The Grand Hotel de l'Europe was one of the finest hotels built in Singapore during turn of the 20th century. Located along the Esplanade, the hotel was a popular retreat for the rich and wealthy due its strategic location and fine cuisine. The hotel's stunning architecture made it a prominent landmark in the city's landscape. Constructed in the Renaissance style, the hotel's ground floor façade consisted of a series of segmental arches between massive rusticated piers that formed a colonnade in front of its entrance hall, lounge, reading-room and bar. Another distinctive feature of the hotel's architecture was its Corinthian columns which reached two storeys high. The hotel closed in October 1932. The building was subsequently demolished to to make way for the construction of the Supreme Court building which opened in 1939.
Early History
The hotel began in 1857 when Frenchman J. Casteleyns started a modest establishment called the Hotel d'Europe at Hill Street. In 1860, the hotel moved to Beach Road. The hotel moved again in 1865 when Casteleyns occupied the Hotel de l'Esperance buildings at the Esplanade and renamed it the Hotel d'Europe. Castelyns managed the hotel until proprietress Mrs Hjelmstrom and Becker took over in 1869. Becker, in turn, ran the hotel until 1905 when it was acquired by a hotel syndicate for redevelopment. The building was demolished and rebuilt as the Grand Hotel de l'Europe. In 1906, renowned Jewish businessman Nissim Nissim Adis purchased the hotel and oversaw the completion of the new building. By 1911, the hotel was taken over by the Europe Hotel company and the Grand de l'Europe was renamed the The Europe Hotel in 1918.
Early History
The hotel began in 1857 when Frenchman J. Casteleyns started a modest establishment called the Hotel d'Europe at Hill Street. In 1860, the hotel moved to Beach Road. The hotel moved again in 1865 when Casteleyns occupied the Hotel de l'Esperance buildings at the Esplanade and renamed it the Hotel d'Europe. Castelyns managed the hotel until proprietress Mrs Hjelmstrom and Becker took over in 1869. Becker, in turn, ran the hotel until 1905 when it was acquired by a hotel syndicate for redevelopment. The building was demolished and rebuilt as the Grand Hotel de l'Europe. In 1906, renowned Jewish businessman Nissim Nissim Adis purchased the hotel and oversaw the completion of the new building. By 1911, the hotel was taken over by the Europe Hotel company and the Grand de l'Europe was renamed the The Europe Hotel in 1918.
Facilities and Services at the Grand Hotel de l'Europe
At the time of its completion, the Grand Hotel de l'Europe was one of the finest hotels in Singapore, enjoying a reputation on par with the Raffles Hotel. Rebuilt at a cost of $1 million, the palatial hotel had one hundred bedrooms and a large roof garden which offered a panoramic view of the harbour. The hotel also had an American bar-room, a billiard-room and a reading-room which carried papers and journals in four or five languages brought in from far-flung places like New York, London, Calcutta, Shanghai and Yokohama. The hotel's interior was richly decorated and furnished. The whole of the hotel's first floor was fitted with encaustic, decorative tiles and each of its bedrooms had a private bath and dressing room, as well as a private balcony. The hotel boosted modern conveniences such as electric lights, fans and a lift supplied by the Otis Elevator Company. To ensure the safety of its guests, the hotel also had three fireproof emergency staircases.
The hotel's strategic location made it a popular place for the European community and members of the Singapore Cricket Club to meet. The hotel faced the open greens of Singapore Cricket Club where cricket and tennis games were held and also offered an impressive view of the harbour. The hotel was known for its fine dining. Occupying 1,000 square feet at the ground floor, the dining room held dance-dinner nights every Tuesdays and Saturdays with live music provided by a string band with popular resident F. R. Martens at the piano. Meals were served by immaculately dressed Hylam waiters. In keeping with its first-class facilities and services, the rates of the Grand Hotel de l'Europe did not come cheap. One room with bath and food included was priced from $12 Straits dollars a day.
Among the hotel's many prominent guests were the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales, King Chulalongkorn of Thailand, Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollen of Germany, Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, and Pavlova, the world renowned ballerina.
Closure of the Hotel
Though once the hub of Singapore's social activities, the hotel fell behind times and ran into financial difficulties. It closed it doors in October 1932. Though several redevelopment plans were proposed, the building was left unoccupied for some years. With no funding in sight, the owners of the land - the Catholic Portuguese Mission, decided to demolish the hotel to build a block of modern service flats. In a sudden turnabout of events, the government acquired the land for the construction of the new Supreme Court.
Variant Name
At the time of its completion, the Grand Hotel de l'Europe was one of the finest hotels in Singapore, enjoying a reputation on par with the Raffles Hotel. Rebuilt at a cost of $1 million, the palatial hotel had one hundred bedrooms and a large roof garden which offered a panoramic view of the harbour. The hotel also had an American bar-room, a billiard-room and a reading-room which carried papers and journals in four or five languages brought in from far-flung places like New York, London, Calcutta, Shanghai and Yokohama. The hotel's interior was richly decorated and furnished. The whole of the hotel's first floor was fitted with encaustic, decorative tiles and each of its bedrooms had a private bath and dressing room, as well as a private balcony. The hotel boosted modern conveniences such as electric lights, fans and a lift supplied by the Otis Elevator Company. To ensure the safety of its guests, the hotel also had three fireproof emergency staircases.
The hotel's strategic location made it a popular place for the European community and members of the Singapore Cricket Club to meet. The hotel faced the open greens of Singapore Cricket Club where cricket and tennis games were held and also offered an impressive view of the harbour. The hotel was known for its fine dining. Occupying 1,000 square feet at the ground floor, the dining room held dance-dinner nights every Tuesdays and Saturdays with live music provided by a string band with popular resident F. R. Martens at the piano. Meals were served by immaculately dressed Hylam waiters. In keeping with its first-class facilities and services, the rates of the Grand Hotel de l'Europe did not come cheap. One room with bath and food included was priced from $12 Straits dollars a day.
Among the hotel's many prominent guests were the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales, King Chulalongkorn of Thailand, Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollen of Germany, Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, and Pavlova, the world renowned ballerina.
Closure of the Hotel
Though once the hub of Singapore's social activities, the hotel fell behind times and ran into financial difficulties. It closed it doors in October 1932. Though several redevelopment plans were proposed, the building was left unoccupied for some years. With no funding in sight, the owners of the land - the Catholic Portuguese Mission, decided to demolish the hotel to build a block of modern service flats. In a sudden turnabout of events, the government acquired the land for the construction of the new Supreme Court.
Variant Name
Malay name: Punchaus Besar
Timeline
1857 : J. Casteleyns established the Hotel d' Europe at Hill Street.
1860 : Hotel d' Europe moved to Beach Road.
1865 : J. Casteleyns took over the Hotel de l'Esperance at the Esplanade and renamed it the Hotel d' Europe.
1869 : Mrs Hjelmstrom and Becker took over ownership of the Hotel d' Europe.
1872 : Mrs Becker was the sole proprietress of the Hotel d' Europe.
1905 : Hotel de l'Europe was acquired by the Hotel de l'Europe Syndicate for redevelopment. The hotel was demolished and rebuilt.
1906: Nissim Nissim Adis bought the hotel and oversaw its construction. The hotel was named the Grand Hotel de l'Europe.
1911: The Grand Hotel de l'Europe came under the management of The Europe Hotel company.
1918: The Grand Hotel de l'Europe was renamed The Europe Hotel.
1932: The Europe Hotel wound up.
1934: The Europe Hotel was demolished to make way for a block of modern service flats.
1935: The government completed the acquisition of the land.
1939: The Supreme Court building opened.
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
(1847-1937). Singapore almanack and directory. Singapore: Straits Times Press.
(Call no.: RRARE 382.09595 STR) Available on microfilm.
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore (pp. 716, 745). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Edwards, N. & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 356, 358). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)
The Europe Hotel closes (1932, October 30). The Straits Times, p. 11. [Microfilm: NL1468].
Europe site award settled (1935, January 5). The Straits Times, p. 11. [Microfilm: NL1495].
Fate of Europe Hotel Site (1934, November 7) The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1493].
Future of Europe Hotel (1932, September 22). The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1455].
Government and Europe Hotel site (1934, April 19). The Straits Times, p. 13. [Microfilm: NL 1486].
Government to acquire Europe hotel site (1934, April 15). The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1444].
Jayapal, M. (1992). Old Singapore (pp. 27, 74). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 JAY)
Last of the Europe Hotel (1936, September 1). The Straits Times, p.12. [Microfilm: NL 1515].
Liu, G. (1992). Raffles Hotel (pp. 44-45). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 647.94595701 LIU)
Liu, G. (1999). Singapore: A pictorial history 1819-2000 (pp. 46,123,192). Singapore: Archipelago Press in Association with the National Heritage Board.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 LIU)
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, p.197-198). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
New Supreme Court rises on site of Europe Hotel (1936, April 19). The Straits Times, p. 28. [Microfilm: NL 1510].
Recognise one? What about the other? (1980, June 8). The Straits Times, p. 14. [Microfilm: NL10680]
Singh, R. (1995). A journey through Singapore: Travellers' impressions of a by-gone time selected and arranged in a complete narrative (p. 96). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 REE -[HIS])
Tyers, R. K. (1976). Singapore, then & now (Vol. 1, pp. 86-91). Singapore: University Education Press.
(Call no.: RQUICK 959.57 TYE -[HIS])
Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: then & now (p. 42). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE -[HIS])
Van Cuylenburg, John Bertram (1982). Singapore: Through sunshine and shadow (pp. 33-34). Singapore: Heinemann Asia.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 VAN -[HIS])
Wise, M. & Wise, M. H. (Eds.) (1996). Travellers' tales of old Singapore (pp. 87, 138, 187-188). Brighton : In Print Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TRA -[HIS])
Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (p. 946) [Microfilm: NL 16084]. London: Lloyd's Greater Pub. Co.
The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Timeline
1857 : J. Casteleyns established the Hotel d' Europe at Hill Street.
1860 : Hotel d' Europe moved to Beach Road.
1865 : J. Casteleyns took over the Hotel de l'Esperance at the Esplanade and renamed it the Hotel d' Europe.
1869 : Mrs Hjelmstrom and Becker took over ownership of the Hotel d' Europe.
1872 : Mrs Becker was the sole proprietress of the Hotel d' Europe.
1905 : Hotel de l'Europe was acquired by the Hotel de l'Europe Syndicate for redevelopment. The hotel was demolished and rebuilt.
1906: Nissim Nissim Adis bought the hotel and oversaw its construction. The hotel was named the Grand Hotel de l'Europe.
1911: The Grand Hotel de l'Europe came under the management of The Europe Hotel company.
1918: The Grand Hotel de l'Europe was renamed The Europe Hotel.
1932: The Europe Hotel wound up.
1934: The Europe Hotel was demolished to make way for a block of modern service flats.
1935: The government completed the acquisition of the land.
1939: The Supreme Court building opened.
Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia
References
(1847-1937). Singapore almanack and directory. Singapore: Straits Times Press.
(Call no.: RRARE 382.09595 STR) Available on microfilm.
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore (pp. 716, 745). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Edwards, N. & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 356, 358). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)
The Europe Hotel closes (1932, October 30). The Straits Times, p. 11. [Microfilm: NL1468].
Europe site award settled (1935, January 5). The Straits Times, p. 11. [Microfilm: NL1495].
Fate of Europe Hotel Site (1934, November 7) The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1493].
Future of Europe Hotel (1932, September 22). The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1455].
Government and Europe Hotel site (1934, April 19). The Straits Times, p. 13. [Microfilm: NL 1486].
Government to acquire Europe hotel site (1934, April 15). The Straits Times, p. 12. [Microfilm: NL 1444].
Jayapal, M. (1992). Old Singapore (pp. 27, 74). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 JAY)
Last of the Europe Hotel (1936, September 1). The Straits Times, p.12. [Microfilm: NL 1515].
Liu, G. (1992). Raffles Hotel (pp. 44-45). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 647.94595701 LIU)
Liu, G. (1999). Singapore: A pictorial history 1819-2000 (pp. 46,123,192). Singapore: Archipelago Press in Association with the National Heritage Board.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 LIU)
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, p.197-198). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
New Supreme Court rises on site of Europe Hotel (1936, April 19). The Straits Times, p. 28. [Microfilm: NL 1510].
Recognise one? What about the other? (1980, June 8). The Straits Times, p. 14. [Microfilm: NL10680]
Singh, R. (1995). A journey through Singapore: Travellers' impressions of a by-gone time selected and arranged in a complete narrative (p. 96). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 REE -[HIS])
Tyers, R. K. (1976). Singapore, then & now (Vol. 1, pp. 86-91). Singapore: University Education Press.
(Call no.: RQUICK 959.57 TYE -[HIS])
Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: then & now (p. 42). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE -[HIS])
Van Cuylenburg, John Bertram (1982). Singapore: Through sunshine and shadow (pp. 33-34). Singapore: Heinemann Asia.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 VAN -[HIS])
Wise, M. & Wise, M. H. (Eds.) (1996). Travellers' tales of old Singapore (pp. 87, 138, 187-188). Brighton : In Print Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TRA -[HIS])
Wright, A., & Cartwright, H. A. (Eds.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (p. 946) [Microfilm: NL 16084]. London: Lloyd's Greater Pub. Co.
The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
