A piece of Italy in the South of Limburg, The Netherlands

In my previous blog I took you to the high North of the Netherlands, where I let myself get carried away by the beautiful nature of Vlieland. This time I will travel all the way down South where I settled down near Landgraaf in the province of Zuid-Limburg. This area is mostly known for its glowing landscape and grapevines.

As a true wine lover, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy anymore, but you can enjoy everything this region has to offer like a true Burgundian. The fall this year is beautiful and the nature is at its most beautiful, but also later on during wintertime when everything is white, this place is definitely recommended for a weekend away.

In the middle of a beautiful nature reserve in Limburg and near the German border you will find the WinselerHof estate. Originally a 16th century gentleman’s farm, now transformed into a boutique hotel with 49 hotel rooms. It’s a special beautiful place and the hotel is in a beautiful setting surrounded by forest and waters. It’s especially this place where the hospitality and the gastronomy of Limburg come together. The Italian restaurant named Pirandello is part of hotel WinselerHof and is really famous in the region.

Chef Raoul Goovaerts is responsible for the Italian cuisine. Together with his team he is capable of creating the most amazing dishes. I know, because I let them surprise me with a 4 course chef menu. And I have truly never before had such a great meal. For starters we got cannelloni of shellfish filled with seabass tartare, grilled tuna and marinated scampi. My favorite was the fried cod on a truffle focaccia, mushroom salve, Fregola pasta and a foam layer of Parmesan cheese. What a delight! Also choose the wine arrangement, because the accompanying wines are truly delicious!

Pirandello only uses fresh products that the restaurant gets delivered daily. The history of the WinselerHof gets continued by producing many of their own products that are used in the kitchen of Pirandello. The excellent wines come from their own soil as well. WinselerHof was one of the oldest farms in the area of Landgraaf. There are documents from around 1655 already documenting the farmstead Winzeler. The name “Winzer” is derived from what means wine grower in German.

Raoul Goovaerts only had one purpose and that was be the best Italian restaurant of the Netherlands. And he did just that, because recently Pirandello got awarded on of the best Italian restaurant of the Netherlands by Gault&Millau 2016! Another reason to just come dine here once 😉

WinselerHof is a part of the ChateauHotels. All these hotels belong to Camille Oostwegel. Camille is a true hotelkeeper from Limburg in heart and soul. He is capable to transform historical castles, farmsteads and monasteries into successful hotels and restaurants like no other.

 

WinselerHof is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels Group. By being so WinselerHof is part of a select group of three hotels from the Netherlands that can be counted to this exclusive SLH chain. I do get why, because it’s in particular the charm, hospitality and the special experience of sleeping in an old farmstead that make this hotel so unique. What I find very important is that it’s accessible to everyone. Stefan Hazen, director and host of the WinselerHof knows like no other how to convey the true hospitality of Limburg. That is just one of the reasons why this old farmstead is a beloved wedding location.

 

Brunssummerheide

Just above Landgraaf is maybe one of the most beautiful nature reserves the Netherlands has to offer, namely the Brunssummerheide. This area consists of a surface of about 2 square miles. The Brunssummerheide is in the province of Limburg, South-East of the municipality of Brunssum and at about a 10 minute drive from Landgraaf. You do have to search for a bit to see where you can enter the park, but if you follow the parallel road left of the high street (N299) you’ll reach a parking lot where you can start your scenic route on foot.

The Brunssummerheide is a beloved area to walk, ride your bycicle or to ride horses. The moor is particularly known for its great height differences and charming panoramic views. I had heard a lot about it, but now that I was close to Landgraaf this was the opportunity to visit it. From the moment you step out of the forest you enter a whole new world as it were. The landscape is almost magical because of the panoramic views that unfold infront of you. Especially during fall the late afternoon sun gives out a warm glow to then set as the perfect sunset.

Only on that moment I experienced the feeling of how the people of Limburg brought a piece of Italy to the Netherlands. It’s the perfect combination of gastronomy, hospitality and nature that makes this part of Zuid-Limburg so beautiful. Especially the Brunssummerheide is a place you can’t miss. Moving images portray maybe a little bit better the feeling I experience whenever I am somewhere. Then words become unnecessary. If you watch the video below, you’ll know what I mean. At a moment like that I am proud of the Netherlands.