How it began – About Van Berkel Hospitality

Alco van Berkel moved to Zutphen at the age of 12 and began his career as a ‘terrace boy’ at restaurant De Ruif. After his education at the Hotel Management School and HEAO, he worked at various hotels, including Landgoed Groot Warnsborn and Fletcher Hotels, where he eventually became General Manager.

From 1 to 4 businesses

At hotel school, Alco met Evelyn and they married in 2014. In the same year, they took over hotel Carelshaven from the Kluvers family and became hospitality entrepreneurs. They reopened the hotel on August 1, 2014 under the new name Landgoed Hotel Restaurant Carelshaven, the first business to become part of ‘Van Berkel Hospitality’. Over the past years, Alco and Evelyn, together with their team, have brought Carelshaven back into the 21st century and repositioned it as a top culinary destination in the Netherlands.

On July 1, 2017, Alco and Evelyn opened their second business, Oranjerie Ruurlo, the museum restaurant of the adjacent Museum MORE / Castle Ruurlo, owned by the Melchers family. Additionally, Oranjerie Ruurlo is a popular wedding venue, hosting more than 60 weddings per year. In September 2019, Alco and Evelyn took over Hotel de Zwaan in Delden from the Ten Broeke family. After a thorough renovation and a challenging period during the corona measures, De Zwaan Delden is now running better than ever and is considered the living room of Delden.

In September 2023, a fourth location was added, Wapen van Hengelo, which has since become part of Van Berkel Hospitality. This location has quickly established itself as a new gem in the Van Berkel family’s offering.

Gastronomy and master hospitality

Said Maher, SVH Master Host, joined Van Berkel Hospitality in 2020 as Operations Director, responsible for the daily operations at Carelshaven, Oranjerie Ruurlo, De Zwaan Delden and Wapen van Hengelo.