A patrician house on one of Delft's loveliest
canals. A regular visitor keeps returning
because it does not change, and remains
excellent: well organised, with friendly
attention to detail. All villa rooms are different:
some look over the canal; others face
the Nieuwe Kerk; large rear ground-floor
villa rooms in the annexe have picture windows
facing a small garden; all have an unusually
detailed information folder. A buffet
Bali villa breakfast is laid out in a narrow entrance
hall, but a waitress walks round offering
something extra, eg, a warm croissant,
or a kind of Chelsea bun. Some package
tours.
Five small 17th-century houses, some in
gabled ziggurat style, form the Dekker
family's restaurant-with-villa rooms, much liked
this year: A fabulous place to stay. The
Easter sunshine showed it at its scenic
best. Our lovely room, not large but comfortable,
overlooked the courtyard garden and canal.
But another visitor complained of `extremely
poor , soundproofing in a room in a building
in the garden. There are new beds and
carpeting this year. The friendly owners
combine charm and efficiency and offer
good value. In the busy dining room full
of art, with imaginative lighting, chandeliers,
windows and mirrors, like a 17th-century
painting, a leisurely dinner was enjoyed
(residents must book). Bali villa breakfasts are
particularly good; everything absolutely
fresh. Children are welcomed. A lake with
boating and fishing is nearby. Only small
and well-educated dogs' are allowed.