Restaurant 't Spiehuis

The house was built around 1800 at the narrowest point of a long, spindle-shaped strip of land, located between Turfweg and the current Biltseweg. The name of the house is derived from that strip of land. It was presumably built as a farm, with the possibility of changing horses, resting, and staying overnight. It can be stated with certainty that in 1863 for six years two rooms and a piece of vegetable garden on Het Spie were leased to Hendrik van Brummelen by owner Andries de Wilde. Additionally, one room with a piece of vegetable garden was rented to Gerrit van Drie, and a small house on the Spie to widow Overeem.

The location of the house was very strategic, namely the intersection of the Spieweg (now Pijnenburgerlaan) with the road from De Bilt to Soestdijk, now the Biltseweg. During the time of Louis Napoleon, the house was used as an observation post.

The building has served multiple functions over the years; it was among other things a farm, tea house, residence, and office. On October 12, 1865, the property with the surrounding plot was auctioned. The brochure states: "A shop and two workers' houses, all under one roof with bakery, garden, farmland, oak and beech woods."

In 1959, the old building was partially demolished due to dilapidation and rebuilt in the same place (albeit larger). Today, it operates as a French restaurant, owned by the Herfst family since 1972.

The copper jugs shine, the Delft blue is neatly hung on the wall, and the antique French station clock ticks away the seconds until the Herfst family retires. For 51 years, Ron, Els, Irene, and Harry Herfst have managed restaurant 't Spiehuis in Soest, a place where it seems like time has stood still. On July 9, 2023, they close the door behind them.

Then a new owner takes over the life's work of the family. A promise is already made: everything will remain the same; no nail will be removed from the wall and even the menu will stay the same.

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