Restaurant in Leersum, Netherlands
Estate setting, serious cooking, easy to book.
Voltaire at Parc Broekhuizen is a €€€€ creative restaurant inside the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, ranked #512 in Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in Europe (2025) and #1 on Star Wine List. The estate setting, We're Smart 4 Radish vegetable menu, and luxury product cooking make it a strong choice for a special occasion meal outside Amsterdam or Utrecht.
A 4.9 on Google from 83 reviews is the kind of score that usually means a place is either genuinely special or hasn't been discovered by enough critical voices yet. At Voltaire, set within the Parc Broekhuizen estate in Leersum, it reads as the former. Ranked #512 in Opinionated About Dining's Leading Restaurants in Europe for 2025 (up from #525 in 2024) and rated the leading wine destination in Leersum by Star Wine List in 2025, this is a serious creative kitchen operating at a level that most diners outside the Utrecht region haven't yet registered. If you are planning a special occasion meal in the Netherlands and want to combine serious food with a genuinely remarkable setting, Voltaire belongs on your shortlist.
The visual case for Voltaire starts before you sit down. Parc Broekhuizen sits inside the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, a protected range of old-growth forest, drifting dunes, fens, and heaths. The restaurant occupies a historic country house on the estate, with views over grounds and ponds that shift with the seasons. The terrace, which We're Smart has described as "a piece of paradise," operates as a genuine extension of the dining experience rather than an afterthought. For a lunch or dinner that needs to feel like an occasion, the combination of formal interior and open natural surroundings is one of the most persuasive settings in the Dutch creative dining category. If you are comparing Voltaire to an urban fine dining alternative, factor in that the setting alone justifies the journey from Amsterdam or Utrecht.
Chef Arturo Dalhuisen leads the kitchen at Voltaire, working within a creative format that draws on local suppliers and an on-site herb garden. We're Smart, which specialises in vegetable-forward dining recognition, awarded Voltaire 4 Radishes for its "Legume" vegetable menu, citing a clean approach and restrained ingredient count. The broader menu takes luxury products seriously: one documented preparation involves langoustine served two ways, glazed and fried as tartare with caviar, carrot textures, and an aromatic herb sauce, followed by a second plate of poached langoustine with spicy carrot, citrus, and shellfish foam. Sauces are a particular focus of the kitchen's technique. The approach is modern and visually precise, with fresh acids and refined garnishes used to add complexity without obscuring the central ingredient. This is not minimalist cooking for its own sake; it is focused, product-led creative work at the €€€€ tier.
Given the editorial angle here, it is worth making the case for lunch specifically. Voltaire serves lunch on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 PM to 2 PM. For a special occasion, the daytime slot has real advantages over dinner at this venue. The Parc Broekhuizen estate reads differently in daylight: the forest views, pond reflections, and terrace all operate at their leading when natural light is available. If you are driving from Amsterdam or Utrecht, a Thursday or Friday lunch avoids peak evening traffic and gives you time to walk the estate grounds before or after the meal. Lunch at a €€€€ creative restaurant also typically means a shorter, tighter menu than the full evening service, which suits diners who want the quality signal without a three-hour commitment. For a first visit to Voltaire, lunch on a Friday or Saturday is the format to try. Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday from 6 PM to 10 PM, and the estate's offer of overnight accommodation at Parc Broekhuizen makes Saturday dinner the natural choice if you want to extend the occasion into a full weekend.
Booking difficulty is assessed as easy. Given the rural location, the relatively limited opening hours, and the estate setting, Voltaire does not face the same demand pressure as comparably-rated urban restaurants. That said, weekend lunch slots on Friday and Saturday will fill ahead of midweek options, and if your visit is tied to a specific date for an anniversary or celebration, book at least two to three weeks out to secure your preferred service. The estate's accommodation means some guests plan a full stay, so peak summer weekends in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug area may book faster than the easy default suggests. No booking phone number or direct website URL is available in our current data; check the Parc Broekhuizen estate directly or use your preferred reservation platform.
Quick reference: Thursday–Saturday lunch 12–2 PM; Tuesday–Saturday dinner 6–10 PM; closed Sunday and Monday; booking difficulty: easy; price tier: €€€€.
For a special occasion meal in the Netherlands, yes. The Opinionated About Dining ranking places Voltaire among the top 520 restaurants in Europe, which is a meaningful credential for a restaurant in a national park outside a small town. The Star Wine List #1 ranking for 2025 adds confidence that the wine side of the experience is handled with equal seriousness. The combination of a We're Smart 4 Radish vegetable menu, luxury product cooking, and an estate setting that no urban restaurant can replicate makes Voltaire a strong case at the €€€€ price point. If you are already considering a trip to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug region, this is the meal to plan around. For more options nearby, see Bistro LOF (€€, Modern French) as a lower-stakes alternative in Leersum, or consult our full Leersum restaurants guide.
If you are building a full visit around the estate, the Leersum hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the broader area. The Leersum wineries guide is also worth checking given Voltaire's wine credentials.
See the full comparison section below for how Voltaire sits against De Librije in Zwolle, 't Nonnetje in Harderwijk, De Lindehof in Nuenen, De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen, and other leading creative restaurants in the Netherlands including Aan de Poel, Ciel Bleu, De Bokkedoorns, De Groene Lantaarn, Brut172, De Lindenhof in Giethoorn, De Treeswijkhoeve, and FG - François Geurds in Rotterdam.
The setting is a historic country house on a private estate, and the price tier is €€€€. Smart casual is the safe floor: think well-fitted trousers, a collared shirt or blouse, and clean shoes. Given the estate surroundings and the terrace option in warmer months, you do not need to dress as formally as you would for an urban fine dining restaurant, but jeans and trainers would feel out of place. For a special occasion, lean toward smart rather than casual.
No group capacity data is available in our current records. The estate setting at Parc Broekhuizen suggests that private dining or event arrangements may be possible, particularly given We're Smart's note that the estate suits "high-end taste events." If you are planning a group meal or event, contact Parc Broekhuizen directly ahead of booking to confirm capacity and any private room availability. For a group visiting the Leersum area, also consider the broader range of options in our Leersum restaurants guide.
For a lower-priced meal in Leersum, Bistro LOF (€€, Modern French) is the most accessible alternative. For creative fine dining elsewhere in the Netherlands at a comparable level to Voltaire, De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen is the strongest vegetable-forward option and a direct peer given Voltaire's We're Smart recognition. De Lindehof in Nuenen offers contemporary Dutch creative cooking at the same price tier if you want to compare formats.
At the €€€€ tier with an Opinionated About Dining Top 520 Europe ranking and a We're Smart 4 Radish vegetable menu, the quality ceiling is high enough to justify the price for a special occasion. The "Legume" vegetable tasting menu is the most distinctive choice here; it is not a token vegetarian option but a dedicated format recognised by a specialist awards body. If you are undecided between Voltaire and an alternative at the same price tier, Voltaire's estate setting and the vegetable menu give it a differentiated case. For a direct fine dining tasting menu without the journey outside the city, Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam is the urban comparison point.
Lunch is the better format for a first visit, particularly on Friday or Saturday. The estate setting, terrace, and natural light all work in your favour during the day, and the journey from Amsterdam or Utrecht is easier to manage around a midday reservation. Dinner makes more sense if you are staying overnight at Parc Broekhuizen or want the full evening service format; Saturday dinner paired with an estate stay is the optimal occasion-dining option. Tuesday dinner is the quietest service of the week and worth considering if you want more relaxed pacing.
Solo dining at a €€€€ estate restaurant is a specific call. Voltaire's creative tasting format and terrace setting work reasonably well for a solo diner who wants to focus on the food and surroundings rather than conversation, and the relaxed music and modern design noted by reviewers suggest the room does not feel intimidatingly formal. That said, no counter or bar seating data is available, so you would be at a full table. If solo dining comfort matters to you, check the reservation process for solo availability before booking. For a solo meal at a lower price point in the area, Bistro LOF is the practical alternative.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltaire | €€€€ | Easy | — |
| De Librije | €€€€ | Unknown | — |
| 't Nonnetje | €€€€ | Unknown | — |
| De Lindehof | €€€€ | Unknown | — |
| De Nieuwe Winkel | €€€€ | Unknown | — |
| Fred | €€€€ | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Leersum for this tier.
The estate setting at Parc Broekhuizen and the €€€€ price point suggest smart dress is the right call — think a jacket for men and equivalent for women. The OAD ranking and We're Smart 4 Radishes recognition place this firmly in formal-leaning territory, so avoid casual clothing. Nothing in the venue data explicitly enforces a dress code, but underdressing at a nationally ranked tasting menu restaurant in a country house setting is a risk not worth taking.
The venue data does not specify a private dining room or group capacity, so contact Voltaire directly before planning a party larger than four. The estate setting at Parc Broekhuizen does suggest space exists, and the We're Smart editorial explicitly notes it lends itself to 'high-end taste events.' For a large group celebration in this price bracket, confirming availability well in advance is essential given the limited opening hours — closed Monday and Sunday, with dinner-only on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are no direct fine dining alternatives in Leersum itself — the estate format at Parc Broekhuizen is the reason to come to this specific address. For comparable creative tasting menu cooking in the Netherlands, De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen (vegetables-forward, Michelin-starred) and De Lindehof in Nuenen are the most natural reference points. De Librije in Zwolle operates at a higher price and profile tier if you want to escalate.
Yes, with context. The OAD Top 525 Europe ranking (2024–2025) and We're Smart 4 Radishes rating place Voltaire among a credible peer group, and the #1 Star Wine List ranking for 2025 means the pairing case is particularly strong. At €€€€, you are paying estate-experience prices, and the setting earns a share of that cost. If you want tasting menu cooking without the country house premium, De Nieuwe Winkel in Nijmegen offers a comparable creative format in a different register.
Lunch makes the stronger case. Available Thursday through Saturday from 12 PM to 2 PM, a daytime sitting lets you take full advantage of the Parc Broekhuizen grounds — the estate, ponds, and National Park setting read best in daylight. Dinner is available Tuesday through Saturday from 6 PM to 10 PM if your schedule demands it, but the We're Smart editorial specifically calls out the terrace as a highlight, which is a lunch argument.
Possible, but not the natural fit. The estate setting and We're Smart framing around 'romantic culinary experiences' and 'high-end taste events' suggest Voltaire is designed around a shared occasion. Booking difficulty is rated easy, so a solo diner can get a seat without the competition you would face at a city counter, but the Parc Broekhuizen experience rewards company. If solo fine dining is your format, a city-based counter seat at a restaurant like Fred in Amsterdam gives a more natural solo rhythm.
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