100 years of family business “De Engel” in Houten. Fire!!! Year 1802. After a fire at “De Engel,” the current building was rebuilt and subsequently had six owners. In the early 1900s, the building was purchased by W. Vendrig, married to A. van Munster. At that time, it still had the horse-drawn carriage house, which was demolished in 1924. In the 1950s, the inn was rented by Arie Derks, married to his niece Riet van Munster. After becoming owners in 1962, two halls were added, and bridal couples, partygoers, and coaches from all over the country soon found the Derks family. In the 1970s, sons Hans (chef) and Hennie (waiter) Derks gradually joined the business and became owners in 1986, now the third generation. As Houten became a growth center, there was a high demand for catering for weddings, birthdays, and dinners. In 1988, the large banquet hall (now the Champagne Room) was built. The last major decisions were made in the late 1990s. The former Knopper garage was demolished to expand the parking lot. In 1999, the veranda, demolished in the 1950s, was rebuilt and now proudly adorns the front facade. Several internal renovations have been made this century, and the atmosphere of a family business remains. In 2012, the fourth generation joined the company. After graduating from Hotel Management School and gaining five years of experience, Hans’s son Pim Derks joined the company, and since 2015, he has continued the family business independently.
