The Dutch chef Annemiek Wils’ new restaurant Hex in Oudewater takes its name from the women who sat trial as witches in the building next door in the 16th century. Happily, there is no grisly end to the tale – it appears the town was the only place in Europe that gave ‘witches’ a fair trial, so none of the accused were ever convicted.
A full five centuries later, Wils works her own brand of magic in the classic four-storey, dark-bricked townhouse whose bright and lofty interiors have been reimagined by Studio Piet Boon. In particular, dark stone floors provide a handsome canvas on which is layered a garden wall that frames the conservatory, deeply set banquettes, and marbled table tops, all wrapped in a light yellow colour scheme inspired by the hemp ropes traditionally produced in the town.
In the kitchen, Wils adds organic produce to eastern Indian cherries, leeks and beet from her vegetable garden, alongside locally sourced meats, breads and cheese. The menu changes every six weeks, a sly reference to the witches’ calendar apparently, with current crowd-pleasers including gazpacho hit with roasted watermelon and crab, and tenderloin tartar paired with herring mousse, and razor clams flash charred in the Josper oven.
INFORMATION
Design by Studio Piet Boon
ADDRESS
Markt Oostzijde 14
3421 AE Oudewater
Netherlands
-
Zaha Hadid Architects’ new project will be Miami’s priciest condoConstruction has commenced at The Delmore, an oceanfront condominium from the design firm founded by the late Zaha Hadid, ZHA
-
This Beirut design collective threads untold stories into upholstered antique furnitureBeirut-based Bokja opens a Notting Hill pop-up that's a temple to textiles, from upholstered furniture to embroidered cushions crafted by artisans (until 25 March 2025)
-
The Peninsula Hotels broadens its artistic horizons with Victoria and Albert Museum partnershipThe Peninsula Hotels and Victoria and Albert Museum announce a multi-year collaboration set to produce world-class art experiences around the world
-
Pulitzer Amsterdam’s whimsical new suites and a wellness space add to its canalside chicIn line with the city’s 750th anniversary, Pulitzer Amsterdam introduces two new Collector’s Suites, a three-storey Merchant Suite, and The Beauty House
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico -
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland -
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia -
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -
Casa Hoyos — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico -
Littlenap — Hangzhou, China -
Casa Santa Teresa — Corsica, France
