Culinary perfection in the greenery TEXT: ARNE ADRIAENSSENS | PHOTOS: LANDGOED GROENENDAAL
Just like the forest it is in, Landgoed Groenendaal is deeply rooted in the soil of Heemstede. After more than a century, the restaurant and events venue is more relevant than ever. With the entry of Hein Uitendaal, the fourthgeneration manager, a veritable fresh wind blew through the halls of the family business, transforming it into a culinary paradise amidst a sea of green. Central between Amsterdam’s city noise and the waves of the North Sea, lies the green oases of Groenendaal. The history of the domain goes back to the 17th century, after which it knew many owners. In the early 20th century, the municipality of Heemstede bought the domain and turned it into the hiking forest that it 40 | Issue 65 | May 2019
is today. Joop Uitendaal got the permission to sink his teeth into the coach house of the former estate and turned it into a restaurant: Landgoed Groenendaal. Today, 102 years later, his family still runs the business. For this, they even received the title ‘warrant holder of the Dutch royal family’. When Joop’s great-grandson Hein Uitendaal took over the business from his father in 2010, he decided to steer the restaurant down an entirely new path with culinary exploration as the centre of attention. The traditional Dutch dishes made room for refined French cuisine with exotic touches. “Every month, our chef creates a new ‘king’s meal’,” says Uitendaal. “This menu serves you five courses of two small dishes each and pushes the boundaries of food pairing, introducing you to exciting
new structures. Those who wish, can also peruse the surprising variations of classic dishes on our menu and order them à la carte.”
Soothing and elegant interior With the rejuvenation of the menu, the building itself got spruced up as well. For the restaurant’s 100th anniversary, an intensive metamorphoses made it more elegant and soothing than ever. Also, their four venues got restored and prepared for a multitude of happenings. “We organise many different events here; from business meetings to weddings and family events. The combination of our unique location and the small-scale of our business comes with plenty of benefits. Since our sole neighbours are the animals in the