Welcome in De Librije 1
How it all started Passion is Jonnie and Thérèse s motto and the heart of the different Librije companies. Passion for cooking, wines and gastronomy. Everything in the world of De Librije is carried out with a contemporary, modern twist, adverse to convention and entrenched customs. De Librije is situated in a historic building served nearly uninterrupted as a prison. Jonnie Boer becomes Restaurant De Librije s chef at the age of twenty-four and several years later he buys the restaurant together with his wife Thérèse, a respected Viticulturist and host, after which in 1993 their first Michelin star swiftly follows. In 1999 the second Michelin star follows, which makes Jonnie Boer the youngest two-star chef in The Netherlands. In 2004 De Librije becomes the second restaurant in The Netherlands to have been awarded with three Michelin stars. Restaurant De Librije stands for savouring extraordinary dishes and accompanying wines in unique surroundings. Pure ingredients from the region make up the bases of the kitchen. Jonnie Boer and his kitchen brigade ensure perfection in the kitchen whilst Thérèse and her team guarantee a special wine and dine combination. Jonnie and Thérèse Boer also own delicacy shop Librije s Winkel, Librije s Hotel and cookingand wine studio Librije s Atelier. Restaurant De Librije*** Restaurant De Librije is all about the good things life has to offer. This is translated into an experience in which the guest is able to enjoy unique dishes complemented by fine wines, in an atmosphere that is both exclusive and relaxed. The kitchen sources its pure, natural ingredients and produce locally. While Jonnie Boer and his kitchen brigade create culinary perfection in the kitchens, Thérèse and her team ensure the perfect combination of food and wine. Restaurant De Librije is located in the former inner courtyard of Librije's Hotel, also known as the airing place for prisoners. The Chef's Table is a very unique place, namely in the bustling heart of the restaurant with view on the kitchen and Librije's black brigade. A special and an unforgettable experience! The Chef's Table is ideal for groups from 6 to 16 persons. For our guests who want to dinner in style and in a more private atmosphere, we have created the Thorbecke Salon located next to the restaurant. 2
Librije's Hotel Step inside the world of Librije s Hotel and acquiesce to the ultimate hotel experience. Enjoy the unique atmosphere and ambiance in this former prison and be captivated by the sheer elegance and luxury of one of our beautiful hotel rooms. Librije s Hotel is run in complete accordance with Jonnie and Thérèse Boer s philosophical approach. The guests will experience first hand what Jonnie and Thérèse stand for: exceptional quality, excellent service and exquisite hospitability. The total of 19 luxurious rooms and suites are individually furnished, each with their own colour scheme to express their separate personalities. History From 1739 to 2004, this historic building served nearly uninterrupted as a prison. Consisting of a ground floor, one upper floor and an attic, the square building was designed and built around an inner courtyard. The prison cells were located on the ground floor, facing the inner courtyard, making it fairly difficult for the prisoners to break out and escape. The windows on the outer walls, as well as those lining the inner courtyard, were equipped with very strong bars. There were also cells designated for male prisoners on the ground floor, four on the south wing and three on the west wing. The prison also had a trustees room, a kitchen, a pantry and two dark lock-up cells which may still be viewed by guests. There were two types of cells in the women s quarters on the upper floor as women who had been condemned to the scaffolds had to be kept separate from the other women. A corridor running nearly the entire length of the outside wall on the ground floor and on the first storey was reserved for the prison guards. The Provincial Government aimed to spend as little money as possible on the prison. As a result, the prisoners had to work to cover these expenses and, in January 1742, several spinning wheels were delivered to the prison. Primarily due to the growth in the number of prisoners and the changing views on punishment, major modifications had to be made to the building on numerous occasions. A large fire on 9 October 1863 destroyed the entire attic floor and part of the stairwell. The damaged areas were restored by building a completely new roof structure. The prison was also declared a penal institution by royal decree on 11 June 1886. In 1962, five new cells were built on the ground floor of the south wing and a prison cell was also built in the attic. A kitchen and workshop were later also built inside the circular wall. In 1972, within the scope of the restructuring of the prison system, the prison, or House of Detention as it was sometimes known, was closed and vacated. However, due to a cell shortage, it was reopened ten years later. In spite of the number of renovations, the exterior of the former prison is still very much the same as when it was first completed. After the fire, only the roof and the gutter frame had to be replaced. For the addition of the warden s residence, as well as for the air ducts, kitchen and work areas behind the circular wall, the façade had to be modified. The prison remains a symbol of the methods used to punish criminals in previous times and illustrates the changes that the penal system has undergone since the 18th century. 3
Librije s Atelier Jonnie en Thérèse are approached on a daily basis with questions regarding the recipes and wines served at Restaurant De Librije. This inspired them to launch Librije s Atelier: a cooking and wine school fitted with professional AEG equipment, where various cooking and wine workshops teach the guests the ins and outs of Librije s methods and philosophy. At this unique location, the guests are able to cook in the same space that once housed the prison kitchen of the old house of detention. We will teach them the basic principles of selecting and tasting wine, we will make different types of amuse-bouches at our cooking island or they are able to enjoy sampling the purest flavours of their self-prepared dinner. The cooking courses focus on cooking with seasonal regional produce, in the same way Jonnie works with these in his own kitchen. The one day cooking courses have been developed around a range of subjects. These vary from making the famous Librije amuse-bouches to extensive 3 or 4 course dinners and the vegetarian kitchen. Librije s Winkel Jonnie Boer is often asked by his guests if they can purchase some of the preserves, jam or dressings served in De Librije. This led to the opening of Librije s Shop in September 2005. In Librije s Shop you will find a wide range of the purest, culinary produce. All of the products have been prepared or selected with care, knowledge and expertise. Among the best sellers are coarse mustard from Zwolle, piccalilli, the original spices and the olive oils of Valderrama. The range also includes olive oil exquisite jams, pickled vegetables grown in Eef Stel s own greenhouse, as well as the various wines served in Restaurant De Librije, Librije s Atelier and Librije s Wine Bar. Products from Librije s Shop in Zwolle are available at selected outlets throughout the Netherlands. You can also order our products online in our web shop and have them delivered directly to your door. 4
Gallery - Restaurant De Librije 5
Gallery Librije s Hotel 6
Gallery Librije s Atelier 7
Gallery Librije s Winkel 8
Contact information Reservations Our Service Center department is always available to help with making a reservation for Restaurant De Librije, Librije s Hotel and Librije s Atelier. The Service Center can be contacted by telephone number +31 (0)38 853000 or by email: info@librijeshotel.nl, info@librije.com and info@librijesatelier.nl. Private Dining The world of De Librije offers a variety of possibilities for business and leisure meetings. We gladly discuss your preferences during a personal conversation. For more information, please contact our Private Dining department by telephone number +31 (0)38 8530040 or by email: privatedining@librije.com. Marketing & Communication For interview requests, more information and/or photos of the world of De Librije (or one of the Librije companies), please contact our Marketing & Communication department at telephone number +31 (0)38 8530032 or by email: marketing@librije.com. 9