First established in 1896, De L’Europe Amsterdam is one of the standard-bearers in the city’s luxury hotel scene. Recently, it was reborn through a contemporary lens, while still paying homage to the Dutch Masters. “We don’t like to throw away the useful items and start from scratch,” says Dax Roll, cofounder of local design firm Nicemakers, which handled the renovation. “We wanted to bring back the hotel’s original allure and its classic luxury but without getting an old-fashioned or dusty feeling.”

Nicemakers refreshed the interior’s existing palette to accentuate the splendor of its original elements by incorporating round shapes, soft lines, and layered elements throughout the public areas. (Room and suites will undergo a redesign in 2021.) With new dining and retail outlets, as well as a library, the 111-key property’s ground floor serves as the centerpiece of the design and is united by red accents—highlighted in marble, curtains, and original flooring—“to make the entire ground floor feel as one space,” Roll adds.

The redesign by Nicemakers marries classic charm with modern upgrades

Further, custom light fixtures and bespoke furniture imbue a modern feel to the storied building, notable in the Mendo bookstore, which was conceived as intimate apartment showcasing a personal literary collection, and its two F&B outlets. The Trattoria Graziella restaurant calls to mind palatial kitchens of Venice with stone floors, marble, and pastel tones, while Marie evokes the warmth of a French brasserie with a skylight sheathed in colored glass inspired by the hotel’s original design.

“Where before many doors were closed, now all doors are open, and behind every door is another beautiful space,” Roll says of the restoration. “Guests are invited to explore the hotel and walk from one space to the next.”

Trattoria Graziella, one of the hotel’s two F&B options, is inspired by an Italian palatial kitchen

Mendo bookstore’s curated flagship location is located within the hotel

Many of the hotel’s existing elements were carefully revitalized to enhance its original allure

Throughout the property, 17th-century artwork mingles with bespoke furnishings and natural materials