D/DOCK celebrates Dutch creatives with co-designed hospitality concept, ‘t Huys

Photography: James Stokes

Opening its doors to the public in June 2024, self-described ‘design incubators’ D/DOCK present a new hospitality concept, set to form a cultural hotspot within 19^th-century hotel and five-star stay De L’Europe Amsterdam. Known as ‘t Huys (derived from an old spelling of ‘het huis’, Dutch for ‘the house’), D/DOCK developed the overall concept for the hub of 14 new suites and led both the design and build of nine. The studio envisioned ‘t Huys as a beacon of arts and culture, embarking on a collaborative co-designing process with local creatives considered a leader in their field – ranging from sustainable couturier Ronald van der Kemp to the prestigious Van Gogh Museum. Each suite has its own unique aesthetic and artistic flair, four of which we spotlight below.

The Van Gogh Museum Suite

Designed by D/DOCK in close collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, this art-inspired space aims to immerse guests in the mind and work of one of the world’s most renowned painters. The suite blends the original charm of the hotel with contemporary touches, with the walls and wardrobes adorned with reproductions of his paintings and handwritten quotes – one of the most impressive of which is the brush strokes of Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night creatively projected on the bedroom ceiling. D/DOCK opted for furniture and décor in the ochre and blue shades often favoured by the artist and complemented this with serene, meditative soundscapes composed by pianist Remko Kühne.

In the living area, a striking yellow table offers a nod to the Yellow House in Arles, an imaginary colony Van Gogh created where like-minded artists we free to work, share and connect with one another. The suite also features The Gallery, a space to accommodate small gatherings: here, the hotel hosts a white-glove Museum Edition hanging ritual, in which a piece is selected by the guest, brought to the suite and revealed at the Gallery wall to simulate their own private exhibition experience.

The Sisters Janssen Suite

Suite 252 in the hotel was co-designed by creative duo Tisja and Ziarah Janssen, also known as the Sisters Janssen. The bold, sensuous design for this suite provides guests with an opportunity for self-expression and a space to celebrate women, diversity and inclusivity, leading with rich, vibrant colours, organic shapes and plenty of texture.

Eclectic at heart, spaces within the suite are given abstract names, with the purple entrance hallway becoming ‘The Mirror of the Soul’ and the hybrid living area and bedroom – set apart by its monochromatic red scheme – referred to as ‘The Playground of Expressions’. Paired with furniture and décor in deliberately soft, voluptuous shapes (including figurines and wall murals of the female form) this all-red palette – according to the design duo – intends to evoke the ‘safety and comfort of the womb’. “Working with D/DOCK was one of our most precious experiences,” said Sisters Janssen of the design process behind their eponymous suite. “Nothing was off limits; they made our dream come true.”

The RKDV Suite

Celebrating the mind behind the world’s first sustainable couture label, The RKDV Suite was designed as an ode to fashion designer Ronald van der Kemp. The scheme contrasts crisp shades of bright white with busy, vibrant collages of van der Kemp’s work, inspiration, sketches and photographs: for instance, a sculptural, custom bed clad in all white sits beneath a colourful ceiling artwork designed by RKDV using material offcuts from the fashion industry. Striving to be a multi-use space, the bed can also double as a pedestal and container for van der Kemp’s pieces during events such as design exhibitions.

In the living area, an atelier table has been crafted using upcycled components, with a plain white top resting upon second-hand items including two vintage cabinets, a table leg and a mirrored pillar. This space was envisioned as van der Kemp’s own ‘creative nest’, emulating the workrooms where haute couture portfolios are brought to life within some of the world’s most famous fashion houses.

The D/DOCK Suite

Occupying Suite 242, D/DOCK’s own contribution to ‘t Hyus is unexpectedly minimalistic and pared back in style. The studio opted for a deliberately neutral palette of cream and grey with few immediately obvious adornments (save for a selection of ceramic items), striving to create almost a liminal space encouraging guests to make their own interpretations of the suite and indulge their curiosity. The entrance corridor is home to artworks representing masculinity and femininity, with a wall installation titled ‘Viva la Vulva’ showcasing ceramic abstract shapes of the female anatomy. Opposite, the paint on cream storage cabinets has been scratched off to create a symbolic ‘cave wall’, filled with drawings telling the stories of early hospitality rituals.

The two interconnected rooms within are described as the yin and the yang: one features a central, multi-use block that can act as a table for private dinners, a workspace or a surface for practicing spa treatments, while in the other features a soft altar can transform into a bed or serve as a space for reading, meditating or simply relaxing.