutch Masters paintings from the collection of - and in collaboration with - the nearby Rijksmuseum: one, a true-to-original-size replica, the others, enormous interpretations of thumbnail details. Gorgeously appointed accommodations elevate an already superluxe guestroom experience with a living parlour; a generously oversized bathroom with gently heated marble or tile floors; motion detection lighting that creates subtly lit footpaths for guidance in the dark; a smart private office area with desk; and best-in-show amenities including the hotel’s heavenly L’Eau De L’Europe room fragrance and skincare line created by parfumeur Blaise Mautin.

The new all-suites Dutch Masters Wing offers four different layouts of light-filled waterside spacious studio lofts or one-bedroom “apartments.” Reminiscent of a glass-topped greenhouse, the wing’s atrium streams sunlight over its three high-ceiling floors, with open corridors and common areas adorned with posh furnishings.

Restaurants & Bars
Executive chef Richard van Oostenbrugge oversees De L’Europe’s hub of haute cuisine encompassing three restaurants, three lounges, seven private event rooms and 24-hour room service. Chef Richard enjoys an acclaimed reputation for creating simply and beautifully plated, mouthwatering recipes using only the best local ingredients, resulting in maximum flavor. Head Sommelier Dannis Apeldoorn “curates” an impressive wine list of more than 1,000 old and new world labels, meticulously stored in Les Caves De L’Europe, the hotel’s private cellar. In addition to personally blending an exclusive De L’Europe “house” wine from several Bordeaux varietals, his program offers tastings, seminars and tours by appointment. De L’Europe’s innovative dining concepts were developed with the guidance of the country’s famous television personality chef Robert Kranenborg and world-class pâtissier Jeroen Goossens whose career includes a silver medal at the Pastry World Championships Coupe du Monde.

With myriad options under one roof, demanding gourmands never need leave the property. The jewel of De L’Europe’s culinary scene, Bord’Eau raises the bar on contemporary fine dining expectations – unpretentious, non-fussy; high style for a new century, where attentive yet informally detailed service pairs with modern fare from locally sourced ingredients. Hoofdstad Brasserie, noted for its power breakfast crowd, is an open-kitchen with views of its chefs in action serving “Amsterdam accented” modern French brasserie cooking. The Promenade surrounds patrons with replicas of 17th-century Dutch Masters paintings; live music played by jazz pianist Tarmo Vesterbohm keeps guests entertained. A contemporary co-mingling of classic British tea parlours and French pastry salons, its daily showcase is classically chic afternoon themed tea service set on custom fine bone china. No visit to De L’Europe is complete without a stop at Freddy’s Bar, Amsterdam’s traditional iconic brown café for the local elite, named for Alfred Heineken who entertained colleagues and friends from society here. Next door, peppered by rich deep-green leather chairs and enveloped by dark-wood panels, revelers can mingle late into the evening at De L’Europe’s new Cigar Lounge. During summer, diners can enjoy the Terrace where Euro chic riverside dining pairs with sumptuous updated Parisian-influenced café classics and seasonal local specialties served in a spectacular al fresco setting atop a charming open air patio with views of the city’s famous canals.

Meetings & Events
A legendary landmark in the city’s history, centrally located De L’Europe offers seven distinctly and beautifully appointed private dining rooms of various sizes and décor perfect for takeover opportunities, conferences, board meetings, weddings, social and cultural events. Amsterdam’s premier venue combines sophisticated spaces infused with natural daylight and stunning waterside views to energize the mind and spirit. Warm, personalized service (each room is tended by its own butler,) a multitude of menu selections, Heineken taps and more than 1,000 wine options, plus state-of-the-art audio/visual presentation services impart modern gracious living. Many of the rooms are connected, so guests can move seamlessly from reception or meeting to lunch or dinner.

Design
The acclaimed firm Dam & Partners spearheaded De L’Europe’s restoration plus the annexation and transformation of its neighboring building into the recently opened all-suites Dutch Masters Wing. As one of Amsterdam’s leading designers and architects, Cees Dam kept De L’Europe’s historical exterior intact. The interior is wholly rebuilt with new environmentally efficient construction materials and state-of-the-art technology. Upon entering both the breathtaking atrium lobby of the Dutch Masters Wing and the grand Promenade in the main Rondeel building, Dam’s color infusion envelopment purposely creates a beautiful luster. Similar to the Dutch Masters at the forefront of new painting techniques and ideas during the Northern European Renaissance, Dam’s philosophy drives traditional design and architecture forward, or in his words, “When something is new, it carries on the tradition but pushes beyond its limitations.”

Wellness & Spa
The Fitness Center at De L’Europe lets the exercise enthusiast enjoy a wide range of activities: a selection of free weights, stationary aerobic machines and heated indoor pool with eye-level water views. Following a workout, guests can relax on lounge chairs while sipping a refreshing made-to-order fruit smoothie from the juice bar. Steam/sauna facilities soothe the soul after a busy day of touring. A new spa opens autumn 2011.

Background
Opened in 1896 and forever synonymous with refined taste and quiet elegance, De L’Europe is often referred to as the other “Royal Palace of Amsterdam,” continuing to attract the city’s power menagerie and an assortment of the world’s most celebrated names. As a 25-year member of Leading Hotels of the World, it’s internationally regarded as one of the group’s most iconic properties. Fusing its sophisticated ambience and warm, gracious service, the hotel’s distinctive décor sets it apart, surrounding visitors with original Dutch Masters paintings from the private collection of Alfred "Freddy" Heineken for an authentic Amsterdam experience. The hotel’s enviable city-center location on the Amstel River is convenient to several of the world's most heralded museums and points of interest.

Hotel Profile: Hotel de L'Europe