De Durgerdam Hotel

The Netherlands

There's something of the Dutch Old Masters about De Durgerdam. Perhaps it’s the muted tones – all natural putty, ochre, mizzle – or maybe it’s the heavy linen, thick velvet folds, dramatic downlighting and even the sculptural tulipwood headboards that are faintly reminiscent of a Rembrandt. Built on the banks of Lake Ijmeer, the 17th-century house was once an inn for sailors, but is now thriving as an 11-room boutique hotel replete with cosy communal spaces and elegant ground-floor restaurant, De Mark, with views across the lake. De Durgerdam borrows its name from the village it’s located in, just 6km east of the capital. The vast skies and wild marshland have long attracted creatives and those keen to escape the bustle of the city. Indeed, as you leap off the jetty, with the sound of a splash and occasional bird call breaking the silence, it’s hard to believe you’re just an easy cab ride from the buzz of downtown Amsterdam.

Doubles from £230. 00 31 20 218 4463, dedurgerdam.com

Words by Rachel Walker.

This review was taken from the February 2024 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.