HOTEL VOLENDAM REOPENS AFTER EXTENSIVE RENOVATION

The large-scale renovation is not yet complete, but after two years, the well-known 'hotel with the toucan' on the N247 is open again. The main building of Van der Valk Hotel Volendam has been demolished and rebuilt from the ground up, and the first block of 66 rooms has been thoroughly renovated. Mireille Ortiz and Jan Broeks, operators of the former Motel Katwoude since 1996, feel the enthusiasm among the first guests after the reopening on September 1st: "The Volendam fair was immediately a good test case."

 

ARTICLE: NOORDHOLLANDS DAGBLAD
TEXT: JACCO VAN OOSTVEEN

Katwoude - Everything smells new as you walk into the hotel entrance. And a little bit like coffee and sweetness, because right upon entering you will find on your left the new café-patisserie series Zoetwaeter. On the right, hotel bar 1480, which will open in November. The same goes for the nine rooms on the first floor, accessible via a large staircase in the middle of the entrance. The rooms are intended for meetings, conferences, parties, and events. If you walk past the reception, you will reach restaurant ZYLT with an extensive terrace. In the restaurant, 450 people can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. That's 150 more spots than before the renovation. Starting from November, food lovers can also enjoy the well-known Van der Valk concept of 'live cooking', where guests can see the preparation and choose dishes on the spot. Right next to the restaurant, it is also possible to rent a room for 'private dining'.

With pride, Mireille Ortiz and Jan Broeks show off the brand new kitchen, complete with nearby cold storage rooms, a goods lift, and a space where suppliers can deliver their goods. Everything close together, just as Broeks wanted: "Previously, we had to walk through the entire hotel with our carts, this is much more efficient. Our warehouse manager is a happy person."

The first 66 rooms have been thoroughly renovated. There were many issues that the couple from Edam and their team encountered before the renovation. The hotel dates back to 1973, with the main building originally having only 26 rooms. Over the years, more than a hundred rooms were added. "The building was worn out," says Broeks. "No air conditioning and toilets upstairs, poorly insulated, but also too small and poorly laid out. For example, live cooking used to be upstairs, but we have now moved it to the restaurant area."

"We have been to Milan and Paris for inspiration."

SLOOPHAMER

The plans for new construction and renovation took shape in 2015. When the permits and financing were finally in place and the groundwork could begin in early 2020, everything came to a halt due to the corona pandemic. In June 2023, the demolition hammer could finally hit the outdated main building. Around that time, the hotel on the premises opened a pop-up restaurant, which has since closed. Ortiz: "In this way, we were able to continue welcoming our guests and also keep many of our 150 employees working. Others temporarily found work in other Van der Valk establishments or elsewhere. Some of them are now returning, and we are busy recruiting more staff."

It was a strange sensation for the owners: not receiving hotel guests for two years, but working on and contributing to a large-scale renovation. "I found that period especially very educational," says Mireille Ortiz, who was mainly involved in styling. "Thinking about which fabrics and colors we will use, we even went to Milan and Paris for inspiration. We opted for a modern twist, but the hotel should also exude the homely, familiar Van der Valk atmosphere. These are not requirements from the company, but people do expect that from us. Just like the cherry on top of the applesauce."

Jan Broeks talked about the construction part: "The building is designed in an old style on the outside, because we aim for recognizability. We have used a lot of natural materials, such as certified wood. This fits the sustainable nature of the new construction, in which we use a 'green' climate system without gas. In addition, our guests can use sustainable facilities, such as charging stations for electric cars. Even our garden is biodiverse."

The renovation did not give the couple sleepless nights. Ortiz said, "You do wonder: is anyone still coming? The project has been on hold for two years. But after a slow start, the online bookings started coming in quickly again."

FUNFAIR

“The plan was to reopen in October, but because the renovation went so well, we were able to offer rooms in September. All the businesses know where to find us again.” During the first full weekend of September, the 66 new hotel rooms were filled with visitors to the Volendam fair. “That was a great test case,” says Broeks. The initial reactions to the large-scale renovation were very positive. “Even from guests from Volendam who have been coming here for years. They find the interior modern, yet cozy and familiar. And there are some critical people among them, you know. Twenty-five years ago, we removed a bench from the bar, and we certainly heard about it.” It will be a while before the major renovation is completely finished. On the first floor, the finishing touches are being put on the meeting and banquet rooms, and outside, behind the terrace, a place for wedding ceremonies and a boules court are being added. The hotel rooms in blocks C and D will be renovated at a later stage. After that, the hotel will have 204 modern rooms. The final phase of the renovation of Hotel Volendam will be the construction of a wellness center with an outdoor swimming pool.

SHELTER

Since March 2023, the hotel has been accommodating around 200 refugees, including 50 unaccompanied minors. The asylum seekers are housed in the old hotel blocks at the back of the complex, with a separate entrance. The agreement with the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) runs until January 1, 2026. Mireille Ortiz and Jan Broeks hope to discuss with the COA in the near future about what comes next. After the departure of the asylum seekers, the outdated blocks C and D will also undergo renovation.