Hästens
Work like a horse, sleep like a prince
'Häst' is Swedish for horse. And the fur of this noble animal is the secret behind a good night's sleep, according to luxury bed manufacturer Hästens.
DATE
05 April 2020
TEXT
Jasper Gramsma
IMAGE
Kim Vermaat
Hästens
Work like a horse, sleep like a prince
'Häst' is Swedish for horse. And the fur of this noble animal is the secret behind a good night's sleep, according to luxury bed manufacturer Hästens.
Whe who enters the Hästens store on the Denneweg is entering historic ground. The back of the building conceals the former accommodation for the carriages and horses that once transported the high-ranking hotel guests of Des Indes.
'When you see the love and dedication with which people work, you know: this is a family business'
Now this space, with beautiful skylight and ditto marble floor, exudes a serene calm; since 2017 it has been the showroom for the Swedish builder's luxury beds with the world-famous blue and white check. "The history, the atmosphere, it all suits Hästens," explains owner Freek Fidder. "For them, too, the horse has been the common thread since their foundation. As saddlers, the family business used horsehair for padding more than a century and a half ago, later also in their mattresses."
Crafts
The young, inspired Fidder (b 1981) knows better than anyone else what it is like to work in a family business. He is the third generation of an entrepreneurial family specialising in beds and textiles. "I had the dream of opening a Hästens store for a long time; it's a beautiful brand. When you see with what love and dedication the people in Sweden work on it, you know: this is also a family business. There is attention for each other and that ensures that people do their utmost every day to deliver top-quality craftsmanship," says Fidder.
After several years of patience, his long-cherished wish of having his own Hästens outlet is coming true. "You just can't find our outlets on every street corner. Fortunately, the opportunity presented itself to come to The Hague. I once worked here for a few years before, so I know the city well."
'From the Museumkwartier car park, Lange Voorhout is like a runner in front of the shop'
The location on the Denneweg is therefore a well-considered choice. Fidder: "From the Museumkwartier car park, the most beautiful part of The Hague, the Lange Voorhout, lies like a carpet in front of the shop. Those who make an appointment to visit will receive an exit card from us to experience that for themselves."
34 layers
Although with 270 square metres this is not the biggest Hästens branch, almost all types of beds can be tried out there. "We only need two things from the visitor: time and patience. In an hour, we usually arrive at the right bed with trial lying. Then it is just a matter of accessories and the right colour; there is more than just blue and white."
'The wood comes from northern Sweden, where it is so cold that the wood grows very slowly, making it extremely strong'
The range starts at the €4,500 'Marquis', but the top model, the €35,000 '2000T', can also be bought here. The latter makes one curious, as even Fidder knows, who has erected a large glass column in the middle of the coach house containing a cross-section of all 34 layers of the 203-kg bed.
Pointing at it, he says: "Here you can see exactly what makes Hästens so special: the beds are made from the finest natural materials, with attention to people and the environment. The wood comes from northern Sweden, where it is so cold that the wood grows very slowly, making it extremely strong. The virgin steel of the springs gives firmness and the wool-cotton mix and horsehair take turns to collect and disperse moisture to drain it as quickly as possible."
Drains
According to Fidder, the horsehair, which is characteristic of Hästens, plays a major role in sleeping comfort: "All those hairs act to relieve pressure, regulate moisture like little drainage pipes and ensure an optimal sleeping climate. Actually just like for the horse itself, which can live in temperatures of over forty degrees above zero as well as at minus ten thanks to that fur."
"For a good night's sleep, these are important characteristics. In fact, one of the major causes of poor sleep is stress. This in turn causes perspiration, which cools you down and wakes you up. In short, a vicious circle that you tackle at the source with this."
And performing well, that's only possible if you sleep well: "If you get everything out of yourself during the day to put in a top performance and take care of others, you need to make sure your bed takes good care of you at night. A Hästens does that like no other."
Free servicing for every Hästens owner
To enjoy a Hästens bed for at least 25 years, like fine shoes, it needs to be treated properly. Turning, rotating and massaging the mattresses every quarter ensures that the natural materials stay in place.
That requires some skill, but Freek Fidder is happy to help every Hästens owner with that: "Hästens Den Haag offers everyone who already has a Hästens bed a free home service. We perform a bed base, mattress and top mattress check, and we massage the bed and give explanations. In the case of an adjustable bed, we also check the electrical system and, if necessary, replace the battery free of charge."
text Jasper Gramsma image Kim Vermaat
Whe who enters the Hästens store on the Denneweg is entering historic ground. The back of the building conceals the former accommodation for the carriages and horses that once transported the high-ranking hotel guests of Des Indes.
'When you see the love and dedication with which people work, you know: this is a family business'
Now this space, with beautiful skylight and ditto marble floor, exudes a serene calm; since 2017 it has been the showroom for the Swedish builder's luxury beds with the world-famous blue and white check. "The history, the atmosphere, it all suits Hästens," explains owner Freek Fidder. "For them, too, the horse has been the common thread since their foundation. As saddlers, the family business used horsehair for padding more than a century and a half ago, later also in their mattresses."
Crafts
The young, inspired Fidder (b 1981) knows better than anyone else what it is like to work in a family business. He is the third generation of an entrepreneurial family specialising in beds and textiles. "I had the dream of opening a Hästens store for a long time; it's a beautiful brand. When you see with what love and dedication the people in Sweden work on it, you know: this is also a family business. There is attention for each other and that ensures that people do their utmost every day to deliver top-quality craftsmanship," says Fidder.
After several years of patience, his long-cherished wish of having his own Hästens outlet is coming true. "You just can't find our outlets on every street corner. Fortunately, the opportunity presented itself to come to The Hague. I once worked here for a few years before, so I know the city well."
'From the Museumkwartier car park, Lange Voorhout is like a runner in front of the shop'
The location on the Denneweg is therefore a well-considered choice. Fidder: "From the Museumkwartier car park, the most beautiful part of The Hague, the Lange Voorhout, lies like a carpet in front of the shop. Those who make an appointment to visit will receive an exit card from us to experience that for themselves."
34 layers
Although with 270 square metres this is not the biggest Hästens branch, almost all types of beds can be tried out there. "We only need two things from the visitor: time and patience. In an hour, we usually arrive at the right bed with trial lying. Then it is just a matter of accessories and the right colour; there is more than just blue and white."
'The wood comes from northern Sweden, where it is so cold that the wood grows very slowly, making it extremely strong'
The range starts at the €4,500 'Marquis', but the top model, the €35,000 '2000T', can also be bought here. The latter makes one curious, as even Fidder knows, who has erected a large glass column in the middle of the coach house containing a cross-section of all 34 layers of the 203-kg bed.
Pointing at it, he says: "Here you can see exactly what makes Hästens so special: the beds are made from the finest natural materials, with attention to people and the environment. The wood comes from northern Sweden, where it is so cold that the wood grows very slowly, making it extremely strong. The virgin steel of the springs gives firmness and the wool-cotton mix and horsehair take turns to collect and disperse moisture to drain it as quickly as possible."
Drains
According to Fidder, the horsehair, which is characteristic of Hästens, plays a major role in sleeping comfort: "All those hairs act to relieve pressure, regulate moisture like little drainage pipes and ensure an optimal sleeping climate. Actually just like for the horse itself, which can live in temperatures of over forty degrees above zero as well as at minus ten thanks to that fur."
"For a good night's sleep, these are important characteristics. In fact, one of the major causes of poor sleep is stress. This in turn causes perspiration, which cools you down and wakes you up. In short, a vicious circle that you tackle at the source with this."
And performing well, that's only possible if you sleep well: "If you get everything out of yourself during the day to put in a top performance and take care of others, you need to make sure your bed takes good care of you at night. A Hästens does that like no other."
Free servicing for every Hästens owner
To enjoy a Hästens bed for at least 25 years, like fine shoes, it needs to be treated properly. Turning, rotating and massaging the mattresses every quarter ensures that the natural materials stay in place.
That requires some skill, but Freek Fidder is happy to help every Hästens owner with that: "Hästens Den Haag offers everyone who already has a Hästens bed a free home service. We perform a bed base, mattress and top mattress check, and we massage the bed and give explanations. In the case of an adjustable bed, we also check the electrical system and, if necessary, replace the battery free of charge."
