Pieter-Jan Kruithof of restaurant De Groene Lantaarn wins National Hennessy Hospitality Award 2024

Pieter-Jan Kruithof of restaurant De Groene Lantaarn in Staphorst has been named the winner of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award 2024. This honourable award for young hospitality talent was presented this year for the 23^e awarded once. Jasper Jongejans of Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam came second and the third prize went to Daan van Herwaarden of Alma in Oisterwijk. The announcement took place on 4 November 2024 during the launch of restaurant guide Lekker500 edition 2025.

Pieter-Jan (27) was the best of ten candidates who competed for the award for the best young host or hostess in the Netherlands over the past six months after a rigorous pre-selection, theory and practical tests and a jury visit. The theory and practical tests were held at the ROC Mondriaan location in The Hague.

Pieter-Jan not only went home with the wonderful title, but also received the challenge trophy (a unique sculpture by artist Lou Thissen), a bottle of Hennessy Paradis worth €1,250 and a cash prize of no less than €2,500. Pieter-Jan also gets to pay a study visit to Hennessy's renowned Château de Bagnolet.

Presenter Winston Gerschtanowitz announced the winner of the Nationale Hennessy Gastvrijheidsprijs (NHGP) 2024, after which Pieter-Jan was presented with the prizes by Patrick van Zuiden, owner of Restaurant, Hotel & Spa Savarin and chairman of the committee of Nationale Hennessy Gastvrijheidsprijs. The presentation took place during the festive launch of Lekker500 edition 2025 in the Koetshuis on culinary estate Parc Broekhuizen in Leersum, where the absolute top of Dutch gastronomy was present.   

Two other prizes were also given away during the event:

The participants will be judged by a jury with prominent figures from Dutch gastronomy, including general director of Moët Hennessy Netherlands Jean Baptiste Billiet, as well as Bob Bron; the chairman of Stichting Samenwerking Gastronomische 4 and of Alliance Gastronomique. Also on the jury are the nestor of Dutch gastronomy Cees Helder, and Patrick van Zuiden, owner of Restaurant, Hotel & Spa Savarin and chairman of the committee of National Hennessy Hospitality Award and Nadine Mögling, SVH Meestergastvrouw of restaurant Bij Jef. The jury chairman is Edwines School owner Edwin Raben.

Also on the jury are the presidents of the G4: Marko Karelse on behalf of JRE- Jeunes Restaurateurs, Frank Visser for Les Patrons Cuisiniers and Michael Hu on behalf of
the Fine Eastern Restaurants. In addition, last edition's winner Marèl Disselhorst (2023), former winners Teide Schepers (2022), Max Oude Veldhuis (2021), Anne Marie Nijhoff (2020) and Tim Wellenberg (2019) are on the jury, as well as Lekker500 editor-in-chief Annelies Pijper and hospitality manager and former chairman JRE Lex Gasseling.

About the NHGP 
To take Dutch hospitality to the next level, the National Hennessy Hospitality Award was established in 1999. The aim is to promote knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic hospitality. Under the banner of this title, Alliance Gastronomique, JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, Les Patrons Cuisiniers and Fine Eastern Restaurants work together. Although the competition is organised by the G4, entry is not tied to membership of a restaurant association. 

In addition, ROC Mondriaan in The Hague contributes and Lekker500, S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, House of Caviar, Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Horeca (SVH), Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN), Nespresso, Edwines, Rituals and Guide des Chefs are linked as partners.

About Hennessy 
Family company Hennessy was founded in 1765 by Richard Hennessy and is currently run by the eighth generation. The brand, which joined LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate, in 1987, is the world's best-selling cognac. The versatile drink is served both in club life and at chic socialites, from New York to Tokyo and from Oslo to Cape Town. Hennessy has a strong connection with music and art, working with leading artists such as The Roots, Nas, Futura and Tom Dixon. Behind every bottle of cognac is a world of craftsmanship and precision. The unique wealth of knowledge dating back to the 18th century, the exceptional selection and the perfected ageing and blending process guarantee the best cognac until the last drop.