WINTERSPORT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2023 - On the front de neige of France's Puy Saint Vincent 1400 lies the large terrace of the Mountainhotel Saint Roch, owned by Dutch Valentijn van der Valk (43) and his wife Yvonne. Although the family name suggests otherwise, it was not at all obvious that he would run a hotel in this ski resort in France. He ended up here by chance on his search for a balance between the outdoors, mountains and business.

The connection with the Hautes Alpes, the French department where Puy Saint Vincent is located, arose in Valentine's teenage years. During the summer holidays, the Utrechtian travelled to the southern French Alps "for the best weeks of the year" to be nice and active. In the mountains, he learned that there is more to life than running hotels, which he grew up with as a Van de Valktelg. Although his parents did not own a hotel and worked as teachers and artists, he was a child at home with his aunt and uncle who did run a Van der Valk hotel. While his cousins all went into hotel school, he chose to study sports tourism because of his love of mountains and outdoor sports. "During that time, I also worked one season for the Dutch outdoor sports organisation Cimarron. There I got to know Vincent Biermans, who was already living here and with whom we now work together," Valentijn explains. But before Valentine and Yvonne ended up in Puy, a long journey literally preceded.

Via the Mediterranean to Thailand In 2008, Valentine and Yvonne set off from the Netherlands by bike. The aim was adventure and "who knows, we might stay somewhere". The original idea was a tour around the Mediterranean. But that turned out differently. Once in Tunisia, the road led to Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Valentine was looking for the mountains and Yvonne for the sea. So the plan was made to cycle via the Himalayas to the Pacific Ocean. This is how the couple eventually arrived in Thailand where they started working as diving instructors - still very far away from the snow-capped mountains around Puy Saint Vincent. 

After a hundred weeks on the bike, Valentine and Yvonne returned to Europe in 2011. They went to Puy Saint Vincent on a maternity visit to Vincent Biermans and his wife Ilonka, who had built a beautiful gîte (holiday home, ed.) in the ski resort. "We were at Vincent and Ilonka's campsite at the time. Through a coincidence that was fortunate for us, we were able to take over the management of that campsite almost immediately." They never left the French mountain village again.

Bubbling of the Fall blood
Once at the campsite, the Van der Valk blood started bubbling again. "It's what you grow up with after all," admits Valentine. While as a teenager he really had the idea of doing something other than the hotel business, he found out after his trip that he still really enjoys "making people happy, organising and undertaking". Having lived in Puy for less than two years, another godsend comes along. The price of a hotel that has been for sale for a long time is halved. "We thought it was a really cool idea, running our own hotel, but we were barely settled in. It actually felt a bit too soon, but we did it anyway." One thing is certain, Valentine does not want to do it like the Van der Valk branch in the Netherlands. "I have a lot and nice contact with the rest of the family and since we have a hotel here, I also have more topics of conversation with them. But my life here and my type of business is quite different. There really is no toucan coming on the roof." The Dutch Van der Valks are much larger companies and Valentine actually enjoys having a small-scale business with lots of contact with his customers and team. "I think it's important to create beautiful moments. Playing sports together, making a campfire or building an igloo. Those moments when time stands still for a moment. That's what I envisage with this company and that's something I don't think I would succeed with a huge hotel."

Worked too hard
Valentine is determined to make it a success, and the solution, he says, is the famous Van der Valk credo: eyes and ears open, mouth shut and hands flying. "In the beginning, I really did work very hard. Maybe too hard. We also found ourselves with quite a pile of debts due to the purchase of the hotel, including from the bank. I wasn't used to that and did cause stress." He has since come back to the credo. He tries to give more accountability to others and keep more of a helicopter view himself in order to make better choices instead of taking on everything himself. As an example of calming down, Valentine cites his decision to attend every ski race of his three children.

International team
Some of the staff at Mountainhotel Saint Roch are Dutch. "The reason I work with Dutch is that I don't want to just play director like such a typical French patron," he says. He points out that there are differences between Dutch and French seasonal employees. According to Valentine, Dutch people like to gain trust. "If the click is there then Dutch employees just take care of their business and take responsibility. Constantly chasing them does not work. French seasonal workers, on the other hand, like this clarity. To them, you just have to tell them to clean the windows or wipe the table. "In theory, this mix of nationalities is a very good balance for a business operation. But you do come up with a lot of challenges. For instance, we often work with Dutch people who are not looking for a career here, so you're left with staff who don't stay very long. Also, the language remains a thing." Fortunately, the hotelier couple meanwhile also employs several French people who have just heard that things are going differently than usual at their place and are therefore knocking on the door. "They fit our profile perfectly. As a company, we have three goals. We want to be the most fun, beautiful and healthiest workplace. And I think that leads to a healthy company, where the staff really participate."

Taking more time
When asked what Valentine would like to become more French at, he immediately replied, "Lunch!" Then adding: "By this I mean taking your time. In the Netherlands, everything is open 24 hours a day, and everything always has to be immediate. Here it's just lunch time at noon." Valentine is also no longer annoyed at the supermarché's checkout line when cheques are written. "In the beginning, I felt that people were lagging behind here, that they were taking too much time. But when I look now I think it's great that people here guard this so much. French people are just more epicureans." On the other hand, Valentine also enjoys how in the Netherlands everything is so wonderfully well and tightly organised. Everything seems to make sense. But the rhythm goes on and on. "When I've been in the Netherlands for a week, I'm exhausted. I wonder if that is healthy.

Integration at lightning speed
Contact with locals has become much better since having children. According to Valentine, this makes sense. "In a tourist area like this, of course, it is a coming and going of entrepreneurs and that is why people take a look at it all at first. Once our children were here, people understood that we didn't come here to make quick money." Valentijn does not blame that wait-and-see attitude on anyone; he himself has it a bit now with newcomers. But according to Valentine, the same applies vice versa to those who want to emigrate to France. "Take your time, see if it suits you. You really have to be able to let go of the Netherlands. Because if you keep looking at everything with Dutch eyes, you will only see what is different. Then it won't work. You have to dare to let go of the typical Dutch urge for control. Be able to live a little more with the flow. If you can do that, you get a lot of freedom in return." When asked if Valentine wants to stay in Puy Saint Vincent forever, he is clear. "Yes - although of course you never know how life will turn out. You can look at it this way: when I travel to the Netherlands, I go to my roots. When I travel back to Puy Saint Vincent, I come home. I never want to leave here

Source: Winter Sports Magazine
Text & image: Rogier van Rijn