Passion for horses

Bert Plijnaar (1949), like his brothers, has a long history with Hotel Mitland and has also helped shape that history, but besides the family business, there is another passion in Bert's life: his horses.

Elsewhere in this Mitland Magazine, the history of 100 years of Mitland is extensively described, but Bert naturally has his personal memories of it, especially because his wife Femke has always played an important role in it. "We used to have a tennis park here with 15 courts, mainly run by my mother," says the eldest Plijnaar. "I had completed the Secondary Business School and had met Femke by then. We thought it would be fun to do something in the hospitality industry together. So we asked my parents if we could take over the canteen of the tennis park. That worked out, and we started working together.

Bert and Femke started with their bar at the tennis park, and it quickly became a success. "It was always busy, summer and winter, whether or not there was tennis. We had to work hard, did everything ourselves, without staff, because we had to build something, survive those first years." In 1973, the bowling alley was added. "Initiated by my mother on the basis that we would go along with it," Bert recalls well. "It required a huge investment. We borrowed a million guilders at 16 percent interest, and we had to repay 5 percent annually. We took a big risk, but fortunately, it always went well, even when the restaurant was added in 1978." This provided the opportunity to combine an evening of bowling with fondue, gourmet, or stone grill. "It was working day and night, and we lived above the restaurant then. But in hindsight, you can say it turned out well.

A Frightening Ride
But then the horses. For many years, Bert has had stables with the necessary sports facilities at his home in Groenekan to train show jumping horses. A large part of his life, he has been active in equestrian sports and is still involved with horses. How did he end up in that world? "When I met Femke, I had, so to speak, never seen a horse up close," he says. "But she rode horses, and after just a week, she asked if I wanted to ride along. Of course, I didn't want to show any fear, and I sat on a horse for the first time in my life. It was a frightening ride, but thanks to a few drinks during a stop at a café, I survived." Bert became not only forever attached to Femke but also to equestrian sports. "Thanks to my extra work as a tennis instructor, I could afford my new hobby, and at one point, I had three horses here at Mitland. Fortunately, my brothers didn't mind."

Eventing and Military
That hobby got a bit out of hand, and to make a long story short; for about 35 years, Bert was active nationally and internationally in eventing and military, a sport that places heavy physical demands on both horse and rider. "I did that, often with my daughter, who was once a Dutch champion, until Femke passed away in 2020," he reflects. "We had just been married for 50 years, and when she was no longer there, my daughter and I decided to continue with show jumping horses." The love for horses did not disappear. Bert still jumps regularly, and together with his daughter, he buys young, talented horses, trains them in Groenekan, and sells them again. "We buy them when they are about three years old and train them for four or five years," Bert says. "Over the years, we have built a good reputation. The international horse world knows us, and our horses stand out. We never have to advertise; buyers from the United States, Canada, Dubai, the Philippines, and more countries know how to find us.

A Beautiful Hobby
Despite his passion for horses, Bert never seriously considered making it his main profession. "It's a beautiful hobby in which we have developed well, but with my brothers, we made the agreement back then to focus on the family business and do our best to continually develop and improve it," says Bert. "Mitland was the priority. Moreover, what I do in Groenekan, I don't consider a business, but mainly a sports stable for training young talented horses." But that sports stable does demand a lot of his attention. "Every day, I get up at six o'clock and start the day by walking my dogs. And then I get to work." But Bert is also still actively involved with Hotel Mitland. "They can still count on my advice on technical matters, expansions, and marketing and sales, as we all have our focus areas as brothers," he says. "I officially work five hours a week for Mitland, and if they need me further, they know where to find me. With my horses, yes."