The Best Luxury Hotels in The Netherlands

Le Méridien Hotel des Indes (The Hague; tel. 070/361-2345): Within this opulent hotel, simply lean over the balustrade on the first-floor landing to watch the cream of The Hague's society having tea in the lounge, and the lights of chandeliers reflecting in the polished marble pillars. The rooms are equally grand and comfortable.

Bilderberg Landgoed Lauswolt (Beetsterzwaag, near Leeuwarden; tel. 0512/381-245): This 19th-century country house has been converted into a luxury hotel equipped with the latest amenities and leisure facilities. Some 2,700 acres of forest and heather offer ample opportunity for walking or horseback riding. Play golf or tennis, or swim in the heated indoor pool. All this activity will surely stir your appetite -- luckily, the cuisine is of the same high standard as the other comforts in the hotel.