Situated on the banks of the river adjacent to the Collse watermill, D’n Kleine Dommel is a rustic kid friendly restaurant and wedding location providing+ a variety of attractive opportunities.
To be fair, I’d never actually stopped the myriad of times I’d cycled in front of D’n Kleine Dommel. I always had a destination in mind, whether that be the watermill next door or those dark early morning cycle rids to work that one year I worked as a school photographer out of Geldrop. And I do have to say that food allergies in the family complicate our exploration of eating establishments. But sometimes seeing is believing and that also rang true with my visit.
I’d made a list of all five of the official wedding locations in Nuenen: the gemeente huis, the Van Goghkerkje, the KIooster, to name a few. Seeing as a civil wedding is what’s first recognised by the local municipalities, places like the Clemenskerk aren’t actually listed as official wedding locations. The Klooster itself is on the cusp of great things – its just begun an extensive renovation. So I begrudgingly took it off my list of locations to visit and interview.
That left D’n Kleine Dommel and the Opwettense watermill. Having contacted both, I heard back fastest from Remko Sanders with D’n Kleine Dommel and we scheduled a time to meet to discuss the possibilities for weddings and for him to show me around the place.
Whether or not its mentioned, weather is always on our minds in the Netherlands
So I braced myself a bit when I discovered my husband Tom (a.k.a Mr Metrology) needed the car for the day and I’d be cycling. With how wet, windy, and varied the Spring had been, I could only imagine I’d arrive a bit worse for the wear. I do have an electric Gazelle bike and my camera bag is waterproof so I guess it’s only me and my hair that I worried about.
For once, luck was on my side and it was only cold and windy. I cycled in the direction of the Collse watermill where I’d just photographed Elke & Jan a couple of weeks before, and turned off onto a cobbled drive between wrought iron gates just before crossing the river.
There were plenty of places at the bike racks for locking up my bike – probably partially due to the mercurial weather we were experiencing. The first thing you notice when you arrive at D’n Kleine Dommel is the massive outdoor jumpy cushion and play area for children. The bouncy cushion itself is usually occupied by enthusiastic small socked humans. The cobbled drive continues along the restaurant where a terrace is set to catch the best rays of the sun, and behind the restaurant itself, where there’s plenty of parking place and another more private terrace.
Greeted by friendly, cheerful servers, I mentioned I had an appointment with Remko and within minutes he was downstairs and ready to share what makes D’n Kleine Dommel a strong wedding location.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Reasons to Consider D’n Kleine Dommel as a Wedding Location
Reason #1: Surprisingly, refreshingly family friendly
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts like Winnie the Pooh says, and they can also make the most noise. If you are looking for a family friend wedding location, you don’t need to search further than D’n Kleine Dommel. With it’s outdoor play area and indoor children’s room with child minder, this wedding location takes taking care of the smallest members of your wedding party to heart.
Personally, as a mother of four myself, if my children were still little this location would be a strong contender simply because I’d have happy, occupied children.
Reason #2: Largest outdoor wedding location available in Nuenen
Set in a nature area, D’n Kleine Dommel has room for as many guests as you could desire for an outdoor wedding. That makes it the single largest wedding location in Nuenen. You have access to a field by the river rimmed by hedges and traditional pollard willows. Remko, with his many connections after years of planning, can direct you to trusted vendors if you want to rent a tent or other things to make your day perfect.
The field is accessible off the parking area and is not directly connected to the play area, giving it more privacy from playing children or other guests. It is relatively flat ground too, which makes it easy for older family members to navigate. Directly across from the pollard willows and over the river is the walking path from the Collse watermill, so if you want to do some extra bride and groom portraits by that iconic watermill, its easily within walking distance.
Reason #3: Generous planning options with an experienced hand
When talking to Remko, it quickly became evident that he’s a flexible, easy going planner and is more than happy to plan with couples. Whether that means that the wedding party shows up at the bar simply for a drink and a proost after a ceremony somewhere else, or wants to plan a day long ceremony and celebration, his easy going nature showed not only in my talk with him but also in the brochure that’s available to read on the website of D’n Kleine Dommel.
What Remko doesn’t have on site, he has connections for. And with his planning experience, he can easily help couples make timelines that work and plan food in the right quantities. In fact, the thing he likes about weddings the most is to unburden wedding couples so they can enjoy their wedding day to the max. He says imagine what you want and he’ll work to make it happen, from food trucks to pancake dinners.
Reason #4: Stay in budget and start married life without debt
A hallmark of a wedding at D’n Kleine Dommel is that it’s affordable. So whether you’re just starting out in life together, or have been together for years and want to make it official, you don’t have to go into debt to begin your married life. The money you don’t spend could be put towards something else, like your home, education, or an amazing honeymoon experience.
After discussing your wedding plans with you, Remko makes a timeline with prices included so that costs remain completely transparent. He works closely in conjunction with your master of ceremonies to ensure your wedding dreams stay on track and on budget.
Reason #5: A plethora of corners, doorways, and windows for beautiful photography moments
One of the things I noticed when walking through this wedding location with Remko was all of the corners, doorways, and windows that may not stand out to a wedding couple but definitely are of interest to a wedding photographer. I saw so many little places that would make amazing elements in portraiture.
Portraits with window lighting, for example, can easily be done upstairs near the arched windows. Also doorways add opportunities to frame a couple or a moment in a beautiful and creative manner. The balcony behind the sliding doors upstairs is also an interesting location for photography. Opportunities abound once you start looking around.
Other important considerations when planning with D’n Kleine Dommel
Whilst you can plan almost anything you want at D’n Kleine Dommel, do know that it is not possible to book the entire location. Your wedding celebrations will take place away from the general restaurant area, though some crossover will exist. But if you are looking for a wedding location, or even a place for a family party or business gathering that thinks with you and has plenty of room inside and outside, you should seriously consider taking a look at D’n Kleine Dommel. See for yourself what the location has to offer.
Liefs, Amy
In A Nutshell
- Official wedding location for Gemeente Nuenen, Gerwen, and Nederwetten
- You can marry outside or inside. Inside is also a viable backup plan in case of bad weather
- The indoor room is upstairs without a lift
- More than flexible planning options
- Indoors up to 60 people can comfortably stand to witness a wedding
- Outdoors there’s no limit to the number of guests
- Available for: weddings, family parties, children’s parties, business meetings, and more
- Parking: free behind the restaurant
- Notable portrait locations: nearby at the Collse watermill, and by many of the upstairs arched windows, the barn doors at the back terrace, the sliding doors and balcony upstairs, and the field by the river
- Toilets available: yes
- Children’s Playroom & outdoor play structures
- Address: Collseweg 47a, 5674 TR Nuenen
- Email address: dnkleinedommel@gmail.com
- Phone number: 040 – 844 27 47
- Pricing: variable
