The History of Hotel Mitland

Tennis Courts at Fort De Bilt

The history of the current Mitland complex along the beautiful northern fort moat is closely intertwined with that of the over 175-year-old Fort De Bilt. The founder of the company was G.P.J. Plijnaar, born in Zutphen in 1878 but raised in Utrecht.

After ending a career as a gymnastics teacher, he sought other means of livelihood at the age of 42. In 1920, he was sworn in as a real estate agent and bought plots of land here and there. In this way, he acquired a plot of land with a concrete tennis court behind Willem Barentszstraat in 1921. The plot bordered the Ezelsdijk, which was part of the covered community road between the forts Blauwkapel and De Bilt. The tennis court had already been in use for several years by residents of Willem Barentszstraat.

Expansion with Tea Garden

But Plijnaar saw more possibilities for the area. With the distinguished Zeeheldenbuurt around the corner and the chic Wilhelminapark within walking distance, it was an ideal location for a tea garden. Nowadays, they are not very common, but in the years after World War I, tea houses and gardens as hospitality venues were on the rise.

A beautiful example of an existing tea house is the one at the Rhijnauwen country house from 1924, coincidentally also made of wood due to its location within the Forbidden Circles of Fort Rijnauwen.

Plijnaar also saw sufficient possibilities in the tea garden annex tennis court as a source of livelihood. However, he wanted to provide the tea garden with a broader basis by organizing dance evenings and giving dance lessons. The enterprise eventually succumbed to its own success. The noise and music caused so much disturbance to the neighborhood that on June 17, 1924, the tea garden had to be closed.

Continuation as Tennis Court

Plijnaar then continued the business as a tennis court, which could be expanded by half (!) on the existing plot. There was not much space on the tennis court, as many a tennis player broke their racket on the adjacent fences.

Plijnaar regularly looked for other locations for tennis courts. But due to the economic crisis in the early 1930s, expansion plans were temporarily postponed. At the end of 1934, Plijnaar acquired an adjacent piece of land and a larger plot between the Ezelsdijk and the fort. He submitted a request to build no fewer than 9 tennis courts with the necessary outbuildings. But times had changed. With an eye on German rearmament, military authorities tightened the conditions for construction within the Forbidden Circles. During a mobilization period, clearing various buildings within would otherwise take too much time. This now also applied to previously allowed wooden structures. The request was rejected by the Ministry of Defense, and everything remained as it was for the time being.

Expansion of Facilities

It wasn't until 1939 that W. and F. Plijnaar, who had since taken over the company from their father, made a new attempt. As a result of the German occupation, Fort De Bilt had lost its function as a defensive work. Although the Circles Act remained in force, the regulations were now applied much more leniently. And after submitting a new application, the Plijnaars finally received the coveted permit for the expansion plan for the area between the Ezelsdijk and the fort at the end of 1940. The plan was simplified due to the material shortage. The complex included 4 gravel tennis courts, a clubhouse of 8 x 5 meters, flanked by two large changing rooms.

At the beginning of the new tennis season of 1941, the complex could be opened. Inspired by the famous

‘Metsbanen’ in Scheveningen, the new complex was named ‘Mitbanen’, meaning ‘Match Ice Tennis’ or popularly ‘More Intensive Tennis’. Several clubs, including the newly established ‘Dropshot’ and the existing club ‘Advantage’, found an excellent facility here. In the 1941 season, there was still plenty of play, and even competitions took place. But in 1942, difficulties began with the confiscation of the two courts behind Willem Barentszstraat by the German Wehrmacht. The ball shortage, caused by the import stop from England, could temporarily be solved by inflating old balls and providing them with a new coat.

In other ways, the company did not escape the war violence. What the Dutch had not achieved, the Germans attempted. In March 1945, they flooded the area with the 4 tennis courts at the fort, trying to halt the Allied advance. However, without success.

Fun at the MIT Courts

In 1951, the number of tennis courts was expanded to 15. The MIT courts were known as a very cozy ice rink, and flags on the city buses proved to be an effective advertising medium, as on busy days, as many as two thousand people skated over the ice floor. But due to the mild winters in the 1960s and the opening of the Utrecht artificial ice rink, this typical winter festivity came to an end. A drastic change was needed, and quick action was required.

Introduction of Bowling Alley

They looked for a form of leisure activity that was not yet available in Utrecht. Thea Plijnaar (wife of Wim) took up the challenge. The bowling alley, opened by the mayor of Utrecht, Mr. van Tuyll, in 1973, turned out to be the gap in the market. Since then, the company has been led by the third generation of Plijnaars: Bert, Rob, Frank, and Wim.

Expansion with Restaurant and Hotel

The business was so successful that in 1978, the complex could be expanded with a restaurant. Bowling combined with a cozy dinner has proven to be a successful formula to this day. In 1986, a hotel with 44 rooms and several meeting rooms was opened. The name ‘De M.I.T. Banen’ was changed to the more internationally sounding ‘Hotel Mitland’. The company already had about 100 employees by then.

In 1994, 70 years after the turbulent start of the tea garden ‘Hygiëa’, the Mitland complex prepared for another major expansion: doubling the number of rooms and meeting rooms, as well as a new sports facility with an (indoor) swimming pool, sauna, and Turkish bath.

In 1997, Hotel Mitland ventured onto the digital highway. A website was created, and from the start, the focus was on search engines. A good move, as it turned out later, because a high position would become increasingly important. Over time, the website was expanded with more photos and various information about the company. Online reservations also became possible. With about 150,000 visitors per year, the Mitland site proved to be an overwhelming success.

In 2000, the last tennis courts were built over with a wing featuring luxury rooms, suites, and additional meeting spaces. The hotel then had 135 rooms and suites and 11 meeting rooms. The management still consists of the 4 Plijnaar brothers.

In early January 2006, the bowling alley, restaurant, reception, and hotel lounge were completely demolished to make way for an entirely new section. Bowling, restaurant, brasserie, and reception with hotel lounge were put into use in early 2007.