My name is Henk Rauwerda and I am the General Manager of Hotel Arsenaal in Delft. In my free time, I enjoy discovering new places and I am a big fan of football.

How did you end up at WestCord Hotels?

It actually came my way. When I was looking for a new challenge, I was approached by the restaurant manager at the time from WestCord Hotel Noordsee.

Can you tell us something about your career path within WestCord Hotels?

Of course! It has now been almost nine years since I started at the restaurant of Hotel Noordsee (later Mr. Sandman), where we really built a strong reputation with the restaurant. I had the opportunity to lead several teams and work on various innovations, such as the complete renovation of the restaurant and introducing a new concept. It was very interesting to be able to take such an entrepreneurial role.

Later, I brought that experience with me to the Front Office. After working in the restaurant for five years, I had the opportunity to broaden my knowledge and move to another department. It was a completely new world where I learned a lot and gained valuable insights. However, that period was relatively short because the position of General Manager became available.

That was a step I had always been interested in and had consciously worked towards. Instead of focusing on just one department, you suddenly get to do it for and with the entire hotel. That has always appealed to me.

The sale of Hotel Noordsee was a complicated period, but even then we shared many great moments. Moving from the island to Delft was a wonderful new challenge for me. For the past year and a half, I’ve had the opportunity to build something special here together with the team at a fantastic hotel.

What is the biggest difference for you between the city and the Wadden Islands?

It’s difficult to speak for both the islands and the city in general, but in my experience the biggest difference lies in the seasonal nature of the work. On the islands this is extremely noticeable, and because many colleagues move there to work, they depend on each other more. As a result, both the highs and the lows of the job are often shared together on a social level.

In the city, the hotel often has a different place in someone’s life. This sometimes leads to a different kind of motivation, where people may focus more strongly on their personal needs. That might sound a bit more distant, but it certainly isn’t. Colleagues simply have more options. In both environments there are also many similarities, such as the importance of atmosphere, opportunities, and engagement.

''What makes WestCord special to me is that you truly get the opportunity to be entrepreneurial within the organization.''

What do you enjoy most about your role? And what makes working at WestCord Hotels so enjoyable?

The entrepreneurial aspect. Building a concept together with the team and continuously improving it for both the guests and our colleagues is the most rewarding part. That is what still makes me happiest.

What do you consider the most important aspect of your job?

Being able to analyze and recognize situations well. It’s important to assess situations properly so you can act in the right way. You partly learn this through experience, but also by having great colleagues around you whom you can rely on.

What would you like to further develop in the near future?

That is not entirely clear to me yet. I think it can be difficult to define exactly what you want to develop in, because there are always areas where you can improve. What is great about being relatively young in this position is that there are still many opportunities to gain experience and learn new things. By encountering different situations and working with good people around you, you continue to develop yourself.

What is a highlight or your best memory at WestCord Hotels?

One of the most special moments for me was the move from the island to Delft. After a very enjoyable and warm period on the island, I was given the opportunity to further develop myself here. The trust I received to continue within WestCord as a General Manager and to build a beautiful hotel together with a new team truly feels like a highlight.

You are currently the General Manager of Hotel Arsenaal. What makes working at Hotel Arsenaal special?

Every General Manager will be proud of their hotel and team, but I dare say that working at Hotel Arsenaal is particularly special.

We have an amazing product in a historic building full of stories, and it is very well received by our guests. In addition, we are expanding with a new event space and three new suites. A hotel and team with tremendous potential! A place with 400 years of history where we now have the opportunity to shape the future.

Is there anything else you would like to share? What would you say to someone who is considering working at WestCord Hotels?

What makes WestCord special to me is that you truly get the opportunity to be entrepreneurial within the organization. If you have ideas, show initiative, and are patient, you are given the space to try things and improve them. On top of that, you work with committed colleagues and no two days are the same.

To someone who is unsure, I would say: if you want to learn, take responsibility, and build something great together with a team, this is the right place for you.

How would your colleagues describe you in three words?

Entrepreneurial, involved, and down-to-earth.