De L’Europe

The site on which the hotel stands has a long lasting hospitality tradition, an inn stood there since 1638. On the 27th of April 1895 the construction started of the new hotel. It was opened on the 23rd of September 1896 as Hotel de l'Europe. The architect, W. Hamer, who also designed Hotel Suisse (which has since burned down) in Kalver Street and the pavilion in Vondel Park, succeeded in incorporating certain elements of the old style of the side facades into the new building, giving it a romantic exterior. The building is founded on approximately 620 piles and is made of mountain stone and red brick in Renaissance style. On the ground floor, the new hotel had a large hall which served as a cafe with an outdoor terrace on the river. The Hotel, which was separate completely from the cafe, had 50 rooms. It had a lovely dining room downstairs, the Amstel Room and a smaller one for intimate dinners, the Munt Room, named after the century-old Munt Tower across the street from the hotel. It also had a special banquet hall and a reception hall, The Rondeel Room, with a beautiful view of the water. On the top floor, there were several separate saloons. With its elevator, central heating, gas and electricity, the hotel provided all the comforts of a real first-class hotel at the time, especially since it also had a bath and toilet on every floor. This was quite a luxury since the guests in the old ‘Rondeel’ before 1895 had to visit the bathhouse opposite the hotel on the Rokin street! As early 1910, two new improvements were made: a covered entrance path leading to the door and a lobby in Doelen Street. At that time the total number of rooms is 70. Just before the 2e World War the hotel was used by Alfred Hitchcock as a location for his movie “Foreign Correspondent”. By suggesting a defect in the name of the hotel on the roof, one could only read “Hot Europe”. The director was referring to the explosive political situation in Europe at that time. During World War II the hotel was occupied by German officers; after the war a major overhaul took place. In October 1970 "Le Relais" was opened where the "Taveerne" used to be on the Doelen Street side. It met with the hotel guests’ desire for a fast good meal sometimes, rather than a sumptuous meal at the "Excelsior". The hotel had not been under the management of A.W. Grandia for only 6 months when in 1981 the first steps were taken towards a large-scale restructuring. The aim was that all the improvements would be completely in keeping with the hotel's classical style and exclusive atmosphere. All 76 hotel rooms and three suites were refurbished and color television with remote control, telephone with direct outside line, minibar, radio and airconditioning were all installed. The new marble bathrooms had hairdryers and a second telephone. Both restaurants, Le Bar, the three banqueting rooms and the lounge were refurbished. This work was completed in 1984. In 1986 Hotel de l'Europe purchased the two adjoining buildings, numbers 6 and 8. These buildings were incorporated into the existing building in the period January 1986 until Spring 1988. On all floors of the hotel you can see the boundary between buildings 4 and 6, there being a noticable dissimilarity in level. In the new extension 35 rooms, a fitness centre, and two new banqueting rooms were created. On January 1, 1990 another renovation was initiated, lasting until Easter 1990. In this period of time 26, relatively small, hotelrooms were altered to create 13 beautiful large rooms. By 1992 the hotel consisted of 100 hotel rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a terrace at the Amstel, banqueting rooms, a fitness center and a business center. Since then relatively small renovations have been executed, for example the refurnishment of 40 hotel rooms in 1993 and 1994, to maintain the hotel constantly in excellent condition and to the highest standard. In 1995 and 1996 the lounge was completely renovated. The hotel invested in several original 19th century paintings, that are now decorating the walls, and in one of the banqueting rooms, the Amstel I, the ceiling was painted in 19th century baroque style. In 1996 the hotel celebrated its centenary anniversary. In 1998 the kitchen and the restaurant Le Relais were renovated. The same year the bar the bar changed its name from Le Bar to Freddy’s, referring to the owner of the hotel, Freddy Heineken. In 1999 the ceiling of the Amstel II banqueting room was painted in the same style as the Amstel I room, and the business center was completely redecorated. In October 1999, the restaurant Excelsior was completely renovated . In October 2001 executive chef Jean-Jacques Menanteau was appointed Maître Cuisinier de France by the Association des Maîtres Cuisiniers de France - as the first French chef working in Holland, as well as ‘Meesterkok’ in Holland as the first foreign chef working in Holland. On the first of September 2005 Adriaan W. Grandia celebrated his 25th anniversary as Managing Director of the hotel. On March 23rd 2006 Didi Whitlau celebrated her 25th anniversary as General Manager of the hotel. In 2006 the hotel also celebrated its 110th anniversary. In 2006 Hotel de l'Europe purchased the two adjoining buildings, Nieuwe Doelenstraat numbers 10, 12 and 14. On the 1st of September the key was handed over, after which a major renovation and restyling will take place in the near future. On the first of April 2007 General Manager Didi Whitlau succeeds Adriaan W. Grandia as Managing Director of the hotel. Mr. Grandia will stay on as consultant for the next two years. On June 27th 2009 Tom Krooswijk succeeds Didi Whitlau as Managing Director of the Hotel. …From the "Rondeel" to Hotel de l’Europe as it is today. Long may the Hotel de l'Europe flourish, and by keeping itself up to the highest standards, it will always remain one of the best and very special hotels in the world. Awards 1995: Hotel de L'Europe / Restaurant Excelsior was awarded The Wedgwood Fine Dining Award, for serving the finest cuisine in the most elegant of surroundings enhanced by the use of Wedgwood tableware. 1996: The hotel appeared for the first time on the Institutional Investors list, yearly composed by senior financial executives, who decide which are the best 100 hotels in the world. Hotel de l'Europe was number 90. 1997: The hotel has risen to the 76th place on the Institutional Investors list. 1997: It also appeared on the list of the renowned magazine Traveler & Leisure, published by American Express Publishing Corporation, as the only Dutch hotel in the top 25 of hotels with 100 rooms or less. 1999: In March 1999 the hotel was awarded the coveted Five Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, as the first and only hotel in Holland. The AAHS is the only international organisation that presents these awards once a year to the most prestigious hotels, restaurants, airlines and cruise companies, for their commitment to outstanding service and hospitality. On November 21st Hotel de L'Europe was awarded the 'Leaders Club Recognition Award 1999'. Annually the 35.000 Leaders Club members choose their favourite hotel, based on the level of hospitality and special personal treatment they receive during their stay. In October 2001 Hotel de l'Europe once again appeared on the Institutional Investors list. On the list, which featured the 80 best hotels according to senior financial executives, the hotel was number 70. In the same month executive chef Jean-Jacques Menanteau was appointed Maître Cuisinier de France by the Association des Maîtres Cuisiniers de France - as the first French chef working in Holland, as well as ‘Meesterkok’ in Holland as the first foreign chef working in this country. 2003: In August 2003 Magazine Travel & Leisure published World's Best Awards of 2003, in which Hotel de L'Europe (as sole Dutch hotel) appeared on the 23rd place of the Top-50 list of best European hotels. Also in 2003 a new category was added by the Institutional Investors list, 'Best Hotels by City'. Among 48 cities our hotel was the only one recommended to stay at in the city of Amsterdam. In October during the annual World Travel Awards in New York city Hotel de L'Europe was elected ' Netherland's Leading Hotel' in the category 'Country's Leading Hotels'. Established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry, World Travel Awards has become one of the most important nights in the travel industry calendar. With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 80.000 travel agencies in over 200 countries, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades a travel product could ever hope to achieve. 2004: Brasserie Le Relais is awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide 2004. In this category restaurants are being recommended that distinguish themselves by serving a delicious meal, preferably regional, with a good price-quality ratio at a reasonable price (€ 33 for a 3-course meal). 2004: In November the annual list of the 80 Best Hotels of the World is published by Institutional Investors, composed as usual by senior financial executives of 27 countries. Hotel de L'Europe is the only Dutch hotel and appears on number 66, as well as on 29 in the region Europe. At the same time l’Europe appears in the category ‘Best Hotels by City 2004’; this year the list consists of 62 hotels in cities worldwide, voted favorite by the Institutional Investor’s well-traveled readers. 2005: Brasserie Le Relais is again awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide. 2006: In January the hotel appears on the list of T+L 500 The Best Hotels in the World, published by the magazine Travel & Leisure. Hotel de l’Europe is the only Dutch hotel nominated on this list. 2006: In November Brasserie Le Relais is again awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin guide. 2006: The same month Managing Director Adriaan W. Grandia received the Piet Kranenberg Tourism Award. This award, founded by the Amsterdam Tourism & Congres office in 1989, is given each year to the person or company that has proven it / him- or herself extremely valuable for tourism to and in Amsterdam. 2007: On December 13th Hotel de l' Europe , as the first 5* hotel in the Netherlands, has been awarded the GREEN KEY: an international eco-label for tourism facilities. The hotel received the GOLDEN GREEN KEY, the highest level that can be awarded.