Beautybyfrieda

Rooms and interior

Hotel owner Inge van de Ven had been played with the idea for years to restore the old, dilapidated country estate and give it a hotel function. The renovation started in 2019 with the botanical history of the country estate as a starting point. This theme has therefore been implemented throughout the villa: from the menu of restaurant Bloei to the hotel logo and interior details. The stylish rooms range from intimate to luxurious. With six room types, there is always a stay that meets your needs: cozy, comfort, superior, junior suite, a suite or junior suite split level. All rooms have large windows. Some rooms have original beamed ceilings or ornaments, others have patio doors to the garden or a French balcony with a unique view of the garden, patio or the Vecht. Calm colors and botanically inspired art create a modern and elegant look.

Restaurant Bloei

In restaurant Bloei guests can sit down for an extensive breakfast, luxury lunch, high tea or tasteful dinner. The high ceilings and the large glass conservatory create a cozy and contemporary atmosphere in the restaurant. Bloom’s kitchen works with carefully selected regional and seasonal ingredients. The menu has been composed by chef Otto Genz, focusing on his passion for the versatility of Dutch products. The chef and his team aim to surprise guests with dishes characterized by stylish simplicity, elegance and pure flavours. When the weather is nice you can sit outside on one of the two spacious terraces (200 square meters).

Botanical history

From the terraces you can enjoy the flowery garden, which has been restored to its former glory after a design by landscape architect Patricia Debie. The charming garden surrounding the villa has a rich botanical history. Agnes Block, who founded the country estate in 1670, turned out to be a skilled breeder of rare and exotic plants here. Through barter and trade with merchants and botanists, she collected hundreds of plant and flower species in her gardens from all over the world. This is how the nickname Flora Batava came into being. At the country estate, Agnes was the first in Europe to grow a flowering pineapple. This is why the restaurant bears the name Bloei. The pineapple as a hotel logo also finds its origin here. Coincidentally, the pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality for centuries. With personal service of paramount importance, the tradition of hospitality at Flora Batava is revived.

Experience

You can enjoy the passing boats on the Vecht in the tea house on the river. Unwind with a cup of coffee and cake or opt for a good glass of wine with something delicious from the drinks menu. Meetings or holding a (celebratory) gathering is also possible in the two specially equipped rooms. The quiet and central location of Flora Batava and the possibility to conclude with a saloon boat trip makes every meeting something special. Out and about? With a boat that you rent at the hotel, you can sail to the Loosdrechtse Plassen via the Vecht river. Or get on an (electric) bicycle to explore the area. With many fortresses, castles, country estates and windmills, the Vecht region is one large open-air museum. With a location between Amsterdam and Utrecht, Flora Batava is the perfect base for those who want to combine city and nature.

Construction and restoration

Buitenplaats De Vijverhof had fallen into disrepair after a long period of service as a research institute for the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. With the support of the Heritage Pearls Foundation, the national monument has been restored from 2019. Kurt Gouwy of Air Architecture supervised the restoration of the national monument and designed the new buildings on the estate and the tea house. The teahouse has a copper roof and the shape of a boat, just like the boats that used to sail through the Vecht. Bouwbedrijf van de Ven took care of the complete restoration and the new construction of the country estate. The entire building has been renovated from chimney to basement. Ornaments have been restored, roofs have been restored, coats of paint have been reapplied, all electricity and installations have been replaced and a conservatory has been built.