Poortgebouw Hoogstraat

Fons Bardoel and Sandra van Gaalen were not bothered by the empty nest syndrome, because the moment the children had left the house, their eye fell on the partially collapsed Poortgebouw Hoogstraat in Leersum. Because they a. always wanted to start a B&B and b. nurturing a fondness for old buildings, the deal was quickly done. That was in October 2017. After an intensive process of applying for permits and a major renovation, their B&B will open its doors on April 23.

The entire right half of the Poortgebouw is set up for guests. To this end, two B&B rooms have been created, each for two people. To guarantee privacy, the B&B has its own entrance. One bedroom is on the ground floor, the other on the first floor. Each room has a private bathroom with bath and/or walk-in shower.

To enjoy together, there is the large living room with complete kitchenette, piano, dining table and sitting area. There is also a small sitting area on top of the landing. The large patio door leads to the lovely enclosed terrace with loungers and an outdoor heater. As soon as the weather permits, your breakfast will be reserved here.

Coffee and tea are available, the fridge can be filled with local products on request and a bottle of wine from the house awaits you upon arrival. A packed lunch can also be arranged.

Surroundings

The Poortgebouw Hoogstraat is located in the middle of the Cape forests between Doorn and Leersum. A stone's throw away is the Let de Stigterpad. This cycle path runs from Maarn to Rhenen, through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. In addition to cyclists, hikers can also indulge themselves here with various walking routes. The area is so vast that you often travel for miles without meeting anyone. Many archaeological finds have been made in this area, such as burial mounds and comb fields. You will also find meltwater valleys in this forest. In the vicinity of the Poortgebouw you can choose from an arsenal of restaurants, ranging from snack bar to star restaurant.

History

The Poortgebouw, which is part of the Hoogstraat estate, is now a municipal monument. It was built in 1915 by order of paper manufacturer Smidt van Gelder and under the architecture of J. Wentink. After Smidt van Gelder, Prime Minister Colijn moved in, but after the war, the estate, including the Poortgebouw, was repurposed as a rehabilitation center. In the late 1980s, it moved to Utrecht and the country house became an asylum seekers' center – which it still is today. The Poortgebouw came into the hands of Fons Bardoel and Sandra van Gaalen in 2017. They turned the entire right wing into a royal residence for guests.