De Bonte Wever, the four-star hotel and multifunctional conference and event centre in Assen, is gearing up for a major expansion. The current 23,000 m² complex already houses a wide range of facilities, but the newly announced plans will add over 8,000 m² of extra space. The expansion includes 76 additional hotel rooms, five new meeting rooms, and an event hall with a capacity of 4,000 guests.
This will be the third major expansion since the Smit family took over the business in 2009.
Constantly Evolving
Christa de Ruiter, General Director of De Bonte Wever, explains:
“De Bonte Wever is steadily growing and always evolving. Our team of 380 staff members welcomes around 1 million guests each year. Hotel occupancy is strong, and the number of events and business meetings has increased significantly in recent years. Every day and every year, we look at what can be improved, what our guests need, what new offerings we can create, and which events we’d like to host. We never stand still—it’s essential to keep innovating in order to keep surprising people.”
“Our previous expansion in 2018 has proven to be a solid foundation, and now it’s time for the next step.”
More Hotel Rooms and Meeting Facilities
A brand-new main building will be constructed along the Assen ring road, adding 76 hotel rooms and bringing the total to 338. These new rooms will be more spacious and luxurious than the existing ones, designed with added comfort for both business and leisure guests. The design for the new main building and other expansion elements is in the hands of Pr8 Architects, based in Almelo.
Five new meeting rooms will also be added to the ten already available. Next to the new building, a second multifunctional foyer and business entrance will be created, offering 1,100 m² of space. This additional foyer responds to the growing demand for tailored spaces for events and business gatherings.
New Event Hall for 4,000 Guests
The expansion also includes the construction of a new 3,000 m² event venue, fully equipped to meet today’s standards. This space will be connectable to the existing conference area and foyers, and will be able to host up to 4,000 people.
“Hosting events with thousands of attendees is nothing new for De Bonte Wever,” says Christa de Ruiter. “Think large-scale business events and conferences, or popular public events like the annual Dutch Open Darts (8,000 visitors per day), the World Dance Championships, and numerous concerts. With the new event space, existing events can scale up, and we’ll be able to welcome even more new activities—think trade shows, larger concerts, festivals, international conferences, and more.”
Boost for Assen and the Region
Martin Rasker, Alderman of the Municipality of Assen:
“De Bonte Wever’s expansion plans are a major boost for Assen’s leisure economy. More hotel rooms, extra meeting facilities, and a new event venue will strengthen our position as a welcoming and attractive city for both visitors and businesses. It creates great opportunities for entrepreneurs and jobs in the region. This development will boost Assen’s national visibility and stimulate our local economy. We’re proud that De Bonte Wever is taking this step in our municipality.”
