Soof Retreats and Soof boutique holiday parks have entered into a partnership with Landal. The parks Soof Heuvelrug and Soof aan de Rijn can be booked through Landal. Together with De Thijmse Berg and Buytenplaets Rhenen, this has nearly doubled Landal's range of accommodation options in the vicinity of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, and Landal has gained an authentic partner.
Jurjen van Dijk, director of Soof Retreats, started the boutique concept six years ago. “The idea of the boutique holiday park originated in Rhenen. At the time, I was absolutely convinced that a small-scale, intimate holiday park had potential, provided it met specific criteria such as high quality standards, sustainable operation, and being situated in a natural environment. With 'Soof aan de Rijn', we have absolutely made that vision concrete.” The boutique holiday park is a counterpoint to often massive and busy holiday parks. It is characterized by an authentic style, tranquility, and a natural environment. “It is comparable to a boutique hotel, which is also characterized by local culture and architecture.”
Historical memorial
Landal 'Soof aan de Rijn' is situated on the Rhine embankment in the village of Eck en Wiel. The park is recognizable from a distance by the tall chimney that remains as a historical memorial to the brick factory that once stood on this site. “It is a reference to the cultural, or if you will, industrial heritage that developed along the River Rhine at the time. Dozens of brick factories were built along the Rhine, particularly in the late nineteenth century, due to the quality of the river clay.”
The remaining factory chimney forms the heart of the communal facilities, such as the swimming pool, catering facilities, and supermarket, which are laid out around this 'tower'. The architecture of the building and the chimney shows that a 'link' has been established with the past through thoughtful design. Guests of the park swim in the pool as if around the original chimney of the brick factory.
View of river and moraine ridges
The location of the small-scale park is unique. Jurjen van Dijk: “The water lodges are situated on the Rhine. They offer views of the river and the moraine hills of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Extra attention has been paid to the planting of flowers and shrubs so that guests truly feel as though they are in a sea of flowers.” The construction of the installed eco-lodges also meets a high standard of quality. For instance, they are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as a reversible heat pump that allows the floor to cool and heat depending on the outside temperature. This type of cooling feels more natural than air conditioning. The lodges have received the highest possible energy label of A++++.
Off-grid energy system
A handy innovation in many lodges is the large sliding slatted wall (shutters) that provides protection against the sun. Jurjen van Dijk: “Furthermore, it is remarkable that the park is not dependent on the energy grid. It is an off-grid, self-sufficient system that receives its energy from the solar panels on the roofs of the lodges. Excess energy is stored in a central location. The system is controlled by the EMS (Energy Management System), which determines whether energy is used, stored, or fed back into the grid.”
Innovative retail concept
The building housing the park's communal facilities, such as the shop, catering, and reception, is as self-supporting as possible. “We opted for this partly for efficiency and partly because the modern guest wants to decide as much as possible for themselves. On this point, you also need to be clear with your guests about what you do and do not offer. That is why we chose the Omise convenience store concept. It means self-service without staff.” Omise is an innovative Amsterdam retail concept specializing in unmanned convenience stores. These are service stores that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Soof aan de Rijn park expects to open in July.
More information: www.landal.nl