Tabula Rasa Resort

Independent Minds: Arnoud Oostenbroek & Anouk Brouwer, Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa

A family holiday in Sri Lanka turned into a life-long love for this Dutch couple

When Arnoud and his partner Anouk reached a remote Sri Lankan hilltop fringed by over a hundred coconut trees, they knew they’d stumbled across something special. The story sounds like the makings of the next Indiana Jones (untangling the dense jungle with a machete, then riding back on scooters), and it’s continued to be an adventure ever since. Drawing on their Dutch roots, and ever-inspired by the Dutch cosiness concept (known as ‘gezelligheid’’), they built Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa from the ground up as a passion project for their family, friends, and the local community to enjoy together.

Experiencing luxury comes in many guises, and it doesn't always have to manifest itself in marble floors and Michelin-starred dinners.

Do you have a vision for the future of the hotel?

The travel industry has had some serious setbacks in recent years, from which most of us are still recovering. Much of the pre-COVID projects we had started were stopped for obvious reasons. We had planned to set up an awareness programme together with the local government about how we should deal with waste. (Unfortunately, most waste in Sri Lanka is still burned in backyards). Together with two other hotels, we had started separating waste, and the municipality would process this further – so we are looking forward to restarting this project. It’s really positive seeing that the local community is approaching this with an open mind too.

In addition to sustainability installations such as solar panels, rainwater collections to irrigate the gardens, and drawing water from our own well – which we incorporated during construction – we only use eco-friendly packaging in-rooms such as glass or recycled paper. To make sure we support local businesses, we mainly work with local craftsmen, and 80% of our fresh food comes from local farmers and fisherman. I think it really works in two directions, and is a win-win situation for everyone.

Previous

In with the new: 4 boutique hotels to inspire your next holiday

Next

Where is hot in September and October? 10 sun-drenched destinations

Latest stories

The ultimate Austin city guide

A city that has pledged to keep itself “weird,” Austin is artsy, outdoorsy, progressive and Texan in equal parts. Here, pour-over coffee, Western wear, barbecue and even Mexican free-tailed bats (more on them later) all exist in perfect harmony. Rent kayaks or pedal boats and cruise along Lady Bird Lake.

Hotel Lungarno: Ferragamo’s stylish Florentine stay

Bedding down in one of the Tuscan capital’s most fashionable addresses, Chloe Frost-Smith reflects on a long weekend spent riverside in the Ferragamo family’s Hotel Lungarno — with plenty of Ponte Vecchio-peeping from the Arno-adjacent rooms and sun-drenched terraces included.

Nurture through nature: 5 restorative hotels in Portugal to press pause at

In Portugal’s wild corners, luxury stays are carving out space for stillness, slowness, and something that’s increasingly sought after: a deep connection with nature. In Aljezur, where the cliffs tumble into the Atlantic and time seems to drift with the tides; in Comporta, where pine forests guard miles of deserted

Coral planting and ocean conservation at Nanuku Resort, Fiji

Overlooking the shimmering waters of Beqa Lagoon in Fiji, home to one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, Nanuku Resort has become a living laboratory for marine conservation, led by the passionate efforts of Fijian natives Waseroma Sigavou, the resort’s resident marine scientist, and Kelly-Dawn Bentley, its dedicated