NEW PARTNER BAR
A coastal treat
Looking for a charming seaside paradise with plenty of whisky to enjoy? Look no further than Hotel Zee en Duin, our newest partner bar in Katwijk aan Zee in The Netherlands. Run by father and son team John Warmenhoven Sr and John Warmenhoven Jr, Hotel Zee en Duin is one of the Society’s few partner bars where you can stay overnight and enjoy a dram or two on the same visit
WORDS: MADS SCHMOLL
“Katwijk is a great village to visit!” says Hotel Zee en Duin owner John Sr. “It was originally a fishing community, and it has grown into a seaside resort while retaining its authenticity. There are no high-rise hotel chains or apartments, and the old atmosphere of the village is still tangible.”
Step inside his hotel, and you’re in for another treat, in the form of around 250 open bottles of whisky. “Our bar exudes the atmosphere of an old English/Scottish/Irish pub, uncomplicated with a wide variety of whiskies, specialty beers and fine wines,” says John Sr.
“It has a bar area and a lounge and both feature displays of the whisky collection – most notably the collection of about 100 bottles of Glengoyne.”
The sea-front hotel remains a family operation to this day. “Grandmother Gre Warmenhoven built a new hotel and guest house after the war on the site where we now have the hotel,” John says. “In 1964 her son Frans Warmenhoven took over the company, modernised the hotel and installed a hotel bar.”
ABOVE: John Warmenhoven Sr and John Warmenhoven Jr at the Hotel Zee en Duin partner bar
That legacy continued with Frans’s son and current owner John Sr, who took over the hotel in 1992. Renovation work followed with a new look for the bar, but it wasn’t until 2000 that the lounge as it is known today came into creation. The new space offered opportunities, not just for guests but for one of John Sr’s other hobbies: whisky. “The whisky collection that is displayed in the bar and lounge was started during that period,” he says.
It was this whisky collection which led to the hotel’s first whisky tasting in 2004. “I’m very passionate about whisky and as a result was buying a fair bit more than I was selling,” says John. “One day the accountant noticed this and said: ‘There is a sizable stock of whisky, what do you do with it? We see no turnover.’ The solution was simple: channel the passion into regular tastings.”
Working together with son John Jr (who became a co-owner of the hotel in 2020), the whisky continues to flow with a presentation that is as unique as the whisky on offer. “We had 20 ‘bomschuitjes’ [a traditional fishing boat that used work from Katwijk] custom-made,” says John Sr. “We miniaturised them and made them fit a flight of six nosing glasses. There is also room for a small booklet with information about the whisky and the distillery.”
The bomschuitjes allow whisky lovers to take the next step on their whisky journey by creating their own flight. “Of course, we are very willing to give advice or surprise our guests by combining whiskies into a compelling tasting!” he says.
If you’re looking for a more formal tasting, then it is best to organise your trip to Katwijk between autumn and spring to align with the hotel’s more regular series of tastings. “The summer is a very busy time for us and demand for whisky is usually somewhat lower, says John Sr. “So, tastings are usually organized every third Thursday in autumn, winter and spring. Each tasting will be themed differently, and whiskies will be matched with delicious snacks.”
With the addition of Society whisky, there’s now even more to try without around 50 open bottles that will change regularly. “Our goal is to eventually have 100 bottles in the bar,” says John. “The reaction to tastings that we did with the beautiful green bottles of the SMWS are extremely good, and people are amazed at the variety of the bottles behind the bar have to offer,” he says. “Tastings always trigger positive reactions and questions about when the next tasting is.”
It’s clear that both John Sr and John Jr love sharing their whisky knowledge with guests. “The passion for whisky for John Jr comes from the passion of making guests happy,” says John Sr.
“Hospitality runs through his veins, along with helping people through knowledge, taste and conviviality.”
And with the duo now looking after the Society’s newest partner bar, there’s plenty of excitement ahead. “Being members before becoming a partner bar, it is a natural extension of our passion,” John Sr says. “It also means that we distinguish ourselves from other bars in the area, with more exclusive whisky that can be drunk in addition to the core range of well-known whisky.”
Although you probably don’t need any more convincing, aside from whisky, there’s also plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to get involved in near Katwijk. “Our hotel is walking distance from the nature reserve ‘Hollands Duin Coepelduinen’, John Sr says. “The dunes here are unique for walking or cycling and for nature lovers.”
And, if you’re looking for a more relaxed pace, there’s still plenty to take in without wandering too far off the beaten track. “Katwijk is of course known for its beautiful beach, which is great for walking, sunbathing and swimming,” he says. It is also easy to expand your itinerary should you find yourself with a few extra days during your travels. “We are well placed to be a base for visits to the old city of Leiden, The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam,” says John Sr. “It’s a truly unique combination of elements that you must experience when you are visiting the western part of The Netherlands.”