Pillows Hotels, known for its refined hotels and restaurants in the Netherlands and Belgium, has revealed plans to open its seventh property with Maurits at the Park in Amsterdam. Debuting in Q4 2022, the hotel will be located within a 20^th century building that has been transformed by Office Winhov and Studio Linse.

Drawing inspiration from the surrounding Oosterpark, the nearby Tropenmuseum and Artis Amsterdam Zoo, the property will comprise 88 luxury guestrooms and suites, a fine dining restaurant and a brasserie, together with two bars, a private lounge area, and several meeting spaces to cater for business travellers in the city.

Despite the structure’s imposing exterior, the interior design scheme has been reimagined from its origins as a university to become a welcoming, cosmopolitan spot for those residing or passing through. Offering a different kind of hospitality experience in Amsterdam, it combines privacy with instant access to the capital.

“We couldn’t find a more fitting way to celebrate our fifth anniversary than to return to Amsterdam, the city where it all started for us, with the first five-star property in our portfolio”, says Loes Dingemans, CEO of Pillows Hotels. “Maurits at the Park is everything our brand stands for: exceptional hospitality in intimate, elegant settings. The hotel offers guests numerous experiences without having to leave its premises.”

Office Winhov envisioned the property as an open, indispensable part of the neighbourhood where everyone is welcome. Over 4,000m² of parkland will be returned to the people of Amsterdam, removing any existing partitions and fences. The hotel’s open invitation is also extended to the Oosterpark’s evergreen gardens and feathery friends, thanks to the use of nesting boxes, feeding areas and an aviary that helps protect birds.

Uri Gilad of Office Winhov, who took into account the building’s unique location and the intricate features of its past, comments: “We are adding the hotel to the park; usually, it is the other way around.” This is especially evident in the hotel’s new wing, where different types of windows connect the indoors with the outdoors; the new and the old intertwine harmoniously, while warm lighting transforms the space at night.

This careful consideration of the building’s heritage has also been applied to the interiors designed by Studio Linse, which won an award for its work at Pillows Hotel Ter Borch Zwolle. A “noble simplicity”, as founder Paul Linse describes it, runs throughout to connect the selected interior elements, while soft, tactile materials and a warm, earthy colour palette create a calming harmony along with comfortable lounge furniture.

Touches of Parisian elegance are combined with Dutch sophistication, setting a relaxing tone in the guestrooms and suites, which range from 16-50m². Understated and inviting, the rooms feature individual artworks by painter Raphaël Hermans and every detail has been thoughtfully planned for maximum comfort.

Great attention has also been given to the culinary offering. Felix, helmed by rising star chef Floris van Straalen, is a fine dining restaurant serving dishes prepared in an open kitchen. The space itself features 15m high ceilings and design elements from a bygone era that pay homage to the Tropenmuseum next door.

Spring Cafe Brasserie meanwhile adds a playful touch to the mix with dishes inspired by Italian and French cuisine. Its generous outdoor seating area in a large urban garden blends into the atmospheric Oosterpark.

Guests also have the chance to experience signature cocktails at Fitz’s Bar, an intimate space bathed in leather, wood, felt and velour details. The rooftop venue provides views of the park and city too.

Rounding out the facilities are three salons for meetings and events. The Living, a private lounge accessible only to staying guests, offers an impressive library and luscious design. A thoughtful entertainment plan, currently in the works, also includes various events and activities curated by local Amsterdam creatives.