SPECIALS & EVENTS
History
1911 - 1975
A picture postcard of 1911 shows H. Claus standing proudly with his family in front of his "Guesthouse and Florist", De Achterhoek. Looking back now we might identify this as the start of the Claus family's connection with the hotel and catering trade. During the 1960s, Richard and Joos Claus offered "Zimmer mit Früstück" at their home in the splendid seaside spa town of Noordwijk aan Zee. At that time Richard Claus was head of sales with a match factory and his spouse Joos took care of the bed and breakfast, and everything that came with it. Towards the end of the 60s they decided to exchange their relatively carefree existence in Noordwijk for an adventure in the world of hotels and catering, taking their sons Leo and Rick with them. The first premises operating under the Claus name was the "Haarlem Bowling", which they opened in 1969. As the "swinging sixties" came to a close the ten-lane bowling alley and a friendly bar in Haarlem formed the basis of the Claus Company: This was an immediate success! The Claus family took ten pin bowling, still pretty much a novelty in the Netherlands, and surrounded it with lively catering and entertainment facilities.
1975 - 1990
Both sons, Leo and Rick, full of enthusiasm for the hotel and catering business, underwent training at the Hogere Hotel School in Den Haag. During subsequent periods of study and travel in the United States they picked up and developed a wealth of fresh ideas. At this early stage they were already convinced that entertainment must be an "experience". Following the untimely death of Richard Claus in 1978 his sons took the business forward with their new ideas, opening a second Claus establishment in Alkmaar with bowling alleys, a restaurant, bar and function rooms. The company was rebranded as Claus Partyhouse. Their atmospheric interiors and fantasy themes really set the Claus venues apart. Claus introduced novel forms of "eating out" like stone grilling, hotplates and barbecues, usually in combination with some form of entertainment. Bowling was becoming one element of a complete evening out, together with the entertainment of all kinds. Countless parties took place, some involving such familiar entertainers as André van Duin.
1990 - 2002
In 1990 work started on the third and most ambitious of the Claus venues, Claus PartyWorld in Hoofddorp. This would become an extensive party and event centre with a range of restaurants, themed function rooms and bowling alleys. Dutch TV viewers followed the development of the venue throughout 1991 on an early reality TV series. PartyWorld was to become one of the best-known venues in the Netherlands for parties and events for large groups, but also became a favourite location among the locals for a friendly night out. In 1997 the complex received an award as the world's best bowling centre. Around 400 staff worked in the three Claus Company venues at this time. In 1998 the decision was made to set out on a new course, and to focus in future on the hotel business. In 1998 the Alkmaar premises were completely destroyed in a fire, which led to a decision by the brothers to sell the Haarlem site and devote themselves to optimalising the Hoofddorp complex, expanding it with the addition of an hotel.
2002 - present
The 148 bedroom four-star Courtyard by Marriott hotel opened next to Claus PartyWorld in April 2002. The hotel is operated by the Claus Company. The brothers reached a franchise agreement with the well-known Marriott hotel chain, with more than 2800 hotels around the globe. Partly because of the new hotel it was decided in 2003 that the name of the business should have a more professional and multifunctional character. A far wider range of events were being hosted than simply "parties and wedding receptions". The commercial market has now discovered this ideal combination of an event center and hotel as well as its outstanding accessibility. PartyWorld was later rechristened as the Claus Event Center, and the complex now goes under the name Claus Hotel & Event Center.
A picture postcard of 1911 shows H. Claus standing proudly with his family in front of his "Guesthouse and Florist", De Achterhoek. Looking back now we might identify this as the start of the Claus family's connection with the hotel and catering trade. During the 1960s, Richard and Joos Claus offered "Zimmer mit Früstück" at their home in the splendid seaside spa town of Noordwijk aan Zee. At that time Richard Claus was head of sales with a match factory and his spouse Joos took care of the bed and breakfast, and everything that came with it. Towards the end of the 60s they decided to exchange their relatively carefree existence in Noordwijk for an adventure in the world of hotels and catering, taking their sons Leo and Rick with them. The first premises operating under the Claus name was the "Haarlem Bowling", which they opened in 1969. As the "swinging sixties" came to a close the ten-lane bowling alley and a friendly bar in Haarlem formed the basis of the Claus Company: This was an immediate success! The Claus family took ten pin bowling, still pretty much a novelty in the Netherlands, and surrounded it with lively catering and entertainment facilities.
1975 - 1990
Both sons, Leo and Rick, full of enthusiasm for the hotel and catering business, underwent training at the Hogere Hotel School in Den Haag. During subsequent periods of study and travel in the United States they picked up and developed a wealth of fresh ideas. At this early stage they were already convinced that entertainment must be an "experience". Following the untimely death of Richard Claus in 1978 his sons took the business forward with their new ideas, opening a second Claus establishment in Alkmaar with bowling alleys, a restaurant, bar and function rooms. The company was rebranded as Claus Partyhouse. Their atmospheric interiors and fantasy themes really set the Claus venues apart. Claus introduced novel forms of "eating out" like stone grilling, hotplates and barbecues, usually in combination with some form of entertainment. Bowling was becoming one element of a complete evening out, together with the entertainment of all kinds. Countless parties took place, some involving such familiar entertainers as André van Duin.
1990 - 2002
In 1990 work started on the third and most ambitious of the Claus venues, Claus PartyWorld in Hoofddorp. This would become an extensive party and event centre with a range of restaurants, themed function rooms and bowling alleys. Dutch TV viewers followed the development of the venue throughout 1991 on an early reality TV series. PartyWorld was to become one of the best-known venues in the Netherlands for parties and events for large groups, but also became a favourite location among the locals for a friendly night out. In 1997 the complex received an award as the world's best bowling centre. Around 400 staff worked in the three Claus Company venues at this time. In 1998 the decision was made to set out on a new course, and to focus in future on the hotel business. In 1998 the Alkmaar premises were completely destroyed in a fire, which led to a decision by the brothers to sell the Haarlem site and devote themselves to optimalising the Hoofddorp complex, expanding it with the addition of an hotel.
2002 - present
The 148 bedroom four-star Courtyard by Marriott hotel opened next to Claus PartyWorld in April 2002. The hotel is operated by the Claus Company. The brothers reached a franchise agreement with the well-known Marriott hotel chain, with more than 2800 hotels around the globe. Partly because of the new hotel it was decided in 2003 that the name of the business should have a more professional and multifunctional character. A far wider range of events were being hosted than simply "parties and wedding receptions". The commercial market has now discovered this ideal combination of an event center and hotel as well as its outstanding accessibility. PartyWorld was later rechristened as the Claus Event Center, and the complex now goes under the name Claus Hotel & Event Center.