Where memories are made

Just imagine: a new part of Maastricht, right in the centre, which exerts a great attraction on people from all over the world but also a part of the city where Maastricht residents themselves like to come. An ambition that Camille Oostwegel, together with architect Francine Houben, wants to fulfil with full conviction.

Camille Oostwegel, owner & managing director of Oostwegel Collection, has signed a purchase agreement with Zuyd University to take over ‘Sociëteit De Stuers’.

The expansion includes 50 hotel rooms, a high-end fine casual restaurant and a multifunctional space for exhibitions and meetings for up to 150 guests. In addition, the head office of Oostwegel Collection is also moving to this new location. To accommodate all these facilities, the national monument will be repurposed and expanded.

In May this year Oostwegel Collection has agreed a long-term partnership with the famous Limburgian wine estate, St. Martinus. Oenologist, Stan Beurskens and his team, have produced seven unique signature wines for Oostwegel Collection and not even four months later the wines are already winning medals.

On 12 September it was announced that all seven signature wines have been awarded medals at the ‘Wijnkeuring van de Lage Landen’. The medal table for the wines made by Oostwegel Collection & St. Martinus looks like this:
• 2x gold for the sparkling wines ‘Mosaic 3’ en ‘Mosaic 3.5’
• 4x silver for wines ‘WIJn 265’ red and white, white wine ‘Hommage Judith’ and red wine ‘Hommage Camille’.
• 1x bronze for rosé ‘WIJn 265’

An independent team of blind tasters awarded 17 wines with a gold medal this year. Wine makers from The Netherlands and Belgium submitted a record number of almost 300 wines for the contest.

All the medal winning wines are available exclusively at the hotels and restaurants of Oostwegel Collection and Camille Oostwegel says about medals: “We are very proud that we have already been awarded for the quality of our wines. The intention of the partnership with St. Martinus is to offer our guests a differentiated choice of quality wines. It is amazing that the vision we have gets awarded so quickly!”

The partnership not only brings a great new selection of wines to the hotels and restaurants and strengthens the gastronomic ambitions set by Oostwegel Collection, but guests in the four properties will be able to learn more about the wines through a variety of wine flights, tours and tastings. For more information about the partnership between Oostwegel Collection & St. Martinus, click here.

Oostwegel Collection has agreed a long-term partnership with the famous Limburgian wine estate, St. Martinus. Oenologist, Stan Beurskens and his team, have produced seven unique signature wines for Oostwegel Collection. From today, all these new wines will be available exclusively at our hotels and restaurants.

Our flavourful Limburgian wines have been curated in collaboration with sommeliers, chefs and friends of Oostwegel Collection, while the grapes from the Chateau St. Gerlach vineyard, called ‘WIJland’, have been used to create each wine.

The vineyard at the ‘WIJland’ covers 3.5 hectares and can be viewed from a new wooden lookout tower, giving breath taking views across the land, the herb and vegetable garden and Geul Valley.

All wines are sustainably produced and have been divided into three categories: The first category, ‘WIJn 265’, consists of white, red and rosé varieties. The wines in this category have a slightly lighter flavour profile. The second category is called ‘Hommage’, and consists of a white and a red wine. These wines are fuller bodied due to the oak barrel aging. As an homage to the parents of owner and managing director Camille Oostwegel, the white wine is named after Judith and the red wine after Camille Sr. The third and last category has been named ‘Mosaïc’ and includes two sparkling wines, made according traditional methods. Françoise Oostwegel designed all the wine labels.

Camille Oostwegel says about the partnership: “We are very thrilled to partner with Stan Beurskens and his team. Both companies have craftsmanship and sustainability as part of their core values. With this collaboration we really offer a differentiated choice of wines for our guests. As well as the new offering we also significantly reduce our carbon footprint. In total we are talking about 20,000 bottles of house wine that will no longer have to be transported from France and Italy to Limburg.”

Stan Beurskens added: “This partnership feels very natural. For us it is an opportunity to scale up our craftsmanship and force of innovation since we can produce additional wines from the added plots at the ‘WIJland’. We are looking forward to working with Camille’s team to keep advancing the wines and also to give the guests at Oostwegel Collection unforgettable memories, in the hotels and restaurants, as well as, at our wine estate in Vijlen.”

The partnership not only brings a great new selection of wines to the hotels and restaurants and strengthens the gastronomic ambitions set by Oostwegel Collection, but later this year guests in the four properties will be able to learn more about the wines through a variety of wine flights, tours and tastings.

About Oostwegel Collection
Oostwegel Collection is a Dutch family business that is founded on the principles of Inspiring, Artisanal and Hospitable. This is brought to life by three pillars: People, Place and Gastronomy. Camille Oostwegel has been the Owner and General Manager of the company since the beginning of 2020. He followed in the footsteps of his father Camille Oostwegel Sr., who in 1980, with great passion and care, started the restoration and repurposing of national monuments. The company now consists of: Château Neercanne, Winselerhof, Château St. Gerlach, Kruisherenhotel Maastricht and the concept Villas & Residences.
For more information: www.oostwegelcollection.nl

About St. Martinus
The vineyards of St. Martinus are in the most Southern part of The Netherlands, very close to the Ardennes. With an innovative and sustainable style, we produce white, red, rosé and sparkling wines from Limburgian soil. Wines to really enjoy!
For more information: www.wijngaardmartinus.nl

Oostwegel Collection completes its management team with two new members. Ilona van Rooij (29) joined as Director of Sales & Revenue on 1 February and Desiree Dils (41) will become General Manager of Kruisherenhotel Maastricht on 1 April 2021.

Camille Oostwegel is delighted to welcome these new members. “Our management team is complete and with it we will build on our vision and ambition. That vision and ambition is about winning, and we can only do that with a robust team. With the arrival of Ilona and Desiree, we have a complete, robust and dynamic team with a range of experiences and perspectives. I look forward to working with them and the rest of management to achieve our ambitions.” The management team of Oostwegel Collection includes nine people, consisting of four women and five men. Remarkably the average age of team members is relatively low, at 37 years old.

Director of Sales & Revenue
Ilona van Rooij took up her post as Director of Sales & Revenue for the entire Oostwegel Collection on 1 February 2021. After completing her Bachelor at the NHTV Academy of Hotel Management, Ilona was awarded the Master of Science (Management of Learning) at the University of Maastricht. She gained international work experience in London, among other places, and before her move, she worked as Commercial Director at DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station.

Ilona van Rooij: “The passion, entrepreneurship and inspiring vision of Oostwegel Collection immediately appealed to me. As a wholehearted Limburger there is also a sense of pride in this beautiful collection of monumental hotels and restaurants in South Limburg. It is therefore, with full energy and enthusiasm I look forward to achieving great results together with the team in the coming years.”

General Manager of Kruisherenhotel Maastricht
On 1 April 2021 Desiree Dils will take up her position as General Manager of Kruisherenhotel Maastricht. She has been working for almost three years as Director of Food & Beverage at the five-star Hotel De L’Europe in Amsterdam. Over the past twenty years, Desiree has held various international positions, including in London and China and primarily in the luxury hotel sector.

Desiree Dils: “Having completed my studies at the Hotel Management School in Maastricht and worked abroad for many years, most recently in Amsterdam, I am honoured to join the team of the Kruisherenhotel and the Oostwegel Collection family, in the most beautiful city in The Netherlands. Hospitality is in my blood – as it is for every Limburger and my great passion is to showcase this with a dedicated team.”

About Oostwegel Collection
Oostwegel Collection is a Dutch family business that is founded on the principles of Inspiring, Artisanal and Hospitable. This is brought to life by three pillars: People, Place and Gastronomy. Camille Oostwegel has been the Owner and General Manager of the company since the beginning of 2020. He followed in the footsteps of his father Camille Oostwegel Sr., who in 1980, with great passion and care, started the restoration and repurposing of national monuments. The company now consists of: Château Neercanne, Winselerhof, Château St. Gerlach, Kruisherenhotel Maastricht and the concept Villas & Residences.
For more information: www.oostwegelcollection.nl

Two very familiar faces at Château Neercanne will bid farewell on 1 March to pursue the next stage in their respective careers. Maître d’Hotel, Dennis Lemmens, has received a promotion within Oostwegel Collection and takes on the role of Food & Beverage Manager at Winselerhof, while Chef de Cuisine, Gilbert von Berg, is to open his own restaurant.

Dennis Lemmens (43) has worked at Château Neercanne since 2001, gaining his position as the restaurant’s Maître d’Hotel in 2007. In his new role as Food & Beverage Manager at Winselerhof in Landgraaf, he will be responsible for the service teams in Restaurant Pirandello, Luigi’s Restaurant & Bar and banqueting. In this exciting new role Dennis will bring his skill and expertise to his new team and build on the continuing gastronomic ambitions of Winselerhof.

Regarding his promotion Dennis says: “For me this is a great new challenge to lead a bigger team in a different property, but still it feels familiar because I will continue to work for the Oostwegel family’s business.”

Gilbert von Berg (38) has worked alongside the culinary team of Restaurant Château Neercanne since 2007, taking on the role of Chef de Cuisine in November 2017. For his next career move, he has chosen to follow his entrepreneurial ambitions. In spring 2021 he will open his own, small scale, restaurant in Maastricht.

Of his career change, Gilbert says: “It has always been a dream of mine to have my own restaurant in Maastricht where I can strive to achieve my ambitions. I had a great time and education at Château Neercanne but the opportunity has presented itself for me to start my own business and I want to grab it with both hands.”

We thank Dennis and Gilbert for their tireless efforts over the past few years in which they played key roles in the development of Restaurant Château Neercanne. We wish them great success and joy in their new careers!”, commented Camille Oostwegel, Owner & Managing Director of Oostwegel Collection

Talent Factory

Pierre Haenen, General Manager at Château Neercanne says: “The development of Dennis and Gilbert is once again a great example of the results cultivated through Oostwegel Collection’s ‘Talent Factory’. It shows that talent not only grows within our organisation but can lead to entrepreneurial success”.

Successors

At the time of this press release there are no replacement candidates for either position. “We have promptly started the recruitment process for both of these important positions. The successful candidates will continue to build on both Dennis’ and Gilbert’s legacy to ensure the continued success of Château Neercanne as a gastronomic hot spot”, says Pierre Haenen

Last night, at a special ceremony held at Château de Ferrières, outside Paris, Kruisherenhotel Maastricht was awarded a “Grand Prix Best Charming Hotel in Europe”.

Award “Grand Prix Best Charming Hotel in Europe” for Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

The award “Grand Prix Best Charming Hotel in Europe” for Kruisherenhotel Maastricht was accepted by owner Camille Oostwegel sr. and successor Camille Oostwegel jr. under the watchful eye of the Dutch ambassador in France Mr. Pieter de Gooijer. Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is the only Dutch hotel that has won this award until now. Camille Oostwegel jr. said: “It is fantastic to win this respected international award for our family business. It is a testament to our team who day in, day out deliver on our guests’ high expectations.”

Kruisherenhotel Maastricht was victorious in beating five nominees to win “Grand Prix Best Charming Hotel in Europe”. It is recognition of the hotel group’s exceptional offering that a professional jury of international journalists visited the locations of all nominees and chose Kruisherenhotel Maastricht as winner. Oostwegel Collection, Château St. Gerlach and Kruisherenhotel Maastricht were separately seven times nominated in six different categories.

About Prix Villégiature Awards

Since 2003 the Villégiature Awards reward the best hotels in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia. The jury consists of 22 influent journalists representing 15 nationalities. This 17th edition final winners will be announced 14 October at Château de Ferrières aside Paris, France.
www.prix-villegiature.com/

About Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

Dating back to the 15th century, the former Kruisheren monastery and adjoining Gothic church have been transformed into a spectacular five-star design hotel, located in the heart of Maastricht’s historic centre. A member of Design Hotels™, Kruisherenhotel Maastricht combines thought-provoking architecture with original features throughout the 60 ultra-modern guestrooms, each with their own individual quirks and details. The church’s impressive nave has been sensitively reimagined to create an arresting, semi-open place space that encompasses the hotel reception, restaurant, Wine Bar Rouge & Blanc, meeting spaces, library, glass elevator and three corner lounges tucked away in former side chapels. A member of Design Hotels™ since 2005, Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is part of Oostwegel Collection, a Limburgian family business dedicated to gracious hospitality, artisanal cuisine and historically authentic properties. For more information: www.kruisherenhotel.nl

On 1st January 2020 SVH certified Masterchef Hans Snijders will retire and say farewell to Château Neercanne.

Next year, when he turns 66, Executive Chef Hans Snijders will say farewell to Château Neercanne where he waves the culinary sceptre since 1980. Over the past decades many chefs, who have reached the highest level of gastronomic cooking in the Netherlands and abroad, spent the onset of their career under Chef Hans’ guidance. Among them: Richard Ekkebus, Jef Schuur, Lars van Galen, René Brienen, Pascal Jalhay, Alex Clevers and Camiel Henning. Hans Snijders says: “It is important for our profession to create a learning culture, where young cooks are able to develop themselves. I’m proud of all the talented cooks that have worked in the past years at Neercanne.”

During his career at Restaurant Château Neercanne, Hans maintained a Michelin star for 33 consecutive years. Owner Camille Oostwegel sr. says: “For almost 40 years Hans Snijders has been leaving his culinary mark on Château Neercanne. His exceptional craftsmanship and organisational talent have largely contributed to the reputation of our terraced castle.”

The team at Neercanne is prepared for Hans’ farewell. Chef de cuisine Gilbert von Berg will continue to oversee Restaurant Château Neercanne, along with Raymond Remmen in lunch restaurant l’Auberge and Dave Beckers inBanqueting.

There were many highlights in the career of Hans, but the European summits with all heads of state of Europe in 1981 and 1991 stood out. Hans Snijders says: “This dinner and lunch were after all the most exciting experiences of my career, although every day is a competition.”

To celebrate his farewell Chef Hans will offer a special 3-course menu with his classical and favourite dishes. During this lunch it is possible to meet Hans Snijders and commemorate his magnificent career at Neercanne.

Renowned as the only terraced castle in The Netherlands, located in Maastricht, Château Neercanne straddles the Belgian/Dutch borders and commands panoramic views across the magnificent Jeker Valley. The 17th-century castle is divided over four levels, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Château houses a network of Marl Caves, offering a unique venue for large parties and celebratory gatherings. The gastronomic Restaurant Château Neercanne, is complemented by the more informal lunch restaurant l’Auberge, awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2012. Château Neercanne has been part of Oostwegel Collection since 1984, a Limburgian family business dedicated to gracious hospitality, artisanal cuisine and historically authentic properties. Château Neercanne is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

On 2 September 2019 Pierre Haenen will start as General Manager at Château Neercanne.

Currently, Pierre Haenen (28) works as Manager Bistrot de Liège at Château St. Gerlach. Pierre will succeed Peter Harkema, who retires after 35 years as General Manager at Château Neercanne. “Château Neercanne breathes beauty and history and from a gastronomic standpoint this house is famous for its high-end craftsmanship and hospitality. Being born and raised in the province of Limburg it is a great honour and challenge to take on this new role and to surprise our guests with culinary delights and create new memories together with my colleagues.” – says Pierre.

Since 2015 Pierre held multiple positions at Oostwegel Collection. Starting at Château St. Gerlach as a waiter, he progressed into a Reservations Employee, Guest Relations Coordinator and, since December 2017, Manager of Bistrot de Liège. “It is great to have Pierre take the role of General Manager at Château Neercanne. It is a prime example how our ‘Talent Factory’ truly facilitates career path planning for our associates. His ambition, creativity, commercial instinct and relationship building qualities make Pierre the right person for the job. I look forward to working with him and building on Neercanne and Oostwegel Collection’s future”. – says Camille Oostwegel jr.

Oostwegel Collection is nominated for “Best hotel group”, furthermore both Château St. Gerlach and Kruisherenhotel Maastricht qualify for 3 different awards.

Nominations for Château St. Gerlach and Kruisherenhotel Maastricht in 3 categories

The organisation of Prix Villégiature Awards announced that Oostwegel Collection is nominated for their award “Best hotel group”. Furthermore are Château St. Gerlach and Kruisherenhotel Maastricht separately nominated in 3 different categories. Château St. Gerlach qualifies for the awards “Best Service in a hotel in Europe, with more than 80 rooms”, “Best restaurant in a hotel in Europe” and “Best artistic contribution in a hotel in Europe”. Also Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is nominated in 3 categories: “Grand Prix Best Charming Hotel in Europe”, “Best service in a hotel in Europe, with less than 80 rooms” and “Best artistic contribution in a hotel in Europe”. “We are very thrilled about the nominations for the Prix Villegiature Awards for our properties and Oostwegel Collection as Best Hotel Group. This is truly a sign of appreciation for our teams who day in and day out provide the highest possible level of service to our guests. Our local family business is unique and to then get recognized alongside other world famous hotel groups is fantastic.” says Camille Oostwegel jr., Director Business Development.

Since August 1984 Peter Harkema has been the General Manager at the Château.

35 years General Manager at Château Neercanne

Peter Harkema shared that he will hand over the management of the only terraced castle in the Netherlands on his 65^th birthday in September 2019. Over the past 35 years Peter, his wife Ans and the entire team, have built Château Neercanne to become one of the most well-known and best restaurants in the Benelux. Château Neercanne is a culinary institution where many guests – domestic and abroad – enjoy the unique, hospitable ambiance and high gastronomic level each day.

Over the past 35 years many young cooks and waiters have been mentored by Peter and developed their passion for gastronomy. Many of today’s well-known chefs were educated in Neercanne’s kitchen.
“In 35 years one can really build something beautiful together. Our purpose has always been to be authentic hosts to our guests. Truly caring and showing empathy for your guests really makes them feel ‘drunk’ on happiness, even without a glass of wine.”, says Peter Harkema.

Transition

Owner Camille Oostwegel sr. says: “We respect Peter and Ans’ decision to handover the general management to a talented young successor, which is important for the future of the unique Château. We thank Peter and Ans sincerely for their entrepreneurial spirit in the way they led Neercanne – and in the opening phase also Château St. Gerlach – and therefore the contribution they made to Oostwegel Collection as a whole.”
Oostwegel Collection starts recruitment for a successor (F/M) immediately.

Old staff uniforms often end up as part of landfill or get thrown into a waste incinerator, but not at Oostwegel Collection.

Monday, 22 January, at a prestigious industry event celebrating the best MICE locations and companies in The Netherlands, Château St. Gerlach was awarded ‘Best Meeting Location of the Year 2017’. Voted best in The Netherlands.