Built on family, grown with Bonaire

MORE THAN A RESORT

Plaza Resort Bonaire is more than a place by the sea. It is a story about family, entrepreneurship, and the belief that true hospitality begins when a place feels like home.

Where the family story began

In 1929, Martinus and Riet van der Valk took over the farm De Gouden Leeuw, including the accompanying café, in Voorschoten. Martinus saw opportunities to further expand the business. Riet ensured that every guest felt welcome. Good food, personal attention, and a homely atmosphere formed the basis from day one.

The children also contributed to the family business. Together, they continued to work on a business that reached more and more guests. In the decades that followed, hotels and restaurants were added in the Netherlands and beyond. The size changed, but the family tradition remained recognizable. Not only in the name and the toucan, but especially in the way guests were received.

The adventure in Bonaire

In 1995, Ad and Marc van der Valk traveled to Bonaire. There they encountered a resort that was far from finished. The sewage system needed to be connected, several buildings were only partially completed, and the gardens existed only on paper.

Yet the location immediately impressed. The resort was peacefully situated on the lagoon, with views towards Klein Bonaire and a short distance from Kralendijk. The family looked not only at what was still missing, but especially at what this place could become.

With confidence in the island, they decided to continue the project. Construction took place, landscaping was done, and step by step, a resort was shaped that increasingly became part of Bonaire. Thus, the story of Plaza Resort Bonaire began.

Home on the island

Over the years, Plaza Resort Bonaire became a familiar place for guests, employees, and residents of Bonaire. Vincent van der Valk and his wife took on the daily management and continued building on the foundation laid in 1995.

Their daughter Eloïse also grew up within the resort. Initially catching crabs and helping with the dishes among the palm trees. Later, she became more actively involved in daily operations and the further development of Plaza.

This involvement of multiple generations is still visible. Local families celebrate special moments there, employees dedicate themselves daily to the guests, and visitors return for the location, atmosphere, and personal approach. Thus, Plaza became more than just a hotel by the sea.

Renewing with respect

Plaza Resort Bonaire continues to invest in the future. Currently, there are over 6,000 solar panels at the resort, and Plaza has its own high-voltage network. Additionally, the team is working on water production for garden maintenance.

These projects help the resort to manage energy and natural resources more consciously. This is important on an island where space, water, and energy are not unlimited. Meanwhile, Plaza continues to collaborate with local parties and the public network.

For the resort, sustainability is not only about technology. It is also about people and knowledge. Therefore, Plaza collaborates with local and Dutch educational institutions. Students are given the opportunity to gain experience in hospitality, technology, and other fields. In this way, the resort also invests in the generation that will further shape Bonaire in the future.

Thirty years on Bonaire

In July 2025, it was exactly thirty years since the Van der Valk family set foot on Bonaire. During that period, an unfinished project transformed into a resort that has secured a permanent place on the island.

This development came about through years of building, renewing, and collaborating. Family members, employees, partners, and residents of Bonaire each contributed in their own way to the story of Plaza.

The anniversary was, therefore, not just a moment to look back. It was primarily an opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved over the past three decades. Together with guests and island residents, what had been achieved was celebrated. At the same time, the family looked ahead to new plans, sustainable developments, and the role of the next generation.

A story that continues

The toucan has been the recognizable symbol of Van der Valk for generations. On Bonaire, the colorful bird fits with the nature, climate, and lively character of the island. At the same time, it forms the connection with the family story that began almost a century ago in Voorschoten.

That story is far from over. Today, Vincent, Eloïse, and the team continue building the future of Plaza Resort Bonaire. With new developments, sustainable choices, and attention to the people who shape the resort every day.

Each generation adds something. New ideas emerge, the resort continues to change, and the bond with Bonaire grows further. Thus, Plaza remains a place where guests create memories, families come together, and a new chapter begins again and again.

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