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One of the most prestigious hotels in the Netherlands, Hotel des Indes delivers a superior guest experience on every level. A member of The Leading Hotels Of The World, Hotel des Indes is located in the nation’s capital, The Hague, which serves as an excellent base for exploring the city and the region beyond. It is on the green expanse of Lange Voorhout, where the façades of elegant townhouses complement those of other buildings, including the hotel and a royal palace.

Hotel des Indes’ bright yellow façade and red awning convey positive impressions before entering the premises. Once inside the welcoming entrance vestibule, guests are immediately enthralled by the understated glamour of the interior decor. Not too glitzy or straightforward, Hotel des Indes strikes a perfect balance of refinement and charm, matched by the professionalism of staff members eager to ensure every guest’s experience is optimal. The entrance vestibule leads directly to an expansive lobby lounge, the place for Hotel des Indes’ famous high tea. Afternoon tea is something of an institution in the Netherlands, and nowhere is it more opulent than in this beautiful venue. Above is a small exhibition displaying some background about this historical establishment, which is the former palace of a Dutch nobleman.

: The lobby lounge at Hotel des Indes

: A comfortable bedroom at Hotel des Indes

: An elegant bathroom at Hotel des Indes

The hotel building is not the only palace in the park, like Lange Voorhout. About 100 metres from the hotel is the former royal residence of Queen Emma, one of the most popular monarchs in the history of the Netherlands. She lived here until she died in 1934; now the palace is a museum known as Escher in het Paleis, juxtaposing the still regal interiors with the avant-garde artwork of Dutch illustrator M.C. Escher. Some of Escher’s famously mindbending works are familiar to the world. Still, his other illusions in illustration are no less interesting to see in the unexpected background of a royal palace.

The Hague is also home to Mauritshuis, a grand museum where masterpieces of Dutch art, including perhaps the most famous Dutch painting, are displayed. Much of it is reproduced on everything from posters to coffee mugs to bedroom slippers, and the original of Jan Vermeer’s painting Girl With A Pearl Earring is here at Mauritshuis. Unlike the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Girl With A Pearl Earring can be appreciated close up, without crowds or phone cameras six deep in the air. The odd fact about this painting is that the girl was not a real person at all, but rather a figment of Vermeer’s imagination created while simply practising technique in lighting and brushstrokes.

: The Mauritshuis exterior

: Not all is as it seems at Escher in het Paleis.

After a day out taking in the magnificent works of art and the vivacious spirit of The Hague, a return to Hotel des Indes will bring guests back to their well-appointed accommodation, where, as in the public spaces, a perfect combination of historical charm and modern convenience can be found in any of the hotel’s 92 rooms and suites. As is often the case in historical hotels, the rooms vary significantly in size and configuration but maintain consistency in their excellence in providing comfort and service in luxurious surroundings. That, in essence, is the Hotel des Indes experience.