The good life behind the dunes
Kasteel de Wittenburg
Kasteel De Wittenburg was built in 1899 by the aristocrat Helenus Marinus Speelman, a descendent of Cornelis Speelman, a 17th-century governor of the Dutch East Indies – modern-day Indonesia. Designed as a country retreat, this stately home has been run since the 1960s by the De Wittenburg Society as an international meeting centre, and has welcomed countless captains of industry, ministers, and foreign dignitaries. Each of the ten stylish guestrooms has an atmosphere of its own, an excellent bathroom and a view of the surrounding estate. The basement houses the contemporary French and Asian restaurant Sophie, named after Speelman’s wife, Sophie Adriënne baroness Sloet van Oldruitenborgh. The couple travelled widely as you can still see from the exquisite Chinese vases they brought home as souvenirs.
The first resident of Kasteel de Wittenburg
Restaurant Sophie
Restaurant Sophie is named after the castle’s first occupant, Sophie Adriënne Baroness Sloet van Oldruitenborgh, who travelled the world with her aristocratic husband. The dishes created by chef Jim Boctor are inspired by their exotic adventures, and French cuisine is complemented by Asian spices and cooking techniques. The restaurant is in the basement, which was once the wine cellar and larder. The Asian influences are also reflected in the interior. The watercolour-like wall decorations are reminiscent of the Far East, and the carved wooden panels create the impression of an antique Chinese room divider.
KEY FEATURES AND SERVICES
The Hague
The Royal Haagsche Golf
Beach
“Get away from it all.”
‘’Get away from it all, a stone's throw from the city.'' - Ralf Meppelder
Host: Ralf Meppelder
Chef: Jim Boctor