Dirk Beljaarts bids farewell as Managing Director of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland

After a dedicated period of over nine years, during which Dirk Beljaarts put his heart and soul into representing the interests of the hospitality industry, he is leaving as general director of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) before the summer. Dirk started his career at KHN as a member of the National Board and then served as general director for the last five years. Now it is time for a new challenge.

Dirk has meant a lot to KHN, first in the role of treasurer and later as general manager. Throughout his time at KHN, Dirk worked tirelessly for the growth, innovation and, above all, hospitality that characterises the hospitality industry. As director of a professional and dedicated team of staff, he made a significant difference on many fronts for the association's members and the industry as a whole, both nationally and locally. Especially during the corona period, he threw everything into the fight for the industry that is so close to his heart.

Dirk Beljaarts: "I look back on my time at KHN with fond memories. We have had many successes as an association, but also many challenges. Especially during the impactful covid period. After nine years, I think it's time for the next step, about which more later. I will always feel tremendously connected to this wonderful industry. I thank the old and current National Board for the unique, fine and professional cooperation over the years. And of course my team in Woerden, where intrinsic motivation to help hospitality entrepreneurs seems to have been invented. I have a lot of admiration for that. But of course I also want to thank all hospitality entrepreneurs, hoteliers and ceo's with whom I have had such a nice contact over the 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 made sure the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Many thanks therefore to all the government ministers, MPs, SER members, other industry and umbrella organisations, policymakers, the HOTREC board and journalists involved.

It has been an honour and privilege to serve this beautiful sector. There are plenty of challenges ahead for our sector, but I am confident that the hospitality industry will pull through these too. The hospitality industry remains a sector of growth, innovation and, above all, hospitality!"

KHN president Marijke Vuik expressed her thanks on behalf of the entire organisation: "We are enormously grateful to Dirk for his unprecedented commitment, dedication and the passion with which he has dedicated himself to our association and the hospitality industry as a whole over the past nine years. His leadership during both prosperous and challenging times has made us stronger. We wish him every success in his next step."