How stunning can an entrance be? The interior design of Kruisherenhotel is a wonderful job in its conversion. And heh, when have you ever slept in a church before?
Construction began in 1440, after the land was donated to the Order of the Holy Cross. The entire complex was built over several decades, with the current buildings standing today, completed around 1520. The Order of the Holy Cross was highly respected within Maastricht. Originally they wrote, copied and bound books, however, later united other local, monastic communities to care for the poor and sick. They resided at the Kruisheren until 1797 when they were forced out in order to turn the buildings into a military barracks and arms storage during the French Revolution. Not until the end of the 19th century a restoration project was commenced.
Such an amazing restaurant!
The spectacular gothic church and cloister has been transformed into a 60-room, ultra-modern city hotel, where medieval architecture meets contemporary styling. Inside and outside, you definitely see and feel the beauty of the former monastery. And yet the amenities are modern and comfortable; we love the combination of a modern style inside mixed with old stones. The interior design, led by Henk Vos and Ingo Maurer, with pieces by Philippe Starck and Le Corbusier, has a luxurious as well as pleasant feel. Our kids really like the design chairs and art all around. The rooms are first class and really quirky, ours is quite spacious and even a bit clean. And whether you choose for a DeLuxe Room, a Prestige Room or a Suite: none are the same, for instance every room has its own art work and a dedicated poem.
Eye for detail
Spending a weekend here with my friend Renate, who is a real foodie, we have to try the restaurant for diner. But be sure to book this beforehand. Unfortunately we did not, although the alternative, to have lunch instead, turns out great as well. It is an amazing with such dramatic architecture, hosting a first class restaurant and wine bar. The hotel also has a lovely, peaceful patio to sit in & just eat or have a drink; it would have been nice if it was possible to have dinner or breakfast here. Speaking of breakfast: it was generous with a large selection and great coffee.
Service is exceptional, especially for Dutch standards: the staff is very helpful and recommends a wonderful place to have diner. The hotel has it's own valet parking and the location is also great to go to most places on foot. It’s a few minutes walk to Vrijhof and the shops, although you might find some beautiful art pieces at the hotel itself, which are for sale. And yes, I found one...
Art for sale
If you are in for a Spa experience, you might visit its sister hotel Chateaux St. Gerlach, which is also a stunning place to spend time and have dinner. Children are only welcome to use the swimming pool between 7 and 11 hrs and during school holiday a bit longer. Both hotels are part of the Oostwegelcollection, with excellent restaurants, as well at Chateau Neercanne and Winselerhof.
We would not say Kruisherenhotel is a typical family hotel, but the staff, the design and the history makes it a wonderful experience for everyone. Maastricht has several pleasant activities to offer for families travelling with children. It has lots of churches, such as the OLV Church and museums to visit. The Natural Historic Museum for example has a nice collection and our kids enjoy the children tour; which is, unfortunately, not in English.
Childfriendly Maastricht... at the Vrijthof square
Our daughter and her friend Floris both love to visit Maastricht Underground: this network of caves in the St. Pietersberg hill was not formed naturally. Human hands created this labyrinth by cutting and hacking out blocks from the soft limestone. The finds are well-preserved fossils of mosasaurs. The catacombs also gained great strategic importance and the passageways also served as a place of refuge for the inhabitants of Maastricht. In September 1944, Maastricht’s residents sheltered in the bombproof safety of the caves, while above ground the city was being liberated. Highlight of the tour for the kids is the part where we walk without having lights, not to be tried alone though!
While travelling to Maastricht you might pass Eindhoven, city of light and design. For art lovers we recommend studio and sculpture garden Ruimte in beeld in the nearby Nuenen. Each time we visit it, we are surprised by the amazing art works of the artists, like our brother in law Rob Zweerman and enjoy watching these works while wandering through the garden.
WOW
# Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is the only five star hotel in the Maastricht Region. The staff is exceptional friendly.
# It is truly an unique and wonderful place to stay. The design is very tasteful; you will find a spot for a photo shoot just about anywhere.
# Great location for exploring Maastricht by foot.
