Restaurant 't Slaakhuys now open in historic location

The new restaurant 't Slaakhuys has now opened on a spot where the editorial office of daily newspaper Het Vrije Volk used to operate. The historic building on the Slaak, which was designed by architect Jo Vegter during the reconstruction, has undergone a major transformation. The interior has been given a modern and warm look, for instance the walls of the restaurant have been decorated with graffiti by well-known Rotterdam artist Marcel Labrie. The kitchen too - under the wing of star chef Tonny Berentsen - offers a gastronomic experience.

''t Slaakhuys is the place in Rotterdam to enjoy refined surroundings, excellent cuisine and the best wines and cocktails with colleagues, friends or your loved one. The beautiful building with its historical details, intimate corners and bustling bar lend themselves perfectly to this. The venue exudes international grandeur and we have done everything possible to maintain this atmosphere. It is a place where we elevate togetherness to an art," says CEO Rob Hermans.

Star chef Tonny Berentsen

The menu of 't Slaakhuys was designed by none other than star chef Tonny Berentsen. Berentsen has been associated with classic French restaurant De Kromme Dissel since 1991, where a Michelin star has adorned the door for over 50 years. At 't Slaakhuys, however, the menu will look different, with intercontinental influences dominating. Guests will find contemporary and surprising dishes such as a luxury version of the Rotterdam hair salon with rendang and macadamia nuts, or the timeless classics sole meunière or poached lobster. But 't Slaakhuys is not just for dinner and lunch. For the endless lazy breakfast at the weekend, or just a quick meal before work, 't Slaakhuys also offers a well-thought-out and extensive breakfast.

Restaurant 't Slaakhuys is situated in the plinth of the four-star-plus Fletcher Boutique Hotel Slaak-Rotterdam. "With the arrival of 't Slaakhuys, we want to redefine dining, drinks and even breakfast in a hotel. So away with the stuffy hotel image and sameness, but instead that international luxury they already know so well across the borders. Whether it's a sumptuous breakfast with mimosas on a Sunday, a festive dinner with your loved one or blowing off steam with colleagues after a busy working day in the bar, at 't Slaakhuys it is possible in a vibrant and international setting," says General Manager Costa Panagopoulos.

For guests coming from out of town or perhaps having looked a little too deeply into the champagne flute, 74 high-end hotel rooms are available in the hotel above. The rooms and the hotel are characterised by luxurious finishes and authentic details that define the architecture of Rotterdam's reconstruction. These include large windows for plenty of natural light and decorative brickwork. The rooms are also fully equipped and finished with a raw and industrial look so typical of the Port City.

A piece of history

A visit to 't Slaakhuys is thus immersing in Rotterdam history: previously, the building was used by Dagblad Het Vrije Volk. Where the hotel rooms are now, the office section used to be. The four storeys above the reception area contained the editorial offices where journalists dealt with pressing social issues. Indeed, it was an editor of Het Vrije Volk itself who wrote the iconic words about the building: "a newspaper palace, unparalleled in architecture and functional design in the Dutch newspaper world, now houses our newspaper. The beautiful façade now plays a clear role in the emergence of the new Oostplein and from afar the building -with all the countless others that have been erected this year- bears witness to the drive that animates Rotterdam in building the great city, which attracts the attention of urban planners from all over the world more and more every year." (The Free People 31-12-1954)