Holland

Dutch Police Impound Bugatti Veyron After Owner's Son Caught Speeding

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Cosmetics and Fragrance

If you had a Bugatti Veyron in your garage, would you let your 20-year-old son drive it? Then again, if your dad had a Veyron, would you be able to resist the temptation to play Ferris Bueller for the day? In either case, you might want to give it a second thought.

Reports coming in from Holland indicate that local police have impounded one such supercar when the 20-year-old of the owner took it out for a ride, flying by law enforcement at 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. No word on whether the car will ever be returned to its owner, but if it does, we'd suggest he keep those keys well hidden from now on.

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Tags: bugatti, bugatti veyron, confiscate, dutch, holland, impound, netherlands, police, the netherlands, veyron

The Glorious Chandeliers of the Escher Museum

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

On my recent visit to Holland, sponsored by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, we ventured up to The Hague (Den Haag) for the Dutch Fashion Awards and some museums. Though it wasn't originally on the itinerary, everyone on the trip was dying to see the Escher Museum (Escher in het Paleis).

The museum is located in the royal Lange Voorhout Palace, and features well kept original fixtures as well as several rooms dedicated to showing what the winter palace of Queen Mother Emma used to look like. Since then, the legendary Dutch graphic artist who's still blowing our minds almost 40 years after his death has been moved in, and the juxtaposition of decadence and mind-bending art is surprisingly harmonious.

If you're taking a trip to Amsterdam, a 45-minute trek up to The Hague is worth it just to see the museum, which not only has a far more extensive Escher collection than any of us believed was possible, but which also features a stunning array of crystal chandeliers in almost every room.

The chandeliers, like the enormous "Rain Cloud" in the foyer (above), are all works by Hans van Bentem (1965), a ceramics and glass artist from Rotterdam who happens to have a penchant for designing elaborate and unusual chandeliers. How unusual are they? Check out the gallery for a crystallized firefly, shark, trophy, umbrella, seahorse and more. The Hans van Bentem chandeliers are an exhibit all their own, and have appeared in the museum's formerly royal rooms since 2003. This is the full collection:

Gallery: Hans van Bentem Chandeliers at the Escher Museum

This trip was paid for by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.

Tags: chandelier, den haag, DenHaag, escher, hans van bentem, HansVanBentem, holland, m.c. escher, M.c.Escher, netherlands, the hague, TheHague

Van Gogh Vodka, Not Just for the Queen

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

We recently got a chance to sample Van Gogh, the super-premium vodka from Holland named in tribute to the famous artist which holds a Royal Warrant from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. While Van Gogh is known for some pretty out-there flavors - you may remember Luxist posts on the Double Espresso and Dutch Caramel - our tastes are more conventional and so we opted to try the Oranje and Citroen versions as well as the classic 80 proof. The Oranje's authentic flavor comes from using both the orange pulp and skins. The pulp gives a round, sweet flavor while the rinds offer good intensity and a light bitterness for a perfect balance. Lemons and limes are the basis of Citroen, which has a fresh and intense flavor with a touch of bitterness from the rinds, and a long, clean finish. Van Gogh s produced in the historic Royal Dirkzwager distillery in Schiedam, recently renovated under the supervision of the Holland Monument Society. Master Distiller Tim Vos hand-crafts all Van Gogh Vodkas in small batches through a double infusion method, using only natural ingredients and premium grain alcohol.

Tags: Holland, Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, QueenBeatrix, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, vodka

New Cocktails from Ketel One

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Ketel One, the super-premium vodka produced by the Nolet family in Schiedam, Holland, who has been distilling fine spirits for 10 generations, has come out with some enticing new cocktail recipes with which to enjoy the spirit. Made from the finest quality wheat, Ketel One is crafted in small batches using traditional copper pot stills.

The vodka's crisp flavor makes it perfect for sipping on the rocks or in a Martini, but for those who want to be a bit more adventurous, Ketel has conceived the following concoctions using fresh ingredients:

Blueberry Smash

1 ½ ounces Ketel One Vodka
2 ounces Club Soda
1 tsp Sugar
15 Fresh Blueberries
1 Lime Wedge

Muddle 15 blueberries with a lime wedge and sugar. Add Ketel One and ice to cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain mixture into highball glass half-filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with blueberries. Continued....

Tags: cocktails, Holland, Ketel One, KetelOne, vodka

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Vincent Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Vincent Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka. Delish.

Vincent Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka. It's sort of like some people sat around and thought "How can we make Vodka as non-Russian as possible?"

Don't be too quick to judge, though. It might sound like it shouldn't work, but one whiff of this stuff will have you hooked. We poured a little over ice and swirled, and the scent was divine -- and somewhat dangerous, as it certainly doesn't smell 70 proof!

This new vodka, which is imported from Holland, is the first one we've ever tasted which would make a perfect after-dinner drink. You don't need to add a thing. And you will sleep like a baby.

Since fall is rolling in, though, consider this for an alternative ingredient to your usual spiced rum, Irish coffee, or boozy-hot chocolate recipes. We also recommend pouring it over ice cream -- pure heaven. The makers suggest using it for Caramel Lattes (genius) and mixing it with ginger ale and a squeeze of lime juice (sounds crazy, tastes awesome).

The suggested retail price for a bottle is $27.00 for 750 ml. If you can't find it at your local liquor store, tell them you want it -- but for now you can get it here for just under $30.00.

Tags: after dinner drinks, AfterDinnerDrinks, caramel vodka, CaramelVodka, flavored vodka, holland, van gogh vodka, VanGoghVodka, vodka

Effen Vodka

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Premium spirits are a must in any well-to-do person's home (or those aspiring to a wealthy lifestyle). Such a person's bar would most likely be stocked with top-of-the-line gin, rum, scotch, tequila, bourbon and, of course, vodka. Created in Holland from premium wheat, distilled multiple times using low temperatures, and filtered with pure spring water, Effen Vodka is designed to provide a sophisticated, clean, crisp spirit for contemporary cocktails or simply sipping without the harsh alcohol aftertaste. Choose from its original version or either of the two naturally fruit and vanilla flavored varieties, raspberry or black cherry. Available in 50mL, 375mL, 750mL and 1.5 L, the 750mL bottle typically retails for about $35.

[via Momist]

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Tags: dutch vodka, DutchVodka, effen vodka, EffenVodka, holland, momist, vodka

Stay in Rotterdam's Crazy Cube Houses?

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Rotterdam is a great city for architectural enthusiasts -- and actually, for enthusiasts of construction, since the city is really proud of its ongoing modern building efforts, which includes a complete redesign of the city's train station. (The city feels like a modern palate-cleanser if you visit after an immersion in Amsterdam's historic canal-lined streets, although some will look at you funny there if you say you're going to Rotterdam. Don't step into the middle of this one, Rotterdam thinks it's way cooler and more creative than Amsterdam.)

One of the most iconic structures in town are the Cube Houses, designed by architect Piet Blom in the late 1970's, built in the mid 1980s, and they definitely capture the feel of that era. The city apparently was considering using the cubes as ex-convict housing, but now, Stayokay is using it as a just-opened youth hostel. So if you want to really go retro, and return to your younger days, you can stay in a cube in a shared room for under 20 euro a night. Personally, I'd visit #70, which is open as a museum, and stay at The Westin.

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Tags: amsterdam, architecture, holland, hostel, hostels, rotterdam

Fiat Tempts Dutch Buyers with Exclusive Special Edition 500 Abarth Competizione

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

While some automakers are celebrating their centenaries, Fiat's performance division is marking a much smaller anniversary: one year since the sport marque returned to the Dutch market. And to celebrate, they're launching an exclusive special edition of their hot-selling premium retro hatchback. Called the Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione, only ten examples will be made with a $35,000 price tag. For the premium price, a handful of buyers in the Netherlands will get special wheels and trim and all the extra equipment – including satellite navigation, climate control, special racing bucket seats and more – plus of course that indefinable quality we know as exclusivity.

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Tags: 500 abarth, 500 abarth competizione, 500Abarth, 500AbarthCompetizione, abarth, dutch, fiat, fiat 500, fiat 500 abarth, fiat 500 abarth competizione, fiat abarth, Fiat500, Fiat500Abarth, Fiat500AbarthCompetizione, FiatAbarth, holland, nederlands, netherlands

Bols Genever Amsterdam Gin

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Lucas Bols, the world's oldest distilled spirits brand originally established in 1575 in Amsterdam, has relaunched its Dutch Genever gin, a white spirit created almost two centuries ago. The word "gin" has disappeared from the new bottle (above) in favor of "grain neutral spirits", as the old world Genever bears little resemblance to the dry London gins we're familiar with these days. Bols Genever is made by blending a unique distillate called maltwine with a carefully selected secret blend of botanicals; the result is a superior quality spirit with a unique smooth character that can be made into a variety of delicious cocktails. Genever has in fact been an essential cocktail ingredient for nearly two centuries; Jerry Thomas, author of the world's first cocktail book The Bartender's Guide cited it as one of only four essential cocktail spirits back in 1862.

Gallery: Bols Genever Gin

Tags: Amsterdam, Bols, Bols Genever, BolsGenever, Gin, Holland, Jerry Thomas, JerryThomas, Lucas Bols, LucasBols

New Five-Star Hotel Opens in Amsterdam

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The newest luxury hotel in Amsterdam is the Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam, a five-star hotel which recently opened its doors in the heart of the city center. The hotel is located inside Amsterdam's famous "Scheepvaarthuis," the Shipping House which is an Amsterdam landmark and a symbol of Holland's history of shipping. The new hotel has 163 rooms and suites which have a nautical theme. Other seafaring touches are seen in the main entrance hall which has a stained glass ceiling depicting the globe, the seven oceans and star signs and a marble staircase decorated with shells, octopuses and other figures. The ground floor is home to a bar/lounge and the Seven Seas restaurant. The former safe will become a wine bar set to open in the fall. A planned wellness center with a pool and a gym is also set to open later in the year.

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Tags: amsterdam, holland, hotel, travel, vacation

Nordia Yachts Get Into the Motoryacht Business

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Nordia, a Dutch company famed for their bespoke sailing yachts is the latest company to announce a semi-custom line of motoryachts. The aluminum power boats will be officially announced at the Moscow International Boat & Yacht show on April 12, 2007. The yachts will be designed and built in the Van Dam shipyard in Holland. The new range includes 72, 85 and 98 foot semi-displacement hull designs. There will be two main styles, the LX which is a luxury cruiser and the GT, a Gran Turismo with a sportier style. All interiors will be custom designed for the purchaser.

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Tags: boats, holland, motoryachts, yachts

Polder Sofas

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The modern-looking Polder Sofas get their name from the Dutch name for the artificial land built up around dams and canals. The land is flat and low-lying, as are the Hella Jongerius-designed couches. Each is upholstered in a combination of five slightly different colored fabrics, giving the couches an unusual, building block appearance, as though the pieces simply happened to fit together. The frame is wood, with cushions and upholstery in microfibers and polyester wool and filled with polyurethane foams. The sofas are all custom made and are available with the armrest on the right or the left side. Colors include green, cream, red, dark brown and anthracite. Prices start at $8,750 for the large sofa, $9,450 for the xxl version. Shipping is included.