The unprecedented transformation of Kasteel de Wittenburg
Whistling birds and lush greenery. The tranquillity at Kasteel de Wittenburg proves deceptive when director Ralf Meppelder tells about what has taken place here in the past week. "Saturday there was a staff party for 850 people with food trucks in the garden, Monday we received the complete Cavalry Honorary Escort in full regalia, Tuesday was all about film shoots, Thursday we had a congress, a day later a wedding. And of course the hotel guests in our ten rooms," he lists.
DATE
20 March 2024
TEXT
Jasper Gramsma
IMAGE
Brian Mul
The unprecedented transformation of Kasteel de Wittenburg
Whistling birds and lush greenery. The tranquillity at Kasteel de Wittenburg proves deceptive when director Ralf Meppelder tells about what has taken place here in the past week. "Saturday there was a staff party for 850 people with food trucks in the garden, Monday we received the complete Cavalry Honorary Escort in full regalia, Tuesday was all about film shoots, Thursday we had a congress, a day later a wedding. And of course the hotel guests in our ten rooms," he lists.
It exemplifies the transformation the castle and surrounding estate have undergone under Meppel's reign, which now spans 12 and a half years. "When I applied, the Wittenburg was tattered and corny. With holes in the carpet and the natural stone floor," he recalls at the table in the modern castle restaurant Sophie. "But the snowy landscape, the burning fireplace and the maître in jacquet had something enchanting. Moreover, I saw so many possibilities! Here I could make a difference."
Plan B
Initially, the board wanted to revive the castle with activities by society members, the top people from the Dutch business world. When the club shrank and members abandoned the castle, Meppelder switched to plan B. "I literally opened the doors of this stronghold by betting on the leisure market and business events. That started with concerts - from Alain Clark to Candy Dulfer - which brought us a lot of publicity. Always top-level, though; I didn't want to put the castle's name on the line. That's how the ball started rolling."
Ralf Meppelder has been director of Kasteel de Wittenburg for 12 and a half years.
Ralf Meppelder has been director of Kasteel de Wittenburg for 12 and a half years.
The 2018 opening of à la carte restaurant Sophie in the basement proved to be a hit. "How open can you be? It's an asset, as people from the neighbourhood regularly come to eat here. At the same time, it adds value for hotel guests." Sophie's entourage may be contemporary, but nods to its glorious past are not shunned. Meppelder: "The tournedos Rossini is no longer on the menu, but our chef cooks robustly and generously - no flowers and gels. And we combine the silver dishes he recovered with modern crockery."
'I didn't want to put the castle's name up for grabs'
Square function
Recently, the restaurant got a beautiful waterside terrace, the conference room was renovated, the castle's exterior received a lick of paint and the roof was renewed. "Soon we will take care of the garden," says the unstoppable Meppelder. "It will have a square function with level differences so we can organise even more outdoor concerts. We will also renew the pond's quay walls. We are doing this in cooperation with the province, which is also contributing to the restoration of the tower so that it will be accessible again. And of course with owner Lasé Hu, who is very involved in all renovation plans."
Ralf in Kasteel de Wittenburg
Meppelder can think of it all, the execution he cannot manage on his own. "The team is perhaps the main reason I have been here for so long: ambitious, energetic, professional," he states. "That includes many young people, but also Huib, who has been a doorman for a long time and considers the garden his life's work, and Hans, aged 84, who checks the hundreds of lights every day. Femke is our newest recruit, she climbed up from intern to account manager sales & events. With such a great mix, we can handle anything."
text Jasper Gramsma image Brian Mul
It exemplifies the transformation the castle and surrounding estate have undergone under Meppel's reign, which now spans 12 and a half years. "When I applied, the Wittenburg was tattered and corny. With holes in the carpet and the natural stone floor," he recalls at the table in the modern castle restaurant Sophie. "But the snowy landscape, the burning fireplace and the maître in jacquet had something enchanting. Moreover, I saw so many possibilities! Here I could make a difference."
Plan B
Initially, the board wanted to revive the castle with activities by society members, the top people from the Dutch business world. When the club shrank and members abandoned the castle, Meppelder switched to plan B. "I literally opened the doors of this stronghold by betting on the leisure market and business events. That started with concerts - from Alain Clark to Candy Dulfer - which brought us a lot of publicity. Always top-level, though; I didn't want to put the castle's name on the line. That's how the ball started rolling."
Ralf Meppelder has been director of Kasteel de Wittenburg for 12 and a half years.
Ralf Meppelder has been director of Kasteel de Wittenburg for 12 and a half years.
The 2018 opening of à la carte restaurant Sophie in the basement proved to be a hit. "How open can you be? It's an asset, as people from the neighbourhood regularly come to eat here. At the same time, it adds value for hotel guests." Sophie's entourage may be contemporary, but nods to its glorious past are not shunned. Meppelder: "The tournedos Rossini is no longer on the menu, but our chef cooks robustly and generously - no flowers and gels. And we combine the silver dishes he recovered with modern crockery."
'I didn't want to put the castle's name up for grabs'
Square function
Recently, the restaurant got a beautiful waterside terrace, the conference room was renovated, the castle's exterior received a lick of paint and the roof was renewed. "Soon we will take care of the garden," says the unstoppable Meppelder. "It will have a square function with level differences so we can organise even more outdoor concerts. We will also renew the pond's quay walls. We are doing this in cooperation with the province, which is also contributing to the restoration of the tower so that it will be accessible again. And of course with owner Lasé Hu, who is very involved in all renovation plans."
Ralf in Kasteel de Wittenburg
Meppelder can think of it all, the execution he cannot manage on his own. "The team is perhaps the main reason I have been here for so long: ambitious, energetic, professional," he states. "That includes many young people, but also Huib, who has been a doorman for a long time and considers the garden his life's work, and Hans, aged 84, who checks the hundreds of lights every day. Femke is our newest recruit, she climbed up from intern to account manager sales & events. With such a great mix, we can handle anything."
