From the outside, The Notary barely hints at what’s waiting behind its unassuming door. Step inside and the world outside slips away: soft music, carefully designed lighting and even a signature scent create an instant mood shift. The Notary isn’t a large-scale luxury hotel - it’s a converted 19th-century manor with just nine suites and a very particular sense of style. Staying here feels like borrowing someone’s fantasy life for the weekend: elaborate interiors, quiet walled gardens, and a hidden canal-side terrace you can only spot when walking through the property to its very end, as though you’re being rewarded for finding a secret level.
Each suite is dramatically different, and the one you choose shapes your entire stay, but all share the same opulent, House of Porters aesthetic. Think gilded mirrors, decorative objects everywhere, draped curtains, and mountains of cushions. It’s gorgeous to look at, but sometimes form wins over function. Each suite comes with the expected luxuries at this level: an emperor-size, supremely comfortable bed, white bathrobes and slippers, Sonos sound system, tablet-controlled lighting and temperature, and bathrooms with freestanding tubs and rain showers.
Breakfast here is anything but a quick coffee-and-croissant affair. The hotel serves a six-course, butler-delivered breakfast featuring charcuterie, French cheeses, pastries and other European delicacies. The same approach applies to dinner: The Notary’s Signature menu might feature foie gras with truffle and mango, while the seasonal menu includes dishes like burrata with smoked duck and fish of the day. However, the star attraction is the natural swimming pool, which curves across the lawn, framed by plants and with a fountain in the middle. It looks almost too pretty to actually get in - but you can. It’s unheated and filled with plants and fish, making it feel like plunging into a private pond.
Time Out tip: Book in summer if you want to make the most of the garden and pool.
Address: Moerstraat 54
Price: From £360 per night based on two people sharing
Closest transport: Zilverpand bus stop






















