An Italian oasis of calm in the heart of Maastricht

Ode to the Renaissance

Since 1 July, Hotel Botticelli, the charming three-star hotel in Maastricht's Jekerk Quarter, has been in the hands of two young entrepreneurs: nephews Joe Pereboom and Jean van der Heijden. The two, both just twenty-six years old, share not only a family bond, but also a passion for hospitality and personal service that goes beyond standard hotel experience.

Hotel Botticelli is not just another hotel. This luxurious three-star hotel, just a few steps from the Vrijthof Square, is an ode to the Italian Renaissance. The eighteen double rooms are spread over two monumental buildings: a former wine merchant's house from the eighteenth century and a back house, separated by a beautiful Mediterranean courtyard garden. Much attention has been paid to detail in the decoration. The warm tones, classic Italian furniture and artistic touches - from trompe l'oeil paintings to Venetian masks - immediately evoke a Tuscan atmosphere. The inspiration comes directly from Sandro Botticelli, the famous Italian painter. In the rooms and common areas, you will find carefully selected replicas and painting techniques that will make you forget for a moment that you are in the Netherlands.

Prestigious awards

Brand-new owners Joe Pereboom and Jean van der Heijden are no strangers to the Maastricht hotel scene. They once took their first steps in the dishes at Hotel-Brasserie Brittanique on Vrijthof. Years later, when their grandfather's business premises became vacant, they saw their chance. In the middle of the corona period, they wrote a solid business plan and transformed the former premises into Cousins Boutique Hotel: a small-scale luxury three-star hotel with seven rooms. The hotel, which opened its doors in 2021, quickly grew into a top hotel in Maastricht. Already within a year, several prestigious awards were won, including 'Best New Hotel of the Netherlands' at the Entree Awards and Independent Hotel of the Year' of the Benelux. "That gave us extra motivation," says Joe. "But with only seven rooms, you run into a limit. We were looking for a new challenge."

They found that challenge early this year at Hotel Botticelli, just a few minutes' walk from Cousins, which was up for sale due to the previous owner's retirement. "The hotel has a lot of potential. The ambience of a classic mansion with a beautiful courtyard garden fits our business philosophy perfectly. We do plan to refresh the hotel a bit with minor adjustments, so that it will be closer to Cousins in terms of luxury and appearance."

Feeling at home

Like their first hotel project, Botticelli stands out for its almost timeless, personal atmosphere. No anonymous self check-in or unmanned counters here. "We want to make people feel at home and pampered," says Joe. "That personal touch is our greatest strength. We don't sell no and want to make our guests as comfortable as possible, whether it's restaurant tips or other special requests. Many guests come back to Maastricht especially for our hotel, which is the best compliment you can get."

André Rieu

The two hotels of the young entrepreneurial duo attract a wide audience. Especially during the famous André Rieu concerts on the Vrijthof square, tourists from all over the world know how to find Maastricht. And despite the growing hotel supply in the city, Joe and Jean are convinced that there remains room for hotels with character. "If you know how to distinguish yourself and - as we do - really invest in hospitality, atmosphere and personal attention, there will always be demand," they say.