The Rotary Club of Beverwijk regularly holds events at Strandhotel Het Hoge Duin for lunch or dinner in the Panorama Room, or for larger conferences with other regional Rotary clubs. On average, 60–80 members attend these events. Hans Kloes of the Rotary Club of Beverwijk says:
“As the Rotary Club of Beverwijk, we’ve organized our conferences and partner evenings at Het Hoge Duin several times now, and every time it’s been a huge success. The venue is unrecognizable after its transformation: a stunning renovation, a beautiful Panoramazaal, and a team that’s always thinking ahead—professional and welcoming. The dinner buffet is a huge draw for our guests, and technically everything is in order: a big screen, good microphones—no worries. For a regional gathering of eighty people, there’s simply no better place to be found in the IJmond region. We’ll definitely be back.”
How long has your Rotary Club been coming to Het Hoge Duin?
“A few times already! We’ve held two—maybe even three—conferences, as well as two partner evenings, all in the beautiful Panorama Room. Our conferences bring together seven regional Rotary clubs, from Zandvoort to Heemskerk, so we come with about eighty people. The fact that we always choose Het Hoge Duin for these events speaks for itself.”
What makes Het Hoge Duin so special to you?
“The transformation it has undergone. It used to be a real shadow of its former self and poorly managed. Now it’s the complete opposite: a flagship venue in the IJmond hospitality industry. For a regional club like ours, there’s really no alternative in the entire region for a group of this size.
What do you think of the offerings and facilities?
“We have everything we need. A huge screen, microphones that work perfectly—technically, there’s simply nothing to complain about. The rooms are beautiful, and the service is professionally coordinated. Everyone is always willing to help.”
And the food?
“The dinner buffet is a huge draw for our members. There’s so much choice that you almost need a pill to help with decision fatigue—and I mean that as a compliment.”
How do you experience the team’s service?
“Extremely professional. The man who coordinates all the rooms and the service for us is a great guy, and that actually goes for the entire staff. Everyone is proactive; you feel right at home.”
If you had to name one area for improvement?
“To be honest, it’s just the parking, especially in the summer. The lot downstairs fills up quickly then. But we figure out creative solutions among ourselves: some ride bikes, others carpool, or get a ride. In the winter, it’s not a problem at all.”
Will you be coming back next year?
“Definitely. I expect we’ll just keep coming back. You have to make an exception for something like the eclipse on August 12 - when there was actually a major traffic jam - but that was mainly due to eclipse tourism. The Hoge Duin itself is and will remain the logical place for our gatherings.”