“It is easy to get lost on Landgoed Groot Warnsborn,” says its hotel and restaurant owner Lammert de Vries. He and his wife, Sjoukje, operate the enterprise, which is located in Arnhem, about 50 miles southeast of Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the edge of De Hoge Veluwe National Park, a 130,000-acre nature preserve that houses the Kroller-Muller Museum, internationally known for its Vincent van Gogh collection.

The 17th-century country mansion, situated on approximately 1,800 acres, had been a domain of barons and baronesses through the 19th century. If one must get lost to escape the world, the hotel and grounds are the place to do it; a sweet surprise at every turn.

“Isn’t it lovely here,” Anne Frank wrote on a postcard sent to her grandmother in Basel when she and her father stayed at the hotel during a weekend in September 1941. In fact, decorators incorporated a copy of this postcard as wallpaper at the front desk.

Although world events have changed since Anne’s visit, the natural splendor remains. Actually, the “warn” in the establishment’s name means “clear,” and the “born” means “spring,” referring to the environmental aesthetics. As it turns out, the brook is a safe haven for European crayfish, which is a species almost extinct in Netherlands; metaphorically, the surroundings can also rejuvenate travelers.

At the hotel, couples can choose from an array of exquisite accommodations, the neat part being that no two guestrooms are the same.

“Even for people who are regular hotel visitors, this four-star hotel has several surprises in store. For example, rooms with open hearths, unique draught tables or antique whisky cabinets. The 15 rooms in the Landgoed (country estate) have a rural ambience, while the 15 rooms in the Koetshuis (coach house) have been transformed by a talented interior designer into an oasis of space and light. The rooms on the ground floor of the Koetshuis are not only spacious, but also have their own terrace,” says Lammert.

The 30 first-rate, individually styled guestrooms feature two bridal suites, are all equipped with full-modern amenities, including color television with satellite reception, telephone and Internet connection. For ultimate romantic luxury, reserve a bridal suite in the Landhuis or the Koetshuis with extra facilities, such as a king-size bed and whirlpool bath.

After a restful sleep, couples can hike or cycle (the hotel provides maps as well as bountiful picnic hamper) around the lush expanse. Day-trippers can visit the Burgers’ Zoo or National Open Air Museum; shop in Arnhem as well as golf, horseback ride, mountain bike or cross-country ski.

Similar to the castles and country estates in the province of Gelderland, the hotel’s earliest history is meager. The “Warnsborn” name materialized in 1428 when Duke Arnold of Gelre leased the land as heathland to Johan Van Postel; by 1465, Rykart Van Bloylant became owner in what would turn out to be a succession of many hands. The estate thrived most under the ownership of Baron Roël Van Haserswoude who died in 1841, leaving a legacy of the attractive neoclassical country house that he had built.

Through its ebbs and flows, with financial backing from Marshall Plan aid, a new hotel unveiled its doors in 1950. After still numerous incarnations, by 1980, Crest Hotels sold the hotel and restaurant to the Pot family. In 1989, the de Vries became employees and acquired full management by 1991, later to restore and refurbish the premises to meet the highest standards.

Apart from the old-world elegance (“Where in days of yore, gentry reposed in dress suit and rustling garments of silk and gold brocade,” Lammert comments.), visitors have come to expect personal, superior service. This also holds true in the restaurant, which he describes: “Here food is still prepared with lots of love and care, using local products from the Groot Warnsborn estate as much as possible.”

Relax in the renowned Sun Lounge-Restaurant and savor an aperitif, a glass of whisky or a cup of coffee in front of the fireplace. On sunny days, the outdoor terrace beckons. Diners have a choice view of the garden and the woody surroundings.

“The cuisine of Restaurant Groot Warnsborn has a strong French basis with a seasonally changing menu. Enjoy the salmon, which is smoked at Groot Warnsborn itself, or the home-distilled Dutch gin. But the asparagus, fresh strawberries and game are also often from the estate itself or from its immediate surroundings,” Lammert explains.

The culinary standards extend to the Orangery, an ideal venue for stylish weddings, parties, and business functions under the glass roof of the two greenhouses streaming in light and offering enchanting views of the ponds and gardens.

“It has its own kitchen, where all dishes are prepared at a moment’s notice and with much love and dedication,” Lammert further details. “Centuries-old trees, romantic bridges, flowering rhododendrons and rippling brooks provide a wonderful background to your wedding photographs. In short, a perfect location for your wedding party,” Lammert sums up. Whether exchanging formal or informal vows, lose yourself in Landgoed Hotel and Restaurant Groot Warnsborn, only to find complete bliss.  Y