Wassenaar's hospitality industry in the spotlight: listening to entrepreneurs and enjoying local hospitality
Two restaurants recently received a visit from Alderman van Doeveren and the business liaison officer from the municipality of Wassenaar. These visits are part of a series of meetings with local entrepreneurs, with the aim of listening to what is going on with our entrepreneurs. What are their dreams, challenges, and opportunities?
Versatile place where taste and atmosphere come together
At Restaurant De Baron at Katwijkseweg 7, owner Maarten Bakker acted as host. Together with his partner Sonja Gorter, he runs the restaurant with years of hospitality experience.
Their passion for good food and hospitality can be tasted in everything and attracts a wide audience. Regular guests from the village, visitors from the region, and tourists from Duinrell.
With several attractive rooms and sunny terraces, the restaurant offers plenty of possibilities for both small and large events. The cozy Katwijkzaal is available for events such as parties, weddings, private dinners, meetings, and baby showers. Another special feature is that De Baron serves as a temporary wedding venue. A unique opportunity to say "I do" in a personal and stylish setting. De Baron also regularly organizes various events, such as brunches and dinner shows, and regularly surprises guests with special menus around holidays.
Italian hospitality on the Square
At Restaurant Barolo on the Plein, Italian hospitality meets local community spirit. During the visit, Arnold Doornekamp and Eduardo Muco proudly presented their atmospheric restaurant. Barolo opened its doors last year, but has already become a fixture in Wassenaar. Many loyal guests from the village have followed host Eduardo from his previous restaurant in Langstraat.
In summer, the terrace buzzes with conviviality thanks to tourists, among others, while in the winter months, live Italian music evenings provide warmth and atmosphere. Arnold and Eduardo have big plans: they are working on creating an atmospheric lounge for cocktails and have ideas to make the terrace even more attractive. Despite their high culinary standards, they want to remain accessible to everyone – a Michelin star is not a goal in itself, but rather a way to allow guests to enjoy themselves even more.
Buy local, support our entrepreneurs
Laurens van Doeveren, Alderman Affairs: "At De Baron and Barolo, you can see how entrepreneurship and hospitality reinforce each other. These entrepreneurs invest in quality, atmosphere, and innovation, which makes Wassenaar attractive to everyone. With the holidays just around the corner, I hope that many people will choose our own Wassenaar restaurants when they go out to eat. Shop locally, enjoy everything our renovated center has to offer, and support our entrepreneurs!"
