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The most beautiful Pizza Hut in the world

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) on Dec 1st 2009 at 11:00AM

Is it a shame, or is it fantastic? Rather than tear down a former royal building in The Netherlands' historic Den Haag (The Hague), it's been turned into a Pizza Hut. What do you think about that, National Trust for Historic Preservation? Taco Bell at Hemingway's house in Key West anyone?

Seriously, this Pizza Hut maintains the ornate, gorgeous, original mid-18th century ceiling of what used to be the Grand Salon, and is decorated with appropriately decadent chandeliers. There's a lovely fireplace, classy dark wood fixtures, and well ... I have no qualms calling it the most beautiful Pizza Hut in the world. I encourage you to try and find a lovelier one. Queen Wilhemlina's treasury was once here, for Pete's sake.

At the end of the day, though, it's still Pizza Hut. Check out the photos below for a tour of this anachronistic, WTF wonder. If you weren't thinking of heading to The Hague, which is just 45 minutes from Amsterdam, perhaps this will change your mind -- and if you're into the chandeliers, check out the ones in The Hague's Escher Museum here on Luxist.

Gallery: The Most Beautiful Pizza Hut in the World

This trip was paid for by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.

Filed under: Food and Drink, Photos, Netherlands

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Richard Dec 1st 2009 11:32AM

Either Pizza Hut or oblivion. Take your pick.

Jamie Rhein Dec 1st 2009 1:08PM

Nick,
Seems like you should be able to get some sort of Pizza Hut expert award. I'm impressed.

Annie Scott Dec 1st 2009 4:25PM

Jamie said it best. That is a mighty strange badge of honor. :)

Meg Teckman Dec 2nd 2009 12:08AM

You are right. I've lived in Mainland China and Hong Kong now for 3 years and going to Pizza Hut is a classy "Western" restaurant. However, the pizza selections are a little different. Would you choose toppings like sweet corn and tuna or have thousand island dressing instead of tomato sauce? Check out their website for some disgusting (imho) combos. There are also pictures of their interiors: http://www.pizzahut.com.hk/en/home.html

Joe Dec 2nd 2009 4:37AM

This is a regular deal throughout Europe. While the US considers anything built in the last 100 years historic. For the old world you have to add a few centuries to be bestowed that title. While it's nice to look at, this is still a living city and it's gotta be used for something. Also, The monarchs owned most of the land in those days so it would be hard not to find a building from that era without a royal attachment.

For example, I lived in a beautiful haussmanien apartment in Paris. While the building itself was great the neighborhood wasn't. And since it was only 120 years old it would be considered just another haussmanien. It did get a little plaque with the year it was built and the architects. But their is nothing of historic value to note about it.

Nick who has actually been somewhere other than the USA Dec 2nd 2009 5:04AM

wow! this is such amazingly old news.

Maryanne Dec 2nd 2009 7:57AM

Awesome! Makes you feel you are dining in luxury.

george Dec 2nd 2009 8:21AM

They don't have pizza hut in 25 countries moron lol.

Ralph Dec 2nd 2009 8:53AM

Pizza Hut is in 52 countries.

Donica Dec 2nd 2009 11:41AM

According to wikipedia it's in over 100 countries.
You better check your facts before you call someone a moron, moron.

Wallace Freeman Dec 2nd 2009 10:44AM

Having been raised in Wichita, Kansas, where Pizza Hut was founded at the same time I was a Freshman at Wichita State University, I remember going to the ORIGINAL Pizza Hut on East Kellogg street there. It was a good "after date" destination. The original Pizza Hut building has been relocated to the campus of WSU. Quite a success story for the Carney brothers.

kaz Dec 2nd 2009 11:19AM

Here is the first Pizza Hut
http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=mark1&p=pizzahut

Amanda Dec 2nd 2009 11:40AM

As a person who plans on going to grad school to study Historic Preservation, I have no problem with it!

Europe has many old buildings, so to a point I don't think it's as big of a deal over there. Where as, in the states, we've only been here a few hundred years.

Besides, often it's either that or demolition. That should be an easy choice.

Chris Windsor Dec 2nd 2009 12:43PM

On the first of what would be many visits to Venice, I was shocked to look down a medieval lane of off Calle Specchiere, very near Piazza San Marco, and see the familiar facade of a Pizza Hut on an ancient structure. What really shocked me is that with all of the wonderful restaurants in the area, the kids all thought it was cool to eat so-called Italian food at Pizza Hut!