History of Algemeene Landsdrukkerij
The Ald Hotel: Where history meets imagination
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From state press to boutique hotel – The story of The Ald Hotel
The location of the Kingdom’s official printing house is now a refined and welcoming home for modern travelers. Welcome to The Ald Hotel: where heritage meets hospitality, and where the ink of history still lingers.
The origins – Algemeene Landsdrukkerij
The story of The Ald Hotel begins in 1814, when the Algemeene Landsdrukkerij (General State Printing House) was founded to serve the newly forming Dutch state. In 1828, the stately building on the Fluwelen Burgwal in The Hague was acquired from King Willem I. By 1910, after a major redesign by government architect D.E.C. Knuttel, the structure had become a landmark of early 20th-century institutional architecture.
This is where paper gained power and where Dutch identity was printed into existence. Laws, royal decrees, birth certificates, ID papers, and even newspapers were created here. From political pamphlets to personal documents, this building printed the language of the nation.
During World War II, the building became the site of one of the most daring acts of Dutch resistance. On April 29, a group of resistance fighters stole over 10,000 blank identity cards from the Landsdrukkerij; a heroic act that saved countless lives.
The Architecture – Then and now
You can still feel the quiet order of the printworks in every corridor. The classical proportions, arched windows, and long hallways recall the precision of typesetting and the grace of serif fonts. The building’s very bones echo the artistry of print.
Inspired by the shapes of type, the flowing forms of the building evoke both stateliness and subtle imperfection. Rounded edges mirror the arches of the façade; warm tones and rich textures nod to the inks and papers once handled here. No detail is accidental, just as no letter in a legal document could be misplaced.
Original elements such as floor patterns, signage, and materials have been lovingly preserved, offering a tactile link to the past.
The transformation into The Ald Hotel
Today, The ALD is a place for the curious, the brilliant, and the well-travelled. Our vision was to create a hotel that doesn’t erase its past, but reimagines it.
We drew on the site’s legacy of precision and process to shape a hospitality experience rooted in detail, calm, and clarity. Each room and space reflects a commitment to design that is intelligent, subtle, and grounded in heritage.
In collaboration with architects, designers and typographers, we breathed new life into the building, one that honors the rich history of The Hague. Statement design meets silent storytelling.
A hotel with character
The Ald rewrites luxury with a tribute to power, paper, and prestige. In our former royal printing house, we blend statement design with meticulous detail, and stirr tradition into our cocktails. Every stay is a page from a richer story; written in ink, elegance, and memory. This is history, reprinted for the curious, the brilliant, and the well-travelled.
The Ald brings the former Algemeene Landsdrukkerij back to life and transforms its rich history into intimate, personal experiences. Where ink once met paper, we now create lasting impressions through atmosphere, design, and genuine hospitality. Every guest becomes part of a living story, one where the soul of the building is felt in every moment of their stay.
The interiors are inspired by the craft of printmaking: layered, tactile, and full of meaning. You’ll find subtle references to typography, printing techniques, and paper textures throughout the design. Every element is intentional and tells its own story.
Our offers
A privileged location in the heart of the city centre
The Ald Hotel ligt midden in het centrum van Den Haag, op slechts zeven minuten lopen van Station Den Haag Centraal en vijf minuten van het Binnenhof. Met gemakkelijke toegang tot trams, bussen en treinen, en parkeergelegenheid bij Q-Park Muzenplein, is dit de ideale uitvalsbasis om de stad te ontdekken.
Den Haag is een stad waar historie, kunst en moderniteit samenkomen. Op slechts enkele minuten van het hotel vindt u musea zoals het Mauritshuis, levendige winkelstraten, gezellige cafés en toprestaurants – alles voor een levendige en onvergetelijke stedentrip.
