The jail where you'd want to be locked up

Notorious prison is transformed into luxury hotel (and guests still sleep in the cells) By Anthony Bond PUBLISHED: 17:28 GMT, 25 February 2013 | UPDATED: 07:36 GMT, 26 February 2013 It was previously a place from which people desperately wanted to leave. As one of the Netherlands' most feared prisons for almost 150 years, Het Arresthuis was not a place you would want to stay. But following its closure and something of a makeover, people are now paying good money to spend a night at the former jail. Grim: As one of the Netherlands' most feared prisons for almost 150 years, Het Arresthuis was not a place you would want to stay Luxury: Following its closure and something of a makeover, people now pay big money to spend at least one night in the old holding cells Change: The 105 prisoner's quarters have been converted into 40 spacious rooms Intimidating: This picture shows Het Arresthuis when it was a notorious prison The 105 prisoner’s quarters have been converted into 40 spacious rooms,  including 24 standard rooms, 12 deluxe rooms, and four suites, all of which feature modern furnishings and chic interior design. All of the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat screen TV, free WiFi, and even a personal coffee and tea machine.   More... From sunshine to Swindon: Tourist builds replica in his back garden of the hotel where he stayed in Portugal after falling in love with the building The hotel also features a  sauna, fitness centre, central patio with olive trees, and an organic herb garden.  Het Arresthuis opened its doors in 1862 and quickly established a reputation as an intimidating jail. Fancy: All of the rooms feature modern furnishings and chic interior design. This picture shows guests enjoying dinner Makeover: This image shows one of the rooms, which used to be a cell for prisoners Stylish: This image shows part of one of the bathrooms Relaxing: Guests enjoy drinks and food in this pleasant terrace area Despite the prison featuring lots of bars, this place has both kinds – the ones you can’t get past and the ones where you can get a drink. After being abandoned for a number of years, the jail reopened in 2002. But in mid 2007 it closed permanently after which construction of the hotel began.  Het Arresthuis was also called 'bolletjesbajes' which translates as stuffer's prison. Accommodation: Het Arresthuis opened its doors in 1862, as a prison. It closed down for good in 2007 Pleasant: Unlike prisoners who were always keen to leave their cells, guests actually pay big money to spend a night here Scary: Despite the cells having a nice makeover, the original doors have been kept in place Plush: The jail most certainly did not have a bar like this when it was open Het Arresthuis is not the only former prison which has been transformed into a hotel. After closing in 1996, Oxford Prison was transformed into a Malmaison hotel. Another prison which is now a hotel is the Jailhotel Lowengraben in Lucerne Built in 1862, it was used as a prison until 1998, before being converted into a hotel. Welcoming: This shows one of the entrances to the hotel Nice touch: The hotel has been fitted out with luxury design features Sparkling: The kitchen facilities are certainly an improvement on those when Het Arresthuis was a jail Fun: Its doubtful that the prisoners who used to stay here looked as happy as these guests