A weekend away in the Gooi & Vechtstreek – 11 x the best inside tips
Going out in your own country and to the oh so beautiful Gooi and Vechtstreek. Crossing from Weesp to Bussum, Blaricum and Hilversum is not that bad. With this one inside tips you are assured of a lot of hidden information hotspots where you can really leave the busy city life behind. Endless greenery, tea gardens, boating, museums and, above all, lots of delicious (organic) food and drinks (read: the necessary wine) is what awaits you. And hey: of course a lot of this is fun too kid proof. So call that babysitter off. In addition, this beautiful region is less than a half-hour drive from Amsterdam. Proves again that holidays don't have to be far away! Tip number one: it's useful to have a car so that you are at least mobile. Here are 11x the best inside tips.
When you arrive at this hidden tea garden in Weesp, the first thing you notice is the historic rampart. Walk past this and you will find a cute blue house – NOTE. They put the garden on the table: from the flowers in the restaurant to growing their own herbs in the garden. Every season they look at what is blooming and growing and what they can use in the restaurant. Like the walnuts that grow, from which they make pesto. Plop down on the lounge sofas, sit back and enjoy all the beautiful things in life. There is also a sandbox and toys for the children check. Grab a game from the cupboard, or take a walk through the beautiful flower garden in the meantime. Tip: at the end of the garden you can go through a gate which will take you to the dike - here you can take a beautiful walk along the water while the sheep frolic around you.
The restaurant is located at Loenen aan de Vecht Aunt Koosje, named after Koosje Edema. Known to everyone in the village, so when the municipality wanted to demolish Koosje's house after her death, the villagers put a stop to it. This is how Koosje's house became a restaurant: Aunt Koosje. Cosy, just right, a nostalgic atmosphere without it being outdated, just cozy and charming. The food is anything but boring: at Tante Koosje it is culinary dining. Beef cheek with Wagyu bresaola, and king crab tartare to name a few. There is a completely vegetarian menu for vegetarians. You choose a four-, five-, six- or seven-course menu, and that can be expensive. Not that it's not worth it, but Aunt Koosje is also affiliated with Tripper, and then you eat five courses for 77,50 instead of 110 euros.
Photos from Aunt Koosje's website
Summer plans to France? Not necessarily. In Hilversum you will feel like you are in France. Think: colorful prints, atmospheric lamps, nice seating areas and a welcome that the average Parisian could learn a thing or two from. You can start the evening off right with a look at the wine list – ample choice, all good – and a few oysters to get you in the mood. The menu features classics such as escargots, beef tartare and homemade pate. France, but just around the corner.
For the main course you can choose from tournedos with fries, fish of the day or a tasty vegetarian option. You do you. And then: the supreme moment. The crème brûlée here is real nextlevel. Don't forget to finish with an esma (yes, that delicious espresso martini). And oh yeah, bonus points for the top service.
Museum Hilversum is located in a beautiful historical building in the middle of the city center. Ten times a year, various media art and photography exhibitions alternate here. The museum consists of three, not too large, floors. This means you won't lose hours in the museum, so you really take your time for what is exhibited. The museum is also located on a pleasant square, where you can sit down on the terrace after your visit.
A restaurant in 't Gooi that is the only one to have ever had a star is restaurant Cared for. It gives the feeling of a cozy living room restaurant, and where you can also dine deliciously. Under the leadership of Dennis de Jong in the kitchen and Frank Velthuyse at the front, they serve all kinds of culinary things at Soigné, such as their signature dish: smoked eel with eggplant, adamame, hoisin, ponzu pearls and sushi rice. All this accompanied by mainly wines from Portugal. A party!
Where should we start? Vive la France? No, Zonnestraal Vineyard is simply located in Hilversum. Highly recommended for you bucketlist. to set up. The friendly owners will tell you all about the grape varieties that are harvested there, including Johanniter, Solaris and Cabernet Noir. A nice outdoor area has been created on the vineyard with a stretch tent, long tables and a fire bowl. Here you can go for wine tastings, lunches, dinners and group activities. What's on the agenda soon? Check their Instagram of website! Mental!
Where SEAson Arsenaal in Naarden was first a warehouse for military equipment, then a home furnishings store and showroom for the art and designs of Jan de Bouvrie, it is now a restaurant where they mainly serve fish and shellfish dishes. They call it accessible fine dining themselves, and if you book via tripper (four course dinner for 39,50 euros) it becomes even more. Fruit de mer, lobster soup, cockles in curry, oysters, caviar; all the goodies (and more) from the sea. You will also find meat there (with a lot less focus on it), and there are also options for vegetarians, so you can really go there with a whole group and everyone will still have something to choose from.
Yes yes, the little sister of the star restaurant 't Amsterdammertje, led by chef André Gerrits. Bistrotel 't Amsterdammertje on the Vecht in Nieuwersluis. The name may have given it away, but the bistro has no less than eleven rooms. So you don't have to call the designated driver, because after dinner you can just roll into your (luxury) basket. In addition, the concept of the bistro is simple. Everyone should feel welcome, from young to old, in your suit or in your robe. The quality of the food? It is high. You can choose to share dishes, or just keep them for yourself. You want the pickled mackerel. Another great recommendation is the Peking duck. It was provided with all kinds of loose ingredients so that you can make your own buns and pancakes. Nice interactive and stylish dining!
Then last but definitely not least Harbor Lake Village. You can sleep here in an ecological water villa in the middle of a beautiful nature reserve adjacent to the marina. The idea is to have a 'home away from home' to create a feeling, and we succeeded. Decorate your stay with a classic sloop right in front of your villa. Kids in the boat, load up wine and cheese and sail across the Vecht. For the sporty ones among us: you can also rent a canoe or SUP. You don't have to leave your villa for dinner (of course you are allowed to), because you can do the whole thing à la carte menu full service have it delivered to your own outdoor terrace during the sunset. You wake up in ultimate peace with a view of the water, after which another breakfast is brought to you. What more could you want?
A day of walking Blaricum is not a bad idea at all. In the picturesque village, local residents founded all kinds of cozy specialty shops. So here are our tips. You can get the best cardamom buns Sourdough Bakery Sisters Bakery. Then you get an ice cream at the cotton candy pink Ice cream parlor de Hoop, where the choice of flavors is huge (yikes!). Get one over-the-top filled snack board for at home Loekie Delicatessen. Get your tastiest asparagus during the asparagus season care farm BoerenBlij. And you can have lunch or dinner in the romantic courtyard Bistrôt Chapeau.
Then last but definitely not least Restaurant de Tuinman (in the photo on the left) can be found on the grounds of Buitenplaats De Hoorneboeg. A vegetarian (with vegan options) restaurant with products from their own vegetable garden. You eat outside when the weather is nice, under a cozy tent canvas and lamps - nice and fresh in the open air. Less weather? No problem, you can also eat inside just as comfortably.
This light greenhouse (or conservatory, you might also say) is really nice. Tasting room de Serre (in the photo on the right). You drive onto the estate via a forest path – nature all around. The menu responds to this: whatever is coming from the land at that moment is on your plate. There is also a large vegetable garden and a lovely field with horses and goats. You won't get more idyllic than here and both very kid-proof.
