Een kast vol passie voor Joost de Boer van Kaap Hoorn

A cabinet full of passion for Joost de Boer from Cape Horn

A cabinet for your collection of books, kitchenware, model trains, hobby materials: at Lundia, we encounter the most wonderful questions, often born from a passion. That's what energizes us! That's why, under the banner of "a cabinet full of passion," we visit people who passionately share what drives them.

Today we are visiting a special place. We have an appointment with Joost de Boer (49), owner of Cape Horn on Terschelling. Cape Horn is a beach pavilion at the transition between the Hoorn forest and the North Sea beach. “But above all, Cape Horn is my own free state,” says Joost. It soon becomes clear to us what he means by this.

Most beautiful place in the world

The pavilion breathes freedom. There is no traffic, the owner's dog greets you kindly, and you get the feeling that you are abroad. It is truly a special spot that Joost took over about 20 years ago from one of his best friends. At that time, still together with his brother. For the last 5 years, Joost has been running it alone. “For me, this is the most beautiful place in the world. My goal is to create a holiday feeling here and to set a as relaxed as possible atmosphere. Someone in a three-piece suit should be able to sit next to someone in swim trunks; everyone is welcome here. This is also reflected in my crew. It is a very varied group. The youngest who works here is 15 and the oldest is 66.”

Oranje houten rek met flessen, glazen, petten en planten voor glazen deur van winkel met oranje bloemsticker

Passion for people

This focus on people also helps Joost in his business operations. While many companies struggle to attract and retain good staff – especially here on the island – Joost has less of an issue. In fact, a large part of his crew has been working here for years. "Some have been with us so long, I just can't get rid of them," Joost says with a laugh. His secret? An eye for people. "I don't want people to be just numbers, but to keep their names. That's important to me. For example, I make breakfast for my staff every morning." However, according to Joost, the real trick lies in freedom and trust. "I tell my crew what the standard is; I want people to get the quality they pay for. As long as they meet that standard, they have complete freedom to shape the execution as they see fit. They always repay that sense of ownership."

Finally, I think it's important that they feel like I'm a colleague instead of their boss. I stand beside my staff, not above them. I've been working in hospitality since I was 13, so I know how demanding the job can be. If we've had a long day, I give them the next day off early and we all have a nice barbecue together. Working hard together, but also having a good time, that's what creates a real team spirit.

Freedom

Freedom is a key theme for Joost, both at work and outside of it. The beach pavilion exudes freedom, and everyone is welcome. Where does he find his inspiration for the design of Kaap Hoorn? Abroad. During the winter months, the beach pavilion is closed, and Joost prefers to travel for two and a half months.

"I usually leave in early December and return in February. In March, we start building the pavilion again." His favorite places to visit are Thailand, Bali, and South America. "My ideal vacation is not planning too much and living from a backpack. I arrange almost nothing in advance. I book a destination for one or two nights and then we'll see. I love that freedom."

The future plans for Kaap Hoorn are clear. Joost is about to transition from a seasonal operation to a year-round operation. Normally, the pavilion would be dismantled after the autumn holidays and reassembled in March. The plan now is to build a new business, a permanent location that will remain year-round. "Then we'll be open year-round. That will provide more continuity, which is also great for my staff. Plus, it will open up new opportunities. I'm thinking about an ice skating rink for the Christmas holidays. A bonfire, mulled wine, and hot chocolate. How cool would that be?"

Where will Joost be in 10 years? "In 10 years, I'll still be here, but year-round. This is simply my place, the most beautiful place on earth. I want to keep it that way for as long as possible."

P.S.: The orange cabinet in the photo has found its place on beautiful Cape Horn after a world trip. Follow us on Instagram (@lundia_com) to see where the orange cabinet has been.

Lundia original design yourself

With the cabinet configurator you can easily design your ideal cabinet! Choose color, size and style so that the cabinet is perfectly tailored to your wishes and living space.

Design yourself