High Tea at High Altitude: Arrange In‑Suite High Tea, High Beer, or High Wine from Grand Café De Oude Keuken

Craving a private, unhurried treat with a view that makes time stand still? High Tea at High Altitude turns the top of a historic water tower into your personal tearoom—or tasting room. Nestled about 33 metres up in the former reservoir, the boutique suite at Watertoren Duin & Bosch offers a 360‑degree panorama and the rare pleasure of enjoying in‑suite high tea, high beer, or high wine prepared by Grand Café De Oude Keuken (DOK) just behind the tower.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to arrange your in‑suite experience by phone, the best moments to serve it, and simple presentation and pairing tips to elevate every sip and bite—without leaving your private suite.

Why this experience belongs in the Watertoren

The suite at the top of Watertoren Duin & Bosch is designed for immersive calm and connection. It’s a private, high‑end space with:

• A kingsize bed on a floating mezzanine, ideal for a romantic stay for one couple.
• A comfortable sitting area and a high dining table—perfect for serving your in‑suite spread.
• A freestanding bathtub with a wide view, a rain shower, and a separate lower‑level toilet.
• Fast Wi‑Fi, a sound system, a flatscreen TV, air‑conditioning, and heating.
• A kitchenette with a sink, basic inventory, a Quooker hot‑water tap, and a coffee machine with complimentary cups and tea (note: there’s no stove or microwave).
• A chilled bottle of prosecco waiting on arrival.

Step to the windows and you’re ringed by sky: the North Sea coastline to the west, open farmland to the east, and the treetops of the Noordhollands Duinreservaat to the north and south. After dusk, distant city lights shimmer on the horizon. It’s a setting that turns any shared moment—like high tea or a curated beer or wine tasting—into a memory.

Just behind the tower, Grand Café De Oude Keuken (DOK) prepares options using mostly regional organic produce and is partly staffed by people with a distance to the labour market. Choosing DOK for your in‑suite experience supports a warm social mission while you relax at altitude.

What “high tea,” “high beer,” and “high wine” typically mean

These formats differ by focus, and each works beautifully in the suite’s intimate setting:

• High tea: A teatime assortment typically balancing sweet and savory bites, enjoyed with a selection of teas. It’s an effortless mid‑afternoon ritual.
• High beer: A casual, flavorful tasting that pairs beers with complementary nibbles. Ideal as a late‑afternoon or early‑evening unwind.
• High wine: A more wine‑forward tasting—often white, rosé, or red selections that match rich or delicate bites. Great for golden hour or a slow evening.

At Watertoren Duin & Bosch, Grand Café De Oude Keuken provides these options as in‑suite or takeaway packages. Because selections can vary, simply call DOK during your stay to hear the current possibilities and agree on timing.

Tip: You can also enjoy an included breakfast by DOK during your stay. It’s delivered from 10:00 and can be hoisted up by pulley, or you can choose to have breakfast in the restaurant by prior arrangement.

How to arrange your in‑suite experience (step‑by‑step)

1. Book your stay

   • Reserve directly through the official booking engine. There is currently a temporary offer with 50% off the second night, giving you extra time to unwind.

2. Arrive and settle in

   • Reception‑less check‑in starts at 15:00. After entering the ground‑floor hall, you’ll climb a historic spiral staircase and then a short, steep Swedish staircase to reach the private suite.
   • Private parking is available next to the tower.

3. Call Grand Café De Oude Keuken (DOK)

   • DOK is located directly behind the tower and offers lunch, coffee, and special in‑suite or takeaway packages such as high tea, high beer, and high wine.
   • Orders are placed by phone during your stay. Call to discuss same‑day or next‑day options and agree on a time that suits your plans.

4. Choose your setting in the suite

   • Use the high dining table for a classic presentation, or the sitting area for a relaxed tasting.
   • The Quooker hot‑water tap makes it easy to keep teacups topped up for high tea.
   • Adjust air‑conditioning or heating for comfort, and cue a playlist on the sound system.

5. Serve and savor

   • Open your complimentary chilled prosecco on arrival for a celebratory toast (or keep it for a later moment).
   • Enjoy your selection soon after it arrives for the best textures and temperatures.

If you’d like help coordinating your plans, the Watertoren team can be reached at +31 (0)251 743 434 or info@watertorenduinenbosch.nl.

Ideal serving times and mood ideas

High Tea at High Altitude shines when you sync it with the suite’s surroundings and your day’s rhythm:

• Mid‑afternoon reset (classic high tea): Make it your pause between a coastal bike ride and a quiet evening. Two bicycles are included with your stay, so exploring the dunes and beaches is easy.
• Golden‑hour glow (high wine): Time your tasting to sunset over the North Sea for a cinematic backdrop.
• After‑adventure unwind (high beer): Return from walking or cycling routes in the Noordhollands Duinreservaat and refuel while the treetops frame the horizon.
• After‑dark sparkle (any format): Let distant city lights set the scene, with the sound system low and the suite bathed in ambient glow.

Pairing pointers and presentation tips

You don’t need a full kitchen to elevate your in‑suite experience. Use these simple, universal ideas:

• Start light, build flavor: Open with delicate teas or lighter wines/lagers, then move to richer varieties. This keeps the palate fresh.
• Balance sweet and savory: Intersperse bites to avoid palate fatigue and keep interest high.
• Mind temperature: Enjoy items shortly after they arrive for the intended texture and taste.
• Use the light: Present near the windows for natural drama; move to the seating area as daylight fades.
• Set the soundtrack: Pair mellower tracks with high tea; choose richer tones for beer or wine tastings.
• Tea top‑ups: The Quooker makes it easy to refresh teacups without leaving the moment.

Quick answers (optimized for clarity)

• How do I order high tea, high beer, or high wine in the suite?

  • Call Grand Café De Oude Keuken by phone during your stay to arrange in‑suite or takeaway options and agree on timing.

• What’s in the kitchenette?

  • A sink, basic inventory, a Quooker hot‑water tap, and a coffee machine with complimentary cups and tea. There is no stove or microwave.

• What are the breakfast details?

  • A complete breakfast by DOK is included, delivered from 10:00 with the option to hoist it up by pulley, or enjoy in the restaurant by prior arrangement.

• How many guests can stay?

  • The suite is designed for a single couple, with a kingsize bed on a floating mezzanine.

• How high is the suite and what’s the view?

  • It’s about 33 metres up with a full 360‑degree panorama: coastline west, farmland east, and treetops north and south; city lights after dusk.

• Is the suite accessible by elevator?

  • No. Access is via a historic spiral staircase and a steep Swedish staircase; it’s not suitable for wheelchair users or guests who cannot manage stairs.

• Are bikes included?

  • Yes. Two bicycles are available free of charge.

• Where do I park?

  • There is a private parking space next to the tower.

Practical takeaways

• Reserve direct to secure your dates; consider the temporary 50% off second night to stretch your time.
• Plan your moment: mid‑afternoon, golden hour, post‑adventure, or after‑dark.
• Order by phone during your stay from Grand Café De Oude Keuken (in‑suite or takeaway).
• Set the scene: high table or sitting area, sound system on, lights low.
• Leverage the suite: Quooker for tea top‑ups; complimentary prosecco for a celebratory toast.

Make it part of a “Doordeweeks Weekend”

Want the space, the silence, and the best tables in nearby restaurants—without the crowds? Embrace the Doordeweeks Weekend mindset: stay on weekdays while the world works. Stroll quiet dunes, cycle uncrowded paths, and take your high tea (or tasting) as traffic builds far below.

During the camping season (April–October), you can also use the sauna, gym, padel court, and tennis court at Camping Bakkum free of charge—just remember to reserve well in advance via reception. It’s a rewarding add‑on to a leisurely weekday escape.

Plan your stay around great food and culture

• On‑site neighbor: Grand Café De Oude Keuken is directly behind the tower and prepares your included breakfast as well as in‑suite/takeaway options like high tea, high beer, and high wine.
• Nearby dining: Several restaurants are within walking distance, including a one‑star Michelin restaurant a short distance away.
• Out and about: Walk and cycle the Noordhollands Duinreservaat, head for the beach, or visit Haarlem, Alkmaar, Amsterdam, and the nearby villages of Castricum and Bakkum for culture, cuisine, and shopping.
• History lovers: Learn about the tower’s story—built in 1908 for the Duin & Bosch hospital complex and now a protected Rijksmonument after extensive restoration.
• Gift an experience: A Watertoren Duin & Bosch gift card arrives in a beautiful package with a video of the tower and suite; you can add a personalised video message—perfect for anniversaries or weddings.

Information on the official website is available in Dutch, German, and English.

Conclusion: Your private tasting room in the sky

High Tea at High Altitude isn’t just a treat—it’s a moment designed around you: a tranquil suite, 360‑degree views, and thoughtful food and drink from Grand Café De Oude Keuken delivered right to your perch above the treetops.

Ready to experience it?

• Book your stay at Watertoren Duin & Bosch (check for the temporary 50% off second night).
• Call DOK by phone during your stay to arrange in‑suite high tea, high beer, or high wine at your ideal time.
• For assistance, contact the team at +31 (0)251 743 434 or info@watertorenduinenbosch.nl.

Toast to a taller kind of teatime—and let the horizon do the rest.