Best Luxury Hotels in Netherlands

Found in the heart of the financial district right opposite the central station (to which the property has a direct link), this two-decade-old five-star hotel received a fresh restyle in 2016. But ambient city sounds needn’t be a worry if you’re a light sleeper. Its 228 rooms are all soundproofed, while pillow menus, Egyptian cotton linen and optional hypo-allergenic bedding provide an enhanced level of overnight comfort. As you might expect from an international chain hotel, facilities are plentiful. Two restaurants, a 24-hour fitness centre, salon, coffee shop/café, a deli, bar, electric car charging points, airport transfers, limo service and a business centre are all available for guests’ use.

The ‘h’ remains silent when pronouncing the name of this cutting edge hotel. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhas (himself born in the city), it’s found in the Kop van Zuid district. The 275 rooms are housed in what resembles three industrial glass boxes, with a crisp white-centric internal colour scheme, halo lighting and neon signage designating room numbers. Once in your private abode, you’ll find a massive mirror that doubles as a TV, Nespresso coffee makers, blackout curtains and modular furniture. Guests can take the air from nhow’s terrace and early risers will appreciate the crack of dawn breakfast service (which opens from 5.30 am onwards).

Book a central stay at this hip, ten-floor, five-star address. Overlooking Rotterdam’s oldest harbour with its vintage barges, the aluminium and glass frontages of Mainport present a stark contrast to its surroundings. Inside, there’s artsy wallpaper themed on the world’s continents, clean lines, moody colour palettes and refined furnishings. The ‘Spa Heaven’ has two treatment rooms, two hammams, a sauna (with a view), a steam room – and around half of the 215 bedrooms even have their own private saunas. Guests can sip cocktails on the hotel’s swanky riverside terrace and dine at the open-plan restaurant. With extensive meeting facilities, Mainport is an excellent choice for the business traveller and tourist alike.

If Dutch old-world charm is what you seek, stay at The Collector Hotel. Each room has been individually designed by artists and named The Wallet, The Canvas, The Cabinet, The Frame, The Gallery and The Collector Loft (a double level duplex apartment with a standalone bathtub.). The hotel contains items that have been carefully curated – a selection of unique furniture and decorative objects. Hence each room contains an explorer’s ‘collection’, which will delight those who enjoy creative detail. Tan and deep green leather, pops of mustard yellow, gilt hardware, Persian rugs, banana plants, modern art come Elizabethan portraits and Zenology toiletries are found within, alongside an onsite bar and restaurant.

Formerly the Dutch National Bank, this is now a 63 bedroom boutique hotel. There are many nods to the building’s past life, including the original lifts, minibars housed in small safes, a brasserie named Stocks and Bonds and the Gold Bar in what was once the bank’s vault; Indigo’s speakeasy bar is distinctly 1920s, accessed via the old vault doors. The design is contemporary yet retro, with a mid-century colour palette and lots of chestnut brown wood panelling, brass and marble in the mix. The 19th-century property is located right opposite the Royal Palace Noordeinde.

Encompassing part of the Teutonic Knights’ Bailiwick of Utrecht old monastery founded in 1348, the Grand Hotel Karel V is found in the Duitse Huis buildings. It’s named after its most famous guest, Emperor Karel V, who attended the meeting of The Order of The Golden Fleece here in 1543. A grand, five-star establishment, the hotel is surrounded by 10,000-square meters of landscaped gardens, making it a peaceful yet central retreat. The spa and wellness centre – with Puur by Kristel treatments – add to this sense of serenity, as does the elegant, classically decorated suites and the Karel V dining experience.

The delightfully named Mother Goose is a unique design hotel in a property dating back to the 14th century that lies in the city’s historic heart. Housed in what were once Ubica buildings, the venue has been home to a chemist, a bookstore, a printer, a plumbing company, a bakery, a furniture maker, a mattress factory and squatters. Now reclaimed wood, exposed brick and stone walls, Scandi furnishings and industrial style lighting adorn the rooms, along with chic treats like Tribes coffee, organic Art of Tea and Marie-Stella-Maris toiletries. Guests staying here benefit from the use of a funky lounge and bikes on loan.

The international NH brand provides high levels of service and amenities, no more so than this — a five-star addition to the chain’s properties. Its 132 bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows, allowing masses of light to stream into the modern spaces, premium mattresses, rain-effect showers, Nespresso machines and professional standard hairdryers. It may be a contemporary hotel now, but the Eindhoven Centre used to be the offices of the Land Registry and tax department, redeveloped in 2017 to incorporate green glass, and a large LED screen on the side. The top floor of NH features the VANE restaurant and Skybar.

Across from the De Heuvel shopping centre, this four-star spa hotel ably meets the needs of both business and leisure travellers. A highlight is an indoor pool, a calm oasis with mid-century style cream easy chairs beside the clear blue waters’ edge. The wellness centre also contains several spacious saunas and treatment rooms. Guests can dine at Restaurant Vestdijk47, with its open kitchen, chef’s table and large wine bar with Tresor Digestif. There are 320 guest rooms spread across its nine floors, with high-end toiletries, blackout drapes, cots and an optional babysitting service.

This member of Design Hotels has just eight bedrooms, in the form of suites and lofts. It’s especially unique as it’s housed within a design gallery. So naturally, the decor in the guest areas is shaped by work from top artists. Loft and duplexes have freestanding tubs and each space features minimal industrial style decor. Kazerne has its own lively, urban bar and restaurant, as well as a fine-dining venue, Benz, taking its cue from French gastro cuisine. And anyone staying here is automatically granted access to the venue’s exclusive members club, including a living room with an honesty bar open 24/7.

Close to the railway station, The Den is found in one of the city’s newer and verdant districts. The design is modern, taking inspiration from the nearby watercourses – blue is a dominant colour in the decor – and the area’s Burgundian heritage. Public spaces feature contemporary lighting installations, curved lines and gold accents. The Den is equipped with a fitness centre, a lounge, a rooftop restaurant and bar and a further restaurant and bar downstairs, with 24-hour room service available in its 160 bedrooms. Pets are welcome to stay here too.

Housed in a historic 17th-century building, The Tivoli Doelen has played an important role in Amsterdam’s history. It’s the oldest hotel in the city, with a rich heritage, having welcomed many illustrious guests, including Queen Victoria and Napoleon Bonaparte. Overlooking the Amstel River and close to Dam Square, it’s but a short stroll away from many of the city’s top attractions, such as the Hermitage Museum and the Rembrandt House Museum. A fitness centre, a restaurant serving Dutch and French cuisine and a bar with a riverside terrace are among the NH Collection hotel’s amenities.