WILLEMSTAD - The new Art Hotel Pietermaai missed its planned December 15 opening and is now aiming for a February 15, 2025 debut. The hotel, featuring 43 luxury rooms, is owned by Bas Fillipini, who also owns the adjacent Scuba Lodge. 

As of mid-December, construction crews were still working on the structural phase of the project. In the construction industry, finishing work often requires significant attention to detail, prompting developers to extend their timeline by two months. The February 15 opening will be a "soft launch." 

“We need everything to be perfect because this is going to be a five-star establishment,” Fillipini indicated. 

However, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, The Lemon Tree, opened its doors on Christmas Eve and was fully booked during its first days. This restaurant is a sister establishment to the acclaimed Lemon Tree restaurant in Deventer, Netherlands.