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Hotels in the Randstad range from elegant canal houses to cross-country chains with anonymous décor. Most large towns have one or more deluxe hotels that exceed all expectations. Accommodation in Rotterdam and The Hague—big convention and business cities—is at a premium, so book well in advance, although the situation is usually not as tight as it is in Amsterdam. Finding somewhere to stay in other cities is generally less of a problem. The VVVs (tourist offices) in the region have extensive accommodation listings and can book your reservations. Unless otherwise noted, assume that all rooms have air-conditioning, TV, telephones, and private bath, and that all hotels operate on the EP meal plan (with no meals).
This former Dutch mint and printing works, in a 300-year-old building, has been transformed into an elegant hotel with an effortless blend of original architectural features and stylish, modern decor, and boasts a multi-award-winning restaurant on the ground floor. There are chandeliers in many public areas and beams in the otherwise modern guest rooms. Bathrooms in the spacious luxury rooms have showers and tubs; others have showers only.
In this tastefully restored 17th-century inn, once the home of painter Jan Steen, antiques grace each spacious room, all of which feature extra-long beds with custom-made mattresses, and some with cozy canal views. Steen, one of the great painters of The Hague School but largely unrecognized in his day, lived and painted here and took in guests to supplement his income.
Contemporary-styled rooms that are tastefully decorated in blue, gray, and gold, with comfortable beds and chic modern bathrooms, have breathed life back into the Utrecht's former High Court building. Superior rooms are larger and quieter (they're at the back away from the street). An arch-roofed suite is tucked into the cellars next to a canal.
This former military hospital has been transformed into Utrecht's most luxurious hotel, with comfortably large guest rooms fitted out with terra-cotta and gold furnishings (a bit overdone) and enormously heavy curtains roped back to reveal almost floor-to-ceiling sash windows. Rooms in the newer Roman Wing are more modern in style, slightly larger, and no less luxurious. The sumptuous dining room glitters with opulent metallic murals and designer oversize vases—a regal setting for the excellent fare. Lighter items are served in the gardens or courtyard if the weather is fine.
Several period touches stand out amid the chain stylings, helping these otherwise anonymously furnished rooms opposite Oude Kerk retain some historic charm without sacrificing modern creature comforts. Guest quarters are spread through a complex of three buildings and a warren of corridors.
Built in 1601, the city's former arsenal also had an interim life as the Army Museum, until a lengthy renovation saw it transform into the city's newest luxury hotel, where the furniture is modern, but features such as exposed brickwork and oak beams pay tribute to its lengthy history. Outside rooms look onto the adjoining canals, while quieter inside rooms surround a spacious interior courtyard.
You'll be spoiled for choice of Old Master views at the first Delft hotel to pay homage to the town's most famous son: the pleasant modern rooms (with beams and other nice touches) at the front overlook a canal, while those at the back have a sweeping city view that takes in three churches. This former cigar factory today has unobtrusive decor, awash in tasteful greens and yellows, and the staff here are pleasantly friendly. The garden behind the hotel is a mellow place to have a drink. The restaurant is open only for groups (advance arrangements essential)—a shame, because its walls are adorned with reproductions of Vermeer's entire corpus, his Girl with a Pearl Earring taking center stage.
Rooms in this pretty 18th-century building near the railway station and within walking distance of major downtown sights are spacious, with good lighting and upscale modern furnishings; bathrooms all have tubs as well as showers. The restaurant and bar downstairs are pleasant and reasonably priced.
Occupying a lovely 18th-century town house on one of Delft's prettiest canals, Royal Bridges plays on its setting with guest rooms and public areas that tend toward modernity, but which still highlight historical features, including the oak-beamed ceilings in some rooms. Ask for a room on the ground floor if stairs are an issue for you.
The attractive exterior of the 1870 building in the shadow of Sint Janskerk and opposite a leafy square has Art Nouveau leanings, while the interior is very 21st-century, with airy and stylishly understated guest rooms. In the center of town, the hotel is ideally situated within easy walking distance of the canals, as well as plenty of shopping and dining choices.
Just a stone's throw from the historic center, this ultra-modern hotel boasts funky decor with two distinct yet contrasting themes: milk bottles reflect the site's former life as a dairy, while album covers and other musical touches are a nod to the Patronaat concert hall next door. Opt to have the cleaning staff leave your room unmade and you'll be rewarded each day with a voucher for a free (soft) drink.
If you want to stay close to the action, but away from the city's noisier bars, this option just walk west of Centraal station offers modern, simply furnished rooms with large, super-comfortable beds. Although it's literally the other side of the tracks, you are still little more than a five-minute walk from the restaurants and shops of the Oudegracht.
