Welcome to Carpe Diem
Welcome to Havezathe Carpe Diem; the place where warmth, attention and conviviality come naturally.
Nestled among the meadows with views of the Montferlandse bossen, you’ll find our distinctive manor farmhouse, which we lovingly renovated in 2009. Surrounded by fields, woodland and the peace of the Achterhoek, it feels like coming home every day. The perfect place to unwind, get some fresh air, enjoy activities, visit towns and villages, or go for a workout.
Our havezathe is called Carpe Diem for a reason. You can feel the motto “seize the day” in everything we do — from the friendly welcome as you arrive to the care and attention during your stay, meal or gathering.
At Carpe Diem, it’s all about feeling and experience. The aroma of freshly ground coffee in our lounge, cheerful laughter at the table, the rustling of the trees outside and time that seems to stand still for a moment. We’re a true family business, with the youngest generation welcoming everyone with genuine hospitality — and where every guest feels seen and truly welcome. Whether you’re here for a relaxing night away, an inspiring meeting, an elaborate culinary dinner, or a quiet moment with a good glass of wine. Our team works with pleasure every day to delight everyone in a warm, personal setting.
A place with a story
Centuries-old history in the heart of the Achterhoek
Every place has a story. At Havezathe Carpe Diem, you can feel that story in everything. From medieval origins to a charming manor farmhouse: here, history, nature and hospitality come together in a truly special way.
In the oldest charters, this estate is mentioned as “Havezathe Groot Vethusen”, today’s Groot Vethuizen. As early as 1179, this place played a meaningful role. Radbode II, lord of den Bergh, helped found the Bethlehem monastery near Doetinchem and donated various properties and parcels of land to the monastery, including Groot Vethusen.
A preserved charter from 1234 mentions Groot Vethusen again. In that period, Pope Gregory IX took the Bethlehem monastery under his protection, even when the land was under interdict (a severe ecclesiastical punishment in which sacraments and masses were forbidden). Still, in consecrated places such as this outlying estate, services could be held in silence. The location where Groot Vethuizen now stands was set up at the time as an outlying farm of the Bethlehem monastery: a remote agricultural post where lay brothers and a few monastic priests devoted themselves to arable farming and livestock.
The now-filled-in moats around the farmhouse still recall those days. They show that the outlying farm was fortified and could be closed off; only around 1900 were the moats filled in and the drawbridge removed. In one of the former moats, a stone gate foundation has even been found.
Life on the outlying farm was not always easy. Because the so-called conversi did not have to take monastic vows, it was sometimes difficult to maintain order. Presumably, this eventually led to the outlying farm being closed.
In 1583, during the Eighty Years’ War, monks from the largely destroyed Bethlehem monastery temporarily settled again at Groot Vethuizen. Count Willem IV, brother-in-law of Prince William of Orange, mediated in the evacuation of the priests to this safe location.
In later centuries, the estate changed hands several times. In 1880, Groot Vethuizen — also known as “het Bolheimergoed” — was owned by a Dutch priest (Van Loon) who worked in America. In 1884, Johannes Kersjes, born at the nearby Kersjes farm “Het Hof te Braamt”, bought the estate. The Kersjes family would live and work here for no fewer than 92 years, until 1976.
After that, several owners followed, until in 2008 René Wijnands, owner of Hotel Carpe Diem in Zeddam, purchased the farmhouse. With the relocation of his hotel to Groot Vethuizen, this historic location was given a new purpose. And so a new chapter began in the rich history of this special place: a story in which centuries-old history, genuine hospitality and a forward-looking vision come together in harmonious fashion.
In 2015, Hotel Restaurant Havezathe Carpe Diem suffered a great loss when owner René Wijnands passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58. His life’s work was, however, continued with the same dedication by his sons Bart and Pim, together with son-in-law Rick Splitthoff. Under their leadership, the family business continued to grow successfully, with respect for the rich history and the values Mr Wijnands had built.
In 2021, Bart chose to take a new path and embrace a new challenge. Today, Rick and Pim — together with a close-knit, committed team of permanent staff — are ready each day to welcome their guests with passion and pleasure. In this centuries-old Havezathe, history and hospitality still come together. Guests enjoy a relaxing overnight stay, a delicious dinner, an inspiring meeting, a cosy drink, or an unforgettable wedding. In this way, the story of Havezathe Carpe Diem is written further every day.