A home in The Hague's Hofkwartier district

History comes alive in a modern, welcoming setting

In the beating heart of The Hague, between charming facades and atmospheric streets, the Arq Paleis Hotel has been given a fresh new look. The characteristic four-star venue on Molenstraat - just a stone's throw from Noordeinde Palace - reopened its doors in April under the Arq Hotels banner. A young label bubbling with energy but staying true to authenticity and charm.

What you find here is not a classic hotel concept. Stay your way: independently if you like, or with personal attention if you like. Guests simply arrange their arrival digitally: from booking to check-in. You open the room door with your phone, and all services are at your fingertips via a smart system. But make no mistake - there is always someone behind the scenes. Someone who welcomes you, gives you a tip or just thinks with you. You choose what suits you.

"For us, hospitality is all about giving space," says director Nicoline Montanus. "Everyone experiences hospitality differently. We make sure that space is there - with convenience, technology as well as humanity."

And you feel that right away. The smell upon entering, the soothing music, the warm interior - everything is designed to make you feel at home. Like stepping into a carefully decorated house in the middle of the city.

A living room as heart

Central to the hotel is the living room. A place to read, work, play a game or just do nothing. In the morning, breakfast is served here with organic and local products - think bread from 't Bakkertje around the corner, fruit juices, butter, fresh yoghurt, fruit and fresh eggs from organic farm Hoeve Biesland. The strawberry and raspberry jam and granola are prepared by colleagues from Kloosterhotel De Soete Moeder in Den Bosch.

After breakfast, the living room transforms into a nice place for a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a plank of goodies. Just because you are welcome. Without fixed rules or time slots - you set the rhythm yourself. Everything feels familiar and inviting, like visiting a good friend. Not for nothing is the motto of Arq Hotels: 'Welcome home'.

Stay in style

The Palace Hotel has 24 rooms in three categories: Cozy, Deluxe and Superior. Each room is decorated with care: warm tones, soft fabrics, elegant lines. Think box springs, Egyptian cotton bedding, rain showers, and sometimes a French balcony, a private terrace or views of the serene courtyard garden.

Choose the room that suits you: a bright room with morning sun, or just a quiet retreat. Either way, the atmosphere is always warm, luxurious and comfortable.

A building with stories

The hotel is housed in a monumental building from the 17th century. In the 19th century, writer Louis Couperus regularly visited here - even today you can still feel the rich history. Old passages, original details and subtle references to the past make this location unique.

Yet nowhere does it feel heavy or 'museum-like'. "We wanted to preserve the historical value, but in a light way," says Montanus. "Not a rigid heritage, but a place with soul and contemporary flair."

Many more will follow

Arq Paleis Hotel and sister hotel De Soete Moeder in Den Bosch are the first two pearls of Arq Hotels, which started in 2024 with a clear goal: to build a network of small-scale boutique hotels that dare to be just a little bit different. The ambition is clear - twenty unique locations spread across the Netherlands within a few years. Each with its own story, but with a shared vision: character, quality and technology in balance.