Hotel Des Indes

Mata Hari performed her exotic dances at the Hotel Des Indes in 1905, several years before her rather more dramatic later career made her considerably better known to history. The building began life as the private palace of Baron van Brienen before becoming a hotel in 1858, and it has served as the social centre of The Hague's tightly-knit diplomatic community ever since. Einstein reportedly discussed physics over drinks in the lounge, though whoever he was discussing it with has not gone down in history. 92 rooms, the Lounge for a properly formal afternoon tea, and a position on the Lange Voorhout that places you in the most elegant quarter of the Netherlands' most understated city.