Where atmosphere and hospitality tell stories

How it started...

Reuring

You feel it when you step inside. That 'something'. The hotel oozes nostalgia and history. Lived-in. Onder de Linden used to be the place where it all happened in Roden. The place of Piet and Griet. You cannot describe these people, they are a household name. But I'll give it a try: ordinary, hard-working people who succeeded in making Onder de Linden the beating heart of Roden. Epicureans pur sang. Pete knew everybody, everybody knew Pete. And Griet was the driving force behind the scenes. Big weddings and parties, coaches full of people who let themselves be surprised by this versatile piece of Drenthe. Johan Cruijf, famous skaters, entire sports clubs, the list goes on. Plenty of commotion.

As in nature

Under the Linden was in bloom for years. But as in nature, everything changes. New operators took over and the Linde(n) lost its luster, its leaves. The premises were rapidly deteriorating, the touring cars stayed away. Little was left of that 'something'. Particularly painful, because the lime tree, of all places, is the symbol of fertility and protection. But lime trees are strong.

Peace and quiet

It was Anton Hamstra - a Rodener at heart - who felt the potential of Onder de Linden in his catering vein and decided in 2017 that it could not go on like this. Together with Janet de Vries - his partner and entrepreneur with heart and soul - they pulled out all the stops to make Onder de Linden the place it was again. But just that bit different. And, anno now.

In the button

With a clear vision, solid ambition and - how could it be otherwise - a good dose of northern sobriety, they put Onder de Linden back on the map. And how.

That 'something'

Maybe that is that 'something'. The surprisingly versatile. The tranquillity and the hustle and bustle. A place of fertility and protection. The history in which the future is already decided. Then Pete and Griet. Now Anton and Janet.

By the way, have you noticed that you see a peacock feather in many places? Not for nothing. You can read this at Anton and Janet

Painting

You can't miss it, the painting of Johan Cruijff when you stand at the counter. 'Often something has to happen before something happens.' Typical Anton and Janet. Northern down-to-earthness, practicality, getting down to business, with the head d'r veur. You won't hear 'no' easily. Cosy no-nonsense. Anton knows Onder de Linden from top to bottom and from the inside out. He was the manager here for many years. Onder de Linden is in his blood. And in his heart.

The cycling race

The cycling race Could it have been a coincidence that precisely his gaze on a beautiful summer evening in July 2017 on a square in Surhuisterveen - during the professional cycling race - caught Janet's? That an instant spark jumped over and this turned into an unquenchable fire?

Anton, the hard worker and pragmatist and Janet, the observer and planner. He the Drenthe, she the Frisian. Both feeling people pur sang. Two worlds coming together. Love fizzles.

And so how special is it that Janet, with her entrepreneurial spirit and background in business services and management coaching, immediately took Onder de Linden to her heart?

Own and contemporary

They take on the adventure. Together. With heart and soul. With passion and enthusiasm, they make Onder de Linden their own and contemporary.

You can see that in everything. In the team that feels at home here, can be themselves and therefore create a relaxed atmosphere. The guests feel that. In the peacock feather that you find subtly here and there. Did you know that the peacock is a symbol of freedom? That is Onder de Linden at its Anton and Janets. A place to feel at home, to feel free. A place to unwind. Or - if you like - find the commotion.

Familiar. Free. Surprisingly Versatile.

Coincidence? 'Coincidence makes sense.' Three guesses who said that...