De Durgerdam

Creative design, simplicity, richness, a passion for heritage architecture, a nautical location, a love of food, sustainability, the arts, and an adventurist eye for detailing rallies at this new boutique hotel and foodie hotspot haunt, De Mark, in the sleepy waterside village of Durgerdam, just 20-minutes (6km) east of Amsterdam. Reached by water or land, it is another world, a house-hotel and restaurant nesting in a lakeside sweet spot of IJmeer Lake - a place of style and the good things in life, done properly.

Cue a catwalk line-up of historic clapboard fisherman's cottages painted in the hues of brine, sail ship whites and moist clay, a wild, reed-dotted shoreline, a church, a quay flanked by vast lake views and slow-time pastures to the rear; this is the setting for the recently opened restaurant De Mark and hotel, De Durgerdam, on the site of the original 17th-century inn, owned by Amsterdam based Paul Geertman, founder and brains behind architecture and development company, Aedes. 

With the tranquil Lake Ijmeer as the backdrop and restaurant De Mark is the focal point, spanning the lower floors skirting the bar, sitting room, library and pontoon decking. Upstairs, the boutique quarters of hotel De Durgerdam play stylish host - a familiar architectural footprint since its days as an inn - popular with sailors, the odd princess, and traders of the Golden Age. 

There is a natural air of excitement about the food here, De Mark Restaurant has been conceived in collaboration with two Michelin-starred chefs from Amsterdam, aka Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot of restaurant legends 212, De Juwelier and La Mer. Rooted in simplicity, plates are wholesome and trace the origins of regional hearty foods, with humble ingredients taking centre stage.   

Cultural sweethearts Brecht Duijf and Lenneke Langenhuijsen of Belén, a contemporary design studio based in Amsterdam, who have had their works exhibited at the MoMa New York and Vitra Design Museum, were charged with the interiors. Pairing heritage with their signature use of raw textiles, the design marries modern notes against intricate patterns and indigenous crafts. Colourists, the duo command intelligence and with their creative approach to the use of natural light, the hotel and restaurant adopt the mastery of deep comfort. Marshland mud, flax, milky clouds, wet putty and sunshine ochre, cast a seductive scene throughout, ushering in the faithful aesthetic of the 17th-century house and seamlessly into the new guesthouse sibling. Keeping the sustainable design narrative simple, the house is lined with historical references such as the typical Zuiderzee hand-painted joinery with sky-blue interiors, plaster walls, planked flooring, tulipwood moire veneer headboards, linen, saffron flat-weave cottons, taffeta, reed grass rugs, glazed copper ceramic tiling by locals Makkum Tichelaar – producing tiles since 1572, brushed bronze accents and an oversized loveseat armchair beckons – the scene conjures a mood like an illustrious artwork by a Dutch Master. Personal artworks selected for the hotel flood the place with clever cultural links with logistical references, such as the crystal and fishing net installation by Ingo Maurer, appropriately titled Lacrime del Pescatore. Favourites include "Layered Portraits (after Rembrandt)" by British artist Glenn Brown offers a nod to Rembrandt's lover who lived close by, and Dutch painters Philip Akkerman, Pieter Jansz van Berendrecht, Jan van Kessel, Frank Van den Broeck, Jacqueline de Jong and Emo Verkerk.

It's a seductive mix firmly rooted in Durgerdam that feels at ease, at home, a place that hums with chatter in a world of blustery lakeside charm, soulful food and gorgeously natural interiors. Deeply expressive of its environment, De Durgerdam is your maritime refuge, where the only distractions are the birds, the washing lines rippling in the breeze and the scudding boats that dot the horizon.

Keeping faithful to the historic nature of the original inn, the interiors capture the essence of the nautical location. There are 14 gorgeous bedrooms and a couple of suites to choose from, affording all of the luxury creature comforts of a plush clubhouse hotel paired with adventurous creativity. 

Touching the senses, throughout the original main house and clapboard guesthouse addition, colours of sunshine ochre and muted tones of reed grass, clay and the skies emit tranquillity. Handmade furnishings, crafted crackle glazed tiles, conversational-worthy artworks, textural depth and attention to detail are the design hallmarks of the guest accommodation. The design is personal and comfort is second nature with some nice little in-room touches: Hypnos king-size bed, refreshment counter, local biscuits and treats, a radio to listen to the shipping news, a yoga mat, handy dumbells, clothing steamer and bespoke cabinetry to stow.  

Gardens, pastures, verandas and the lake shoreline escort the room aspects - natural light and sea breeze (windows that open) come as a given, as does the natural wild swimming,  courtesy of the infinite IJmeer lake - a perfect dip before breakfast or chill-down on the warm summery days. 

Room categories are thoughtfully simple from the Classic, Garden, Special and Suites. 

Simplicity and intensity of flavour are undoubtedly the taste hallmarks of Restaurant De Mark. Not only the buzzing dining destination heart of boutique hotel De Durgerdam, it is destined to become the new culinary hotspot and social hub by Head Chef Koen Marees and collaborators, Amsterdam’s gourmet heroes, Richard van Oostenbrugge and Thomas Groot of Michelin-star restaurants 212 and De Juwelier. A trio of loveable mavericks who have adopted a clear signature of cooking up the classics with a creative new twist, the rural staples offer the familiar, whilst fresh seafood is the kindred flavours of the doorstep sea. The Centre stage of the kitchen is the open flames of the grill, where chefs busily add a char to vegetables, fish and meats - a natural way of cooking that demands skill and a love of theatre.  

With its clubhouse vibe, the dining quarters are peppered across the ground floor, wine snug and fireplace. Summertime al fresco allure and shoreline waters beckon a table on the pontoon decking.

Just four miles (6km) east of Amsterdam, Durgerdam is a small, former fishing village and host to hotel and restaurant De Durgerdam. Coming here means a break from the city, yet its proximity to Amsterdam means an easy combo of city & coastal getaway where you can get your cultural fix and urban buzz from Amsterdam before settling in to relax by the tranquil shores of the lake, swimming, paddle boarding or simply watching the boats sail past.

Full of maritime heritage, Durgerdam was once a stop on the East India Trading route and the coastal village played host to sailors taking refuge here. Today the legacy of its fishing history is significant in the old clapboard houses in bright hues, painted to be a beacon for incoming boats. The marina bobs with yachts and small vessels for fun on the water. Behind the village, marshlands spread out, a sanctuary for birdlife - take a walk or bike ride through the reedy landscapes of National Park Nieuw Land.