Every year there is one category at the Entree Awards for companies that are not new, but are at the top. This year the theme is: year-round terraces. Nominees attract terrace guests every season with a well-thought-out and creative concept. They are open at least ten months a year, operate ‘all day’ and have a minimum outdoor capacity of one hundred people. The jury assesses how entrepreneurs operate their year-round terrace within local regulations. The ceremony will take place on December 2, 2024 in Theater Amsterdam.

The Best Year-Round Terrace category is made possible by Debic and Eijsink.

Jury team Best Year-Round Terrace

Herman Hell – catering entrepreneur (including Grace, Zalmhuis)
Natalia Alvarez Pereiro – entrepreneur (TRIBE NL)

1. Brasa in Purmerend
Restaurant BRASA in Purmerend has a year-round terrace with 180 outdoor seats. Various large parasols and patio screens all around ensure that guests are wonderfully sheltered. The terrace is also a favorite with guests in winter, thanks to the heaters and, in the context of sustainability, heated seats on the chairs when it is a little less cold. The terrace is then decorated with square, round and picnic tables, planters, fur and fleece blankets and mood lights.

For owner Arwin Versteyne, it is not only the extra turnover from a year-round terrace that is interesting. “We can now retain many more permanent employees and that means a structurally higher service level.” During the winter months, guests at BRASA will regularly find special theme evenings – Spanish and Italian – with an adapted menu and on Sundays Swingin’ Sundays with live music. This attracts so many guests that the terrace is also well filled.

During the Entree Awards 2024 you will enjoy an evening in a showbiz atmosphere and there will be a varied awards ceremony with a dazzling afterparty. Do you want to be here? Order your tickets now!

2. Dukdalf in Kerkdriel
Dukdalf in Kerkdriel has a year-round terrace full of technical ingenuity. Owner Jeroen van Doorn can open one of the four roof parts above the terrace within a few seconds using a remote control. If the weather is good, the other three parts will also open. The impressive roof of 300 square meters has 1,500 dimmable lights and is made of a very sturdy cloth material. The windows also slide down at the touch of a button.

After the summer, the Dukdalf terrace takes on a winter atmosphere, with fireplaces, a restored ski lift from 1967 and wooden lodges. According to Van Doorn, the investment in the terrace was a golden move. It generates additional turnover because Dukdalf can offer walking dinners to groups, which are good margin generators and guests can sit outside for much longer.

3. The Rheins in Enter
Rien and Bart Mol are the owners of Landgoed Het Rheins in Enter. A versatile location with a broad concept: from an event and meeting room, petting zoo, playground and six holiday homes to a restaurant with a year-round terrace where guests can sit outside all year round. In winter, this terrace with 220 seats gets a special winter theme, which is carried out in detail and brings forward the Christmas atmosphere for the guests.

Think of mountain huts like you see in the Alpine countries, pine trees, wood chips on the floor, a fireplace, atmospheric lighting and fur blankets. The menu also changes with the season. The significant investment in the winter terrace is all worth it. The winter terrace now generates as much turnover for the Mol brothers as the terrace generates in the summer.

4. Van Heeckeren Grandcafé in Nes on Ameland
Van Heeckeren Grandcafé is located in the center of Nes on Ameland. Guests can and do sit outside on the terrace all year round. Owner Harold van Workum – also owner of Beach Club Sunset, Proeflokaal Rixt and Van Heeckeren Hotel – therefore chose a number of years ago to move the exterior doors a few meters inward and thus expand the terrace of Van Heeckeren Grandcafé to 250 seats. .

Apart from a single table with a few chairs, there are only comfortable lounge sofas. During the weekends, Van Workum organizes Vinyl Friday and Saturday all year round. Then there is a DJ on the terrace and there is a box of LPs from which guests can choose their favorite songs. These are great evenings, always busy and fun.

5. Wollebrand Lakehouse in Honselersdijk
Being able to receive many more guests and no longer being dependent on the weather. This is the result of the significant investment that catering entrepreneurs Judith and Barry Zwinkels made in Wollebrand Lakehouse in Honselersdijk. The terrace was given a waterproof and windproof roof and a new bamboo floor. There is room for 250 guests. The entrepreneurs want to make the terrace extra attractive for guests in the winter months by focusing on programming, corporate events and events. An advantage is that Wollebrand Lakehouse is located in the middle of a nature reserve, so the rules are less strict. For example, events may last until 1am at the latest.

Source: Entree magazine