De Durgerdam – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
One of the wonderful things about Amsterdam is how quickly the city slips into rural landscapes and sleepy villages. And just a bike ride or boat trip (the two best ways to get there) from the vibrant centre of the capital, is the tiny gabled village of Durgerdam, surrounded by fields and lake. And in a most exquisitely restored and reimagined 17th century house, is the eponymous and very atmospheric boutique hotel, De Durgerdam.
The typical clapperboard exterior belies what’s inside – a rich and sultry aesthetic, with ochre walls, velvet fabric and exposed brickwork hung with oil paintings and still lifes. Top this with a team who is on hand to ensure you have anything you possibly want, creating a very ‘gezellig’ vibe.
At A Glance
Luxury Hotel
Why We Love It:
For its atmospheric styling and very quiet setting.Style:
Painterly chic.Location:
In the village of Durgerdam, on the shores of the Jjmeer, just 7km east of the centre of Amsterdam.Rooms:
11 rooms and 3 suites – all individually designed and all very sleep inducing.Swimming:
In the IJmeer lake right in front.Children:
Families with children of all ages are very welcome.Accessibility:
There are no facilities for guests with mobility issues.rooms
No two rooms or suites are the same, spread within the main building and the adjoining guesthouse. Designed to be intimate and calming, they’re each evocative of the Dutch Golden Age. Oil paintings adorn the ochre and putty coloured walls and objects you’d see in a still life study casually lie on desks and bedside tables. Modern comforts include Hypnos beds, rainforest showers and a lighting system designed to make you drift into a deep and restorative sleep.
Classic Rooms are in the guesthouse, looking east out over the well-kept garden and towards the sunrise. Garden Rooms come with a private verandah, whilst De Kerk has its own little garden and De Ziel is in the heart of the main historic house. The three larger Suites are here too, looking out over the lake or the meadows behind.
food
You won’t need to head into the city to dine. The De Mark restaurant is under the auspices of the chefs behind Amsterdam’s Michelin-starred 212, with the focus on local produce, the surrounding fields and water. Expect to see vegetables championed on the menu and prepared in very innovative ways.
activities
The joy of staying here is the quiet location, but with Amsterdam within striking distance. In summer, you can lounge on the pontoons just watching the boating activity on the IJmeer, and in winter, walk the marshlands taking in the incredible light. Go Dutch and cycle everywhere – paths lead to Amsterdam and to a multitude of small villages that feel like a step back in time.
Head to Edam and browse the market, or Monnickendam on the shores of Makermeer, taking in the gabled architecture, then maybe rent a boat and explore the lake.
family
Children of all ages are welcome here, but there are no specific facilities. Certain rooms can be provided with a cot and baby monitor.
sustainability
Being Dutch, expect state of the art sustainability practices. In the renovation of this listed building, anything salvageable was reused and many of the materials were reclaimed. Air source heat pumps heat the building; the windows are fashioned from Fineo glass to give them a monument look, but in fact are triple glass; food waste is composted and they are working towards a zero-waste operation.
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
In the village of Durgerdam, on the shores of the Jjmeer, just 7km east of the centre of Amsterdam. Arrive by car, by bike (30 minutes from the centre), or by boat. Schipol Airport is 25 minutes away.
