About us

Grand Café De Zwaan

We are

Carola Adriaanse and Patrick Poeliejoe,
The proud owners of Grand Café De Zwaan.
Located in the heart of Borkel en Schaft in the Municipality of Valkenswaard.
De Zwaan is located in a beautiful nature reserve with woods, heathland and fens.
To the north is the De Malpie nature reserve, a beautiful combination of forest and fens.
To the east lies the Leenderbos, and to the south, towards Belgium,
the Plateaux-Hageven with its characteristic flowing meadows.
Since 2021, we have been allowed to run this special place with love and dedication.

A wonderful milestone was added in January 2025:
The purchase of the historic property at Monseigneur Kuijpersplein 16 & 18.
A moment we are immensely proud of and that feels like an affirmation
of everything we stand for together.

For us, De Zwaan is not a business but a place where,
Brabant hospitality, burgundy enjoyment and conviviality come together.
A place where you immediately feel welcome,
Whether you come for drinks, lunch, dinner
Or a celebratory moment.

Who we are

Patrick

Patrick is a chef and entrepreneur at heart.
His love for the craft began at an early age and took shape during his education
at the School for Consumer Professions in Eindhoven.

Through the SBBO, he gained broad practical experience and learned the trade in detail
At "Restaurant Ereslo" in Eersel.
A classic French-oriented restaurant that was one of the top 500 restaurants in the Netherlands for years.
Here, Patrick obtained his master's degree and refined his craft and developed his product knowledge, taste and sense of quality.

As much as possible is home-made in De Zwaan's kitchen.
From soups and sauces to desserts and pastries.
We work with regular suppliers and seasonal produce.
Cooking with attention, that's what it's all about.

Besides his work in the kitchen, Patrick is also the creative mind behind the scenes.
He takes care of the entire branding and digital appearance of De Zwaan.
From website creation and management to multimedia on social media;
he ensures that the passion you taste on the plate is also visible online.

Carola

Carola is the heart around which everything revolves.
She started her catering career at "De Kempen" in Knegsel
and was later co-owner of "’t Brabants Genot" in Waalre.

Carola also has a logistics background, her strength lies because of this
In organising, planning and keeping an overview.
But she particularly excels in her way with people.
She is a born hostess: warm, energetic and sociable.

Behind the scenes, she is the engine of the organisation.
Administration, planning and structure, Carola takes care of it.

And when December comes, her creativity comes full circle.
Christmas is really her thing.
Then The Swan transforms into a warm, atmospheric place
for which guests return every year.

Together, we complement each other perfectly.
Where Patrick focuses on the kitchen and culinary part,
Carola provides calm, overview and atmosphere.
We work hard with the team,
and always with sincere attention to our guests.

Our vision

We believe in honesty, quality and hospitality.
Working with good products, regular suppliers
and respecting the season.

During the game season, we work with game
from our own hunters from a hunting area in Mellnau Germany.
Everything with care, attention and love for the craft.

The Swan is a place where people come together.
Where laughter, food, drink and enjoyment take place.
A place where you feel welcome in our burgundian Brabant,
whether you are a regular guest or walking in for the first time.

Our team

Without our team, we are nothing.
Behind Grand Café De Zwaan is a close-knit group of people
who work together with pleasure and commitment every day.

From young employees to experienced forces:
together they are the heart of our business.

As an approved training company, we supervise apprentices with attention and pleasure.
Because we believe that investing in people
is the basis for quality.

We work hard, laugh a lot
and are always there for each other.

In conclusion

We warmly welcome you.
Grateful for the trust our guests give us.
Together, we continue to build,
a place where everyone feels at home and of which we are proud.

A warm welcome to Grand Café De Zwaan!