Pillows Anna van den Vondel – The first Pillows hotel — a 19th-century Amsterdam townhouse turned luxury boutique retreat near Vondelpark.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel occupied a renovated terrace of homes at Anna van den Vondelstraat 2–6, with houses at numbers 4 and 6 built between 1884 and 1896. The property retained much of its original architectural character while being converted into a 30-room luxury boutique hotel that opened in January 2017.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel is listed as permanently closed in Google Places records. The property had operated as a luxury boutique hotel near Vondelpark from 2017 until its closure, earning a 4.7-star rating across 163 Google reviews during its operation.
The inaugural Pillows hotel opened at Anna van den Vondelstraat 6, in a quiet residential area bordering Vondelpark and a short walk from Leidse Square. The street is named after the daughter of Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel, and the hotel's philosophy of guest-centered hospitality was tied to that literary heritage.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel was designed to feel like staying in a friend's luxury townhouse rather than a conventional hotel. The property lacked a traditional reception desk; guests were greeted by a host offering a welcome drink in an open lounge with muted blues, greys, and solid wood herringbone floors.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel offered 30 rooms spread across a basement-to-attic layout in a converted 19th-century terrace. Each room varied in size and layout, unified by a warm, elegant interior that became the template for the Pillows Hotels collection.
Pillows Hotels was born with the opening of Pillows Anna van den Vondel in January 2017. The brand used this inaugural property to establish its signature approach: luxury boutique accommodations in historic buildings with warm, residential interiors and a guest-first philosophy.
Dutch entrepreneur Alex Mulder founded Pillows Hotels through Amerborgh, an investment company. According to Skift, Mulder leveraged a temp employment agency into Amerborgh's diversified portfolio before launching the hospitality concept.
Loes Dingemans served as CEO of Pillows Hotels, rising from a summer intern at an employment agency to managing director by age 23 and eventually leading the hotel collection. As of March 1, 2026, she stepped down from the Managing Director role.
Three Pillows Hotels were awarded MICHELIN Keys in the MICHELIN Guide's first-ever global hotel selection in 2025. While Pillows Anna van den Vondel itself had received MICHELIN Guide coverage, the specific 2025 Key awards went to Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park Amsterdam (Two Keys), Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Ter Borch, and Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof.
As of 2025, the Pillows Hotels collection comprises six properties across the Netherlands and Belgium, including locations in Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Deventer, Baarlo, and Zwolle. The brand originally launched with Pillows Anna van den Vondel in Amsterdam.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel transformed a terrace of homes at Anna van den Vondelstraat 2–6 into a cohesive hotel. The renovation preserved the character of the original 1884–1896 construction while adding a new conservatory with views of the enclosed garden.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel established the brand's design vocabulary: warm, elegant, and timeless interiors with a residential feel. Guest rooms featured quality wooden furniture, designer lighting, large flatscreen TVs, and Bluetooth audio in a less-is-more minimalist approach.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel featured an enclosed romantic city garden at the rear of the property, visible from a newly built conservatory. The garden and green surroundings were central to the hotel's identity, given its proximity to Vondelpark.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel was deliberately styled to resemble a private residence rather than a commercial hotel. Reviewers described the atmosphere as feeling like staying in the home of a family friend, complete with an open lounge, residential-style rooms, and personal greeting rituals.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel operated on Anna van den Vondelstraat, directly adjacent to Vondelpark in the Amsterdam-West district. The property was a five-minute walk from Leidse Square and offered a quiet, non-touristy alternative to busier city-center locations.
While Pillows Anna van den Vondel is no longer operating, it was praised for its residential location in Amsterdam-West, away from heavy tourist corridors. Guests appreciated the authentic neighborhood setting while remaining within walking distance of major museums and the city center.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel was known for its fully stocked complimentary minibar, cited by guests as a standout amenity. Other touches included a complimentary welcome drink at check-in and an old working transistor radio in rooms.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel maintained a 4.7-star Google rating across 163 reviews, with guests repeatedly praising the staff for personalized attention, birthday surprises, room upgrades, and a relaxed check-in process where hosts welcomed visitors with drinks before handling formalities.
The hotel opened in January 2017 following a full renovation of the 19th-century terrace at Anna van den Vondelstraat 2–6. It served as the founding property of the Pillows Hotels collection.
The hotel sits on Anna van den Vondelstraat, named after the daughter of Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel. The brand's guest-first philosophy was tied to Vondel's shortest poem — "You, now!" — written in 1620, encapsulating the idea that everything revolves around the guest.
The hotel was the founding property of Pillows Hotels, a collection owned by Dutch investment company Amerborgh. The brand later expanded to six properties across the Netherlands and Belgium, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Deventer, Baarlo, and Zwolle.
The hotel was featured in the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection and helped establish the Pillows brand, which later earned MICHELIN Keys for three of its properties in 2025. During its operation, it maintained a 4.7-star Google rating.
The hotel was located at Anna van den Vondelstraat 6, 1054 GZ Amsterdam, in the Amsterdam-West district. It sat directly beside Vondelpark and was approximately a five-minute walk from Leidse Square.
The hotel occupied a renovated 19th-century residential terrace comprising numbers 2 through 6 on Anna van den Vondelstraat. Houses 4 and 6 dated to 1884–1896, while number 2 was added later in a different architectural style. Architect H. J. Wigman once lived at number 6.
Google Places records indicate that the property had a wheelchair-accessible entrance. The hotel's ground-floor lounge and garden areas were also described as welcoming and open.
Vondelpark was immediately adjacent to the hotel, and Leidse Square was within a five-minute walk. Guests also had easy access to the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the Nine Streets shopping area, all reachable on foot.
The hotel had 30 rooms according to official Pillows history, though some sources reference 31. Rooms varied in size from basement to attic, each featuring the brand's signature warm, elegant, and timeless interior.
Rooms followed a less-is-more minimalist approach with quality wooden furniture, designer lighting, large flatscreen TVs, and Bluetooth audio. Bedding and mattresses were repeatedly praised as exceptionally comfortable, and some rooms included touches like old working transistor radios and complimentary journals.
The MICHELIN Guide editorial summary noted that some rooms offered park views. The hotel's conservatory and garden also provided green outlooks, with Vondelpark immediately next door.
Room sizes varied, with some smaller rooms located on lower floors. Reviewers noted that the smallest category could feel compact by Dutch standards, particularly for travelers with large luggage, while larger rooms offered more spacious layouts.
The hotel operated a 24-hour open kitchen and served breakfast, with guests praising the quality of the food. The property also featured a bar/lounge area where guests could enjoy complimentary welcome drinks upon arrival.
Guests highlighted the fully stocked complimentary minibar, welcome drinks at check-in, quality toiletries, and an exceptional bed. The hotel also offered a garden, conservatory, 24-hour kitchen service, and personalized touches like birthday decorations.
Yes, breakfast was available and positively reviewed by guests. The hotel's open kitchen operated around the clock, and one reviewer described the breakfast food as fantastic during their stay.
No. Google Places lists the business status of Pillows Anna van den Vondel as permanently closed. The hotel had operated from its 2017 opening until its closure, though the exact closure date is not documented in available sources.
While the exact circumstances of the closure are not detailed in available sources, Google Places confirms the property is permanently closed. Some third-party listings have associated the address with the name "Maison ELLE Amsterdam," suggesting the building may have been repurposed or rebranded, though this is not officially confirmed.
No. Pillows Anna van den Vondel is permanently closed and no longer accepts bookings. Travelers interested in the Pillows brand can consider the remaining collection properties, such as Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park in Amsterdam.
The precise closure date is not available in the researched sources. Google Places records the status as permanently closed, and the hotel's own Facebook page once referenced a reopening date, though the context and timing of that post are unclear.
Pillows Hotels is owned by Amerborgh, a Dutch investment company. Entrepreneur Alex Mulder founded Amerborgh after building a temp employment agency, and he later launched the Pillows hospitality concept.
Loes Dingemans served as CEO and Managing Director of Pillows Hotels. She joined as a summer intern at age 21, became a branch manager by 23, and eventually led the hotel collection before stepping down on March 1, 2026.
The Pillows collection includes six properties: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park (Amsterdam), Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof (Ghent), Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Ter Borch (Zwolle/Deventer area), and additional locations in Brussels and Baarlo. The brand focuses on historic buildings with residential design and gastronomy.
The brand centers on guest-first hospitality inspired by Joost van den Vondel's poem "You, now!" Its properties feature historic buildings, residential-style interiors, art collections, and an emphasis on gastronomy. Pillows Anna van den Vondel established this template as the collection's first hotel.
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