The history of Grand Hotel Karel V

In 1190, during a crusade to Palestine, the German Knightly Order was founded. When Palestine was recaptured by the Muslims in the 13th century, the knightly orders were able to increase their focus on Europe. During the course of the 13th century, the German Knightly Order was given an area just outside the city walls, west of Utrecht, to set up the Commandery of Utrecht. This building was destroyed during the siege by Willem IV, Count of Holland. Between 1348 and 1359, the new principal seat for the German Knightly Order was built on the site where the Grand Hotel Karel V now stands.

Apart from defending their faith, the task of the German Knights, with their characteristic white coat with black cross, was to take care of the ill, injured, and elderly. The German Knights had taken the three monastic vows of allegiance, destitution, and chastity.

In 1808, King Louis Napoleon forced the German Order to surrender the German House; it was turned into a military hospital in 1811. The German Knights had their seat in the Hofpoort at Nieuwe Gracht for some time, but in 1994 they returned to the restored commandery premises at Springweg.

The military hospital has always had a prominent position in the history of Utrecht; it was accommodated in the German House until 1986. The building gradually fell into a state of disrepair and squatters and anti-squatters used it for living accommodation. The restoration of the German House started in October 1997 and the process of restoring the buildings to their former glory has continued since, and Grand Hotel Karel V now serves as the gateway to the Museum District in Utrecht.

On 25 May 1998, HRH Pieter van Vollenhoven revealed the name of the hotel. Since that time, the former Country Commandery of the German Knightly Order is known as Grand Hotel Karel V.

The international opening of the 5-star hotel Grand Hotel Karel V took place on Sunday afternoon 10 September 2000. The opening ceremony guests included the Mayor of Utrecht and the Queen’s Commissioner for the Province of Utrecht, and no less than twelve ambassadors. The ceremony was also attended by representatives from the former empire of Emperor Karel V came from Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, Venezuela, Colombia, Italy, Cuba, Hungary and Ecuador. They jointly symbolised the splendour of Karel V’s empire, where they say the sun never set. The hotel was awarded its five stars by the Dutch Catering Trade Organisation on the same day. Which makes Grand Hotel Karel V Utrecht the first 5-star hotel in the Utrecht region.

Grand Hotel Karel V

The history of Grand Hotel Karel V

Wikipedia