At De Koevoet, we are proud of our two sustainability certificates: Green Key and Blue Flag. Every year we are assessed again to keep these prestigious labels, and the requirements are becoming ever stricter. Still, we see that as an opportunity: our ultimate goal is nothing less than becoming fully CO2 neutral!

A sustainable foundation
When we first applied for these certificates in 2022, we fortunately already had a solid foundation. The love for our location, in the middle of the Frisian lake district, runs deep in our family. Ever since my mother started here in 1969, this place – with its peace, space and natural beauty – has always been the starting point for developing our business.

Over the years, our choices have been made with a combination of heart and head. Getting rich quickly has never been a priority, and it never will be. What defines us are precisely the things we have not done, such as:

• Filling the grounds with luxury holiday homes, even though that would be more profitable.
• Leasing out our hospitality to third parties, although that would save work. We want our hospitality and business philosophy to be felt everywhere.
• Introducing contactless check-in: we love personal contact with our guests!

We cherish the space, peace, authenticity and nature of this special place and want to preserve it all for future generations. For us, space is the ultimate luxury.

From second nature to conscious sustainability
Using energy and water sparingly was instilled in us from an early age as a family business. Our love for everything that grows and blooms has always been there. So much so that as children, my brother and I had our own little pet cemetery, complete with butterflies, mice and little birds that were given a final resting place.

When we – Nelly and Niels – took over in 2014, it was only natural to continue this sustainable approach. At first we did so unconsciously, based on our own values. But when we signed up for Green Key, we began making conscious choices and actively implementing changes.

A journey of learning and improving
For us, sustainability is an ongoing process. It requires learning, adapting and improving. Every initiative, however small, contributes to a better future.

In upcoming blogs we will be happy to share more about our concrete activities and choices – such as how we save energy, how we minimise water consumption and our vision on nature conservation. Together we are building a more sustainable world – step by step.

Which topics interest you most? Let us know – we would love to hear what matters to you on our journey towards sustainability!