Dirk Beljaarts is saying goodbye as general manager of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland

After a dedicated period of more than nine years, during which Dirk Beljaarts has put his heart and soul into the interests of the catering industry, he will leave before the summer as general manager of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN). Beljaarts started his career at KHN as a member of the National Board and subsequently served as general manager for the last five years. Now it’s time for a new challenge.

Beljaarts has meant a lot to KHN, first in the role of treasurer and later as general director. During his time at KHN, Beljaarts worked tirelessly for growth, innovation and, above all, the hospitality that characterizes the catering industry. As director of a professional and dedicated team of employees, he has made a significant difference to the association’s members and the industry as a whole on many fronts, both nationally and locally. Especially during the corona period, he did everything he could for the sector that is so dear to him.

Beljaarts via the official channels of the KHN: “I look back on my time at KHN with warm memories. As an association we have achieved many successes, but we have also faced many challenges. Particularly during the impactful Covid period. After nine years, I think it’s time for the next step. I will always feel extremely connected to this wonderful industry. I would like to thank the old and current National Board for the unique, pleasant and professional cooperation over the years. And of course my team in Woerden, where intrinsic motivation to help catering entrepreneurs seems to have been invented. I have a lot of admiration for that. But of course I would also like to thank all the catering entrepreneurs, hoteliers and CEOs with whom I have had such great contact all these years. Inspired by their entrepreneurship, hospitality and entrepreneurial spirit, they always provided the right insight for the course we could take.”

“But all these efforts come together with the stakeholders who ensured that the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Many thanks to all ministers, MPs, SER members, other industry and umbrella organizations, policy makers, the HOTREC board and involved journalists. It has been an honor and privilege to serve this beautiful sector. There are still plenty of challenges ahead for our sector, but I am confident that the catering industry will also get through this. The hospitality industry remains a sector of growth, innovation and, above all, hospitality!”

In a short response to this website, he adds that he cannot yet say anything about a next step: “After these intensive years, it is good to do something new, with new energy.”

KHN chairman Marijke Vuik expresses her gratitude on behalf of the entire organization: “We are extremely grateful to Dirk for his unprecedented efforts, dedication and the passion with which he has committed himself to our association and the catering industry as a whole over the past nine years. His leadership during both prosperous and challenging times has made us stronger. We wish him the best of luck in his next step.”

Beljaarts has been general director of KHN since February 1, 2019. Before that, he was part of the national board of the trade association for four years. Beljaarts has a past in the hotel industry: after the Hotel Management School Maastricht, he was general manager at a number of Golden Tulip Hotels. He also worked at the art’otel and before he started working as general manager of KHN, he was the general manager of Novotel Amsterdam City.

^{Photography: Bianca Blokland}