Where memories are made

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.