Suddenly hotel owners
We are Franziska Kouidis and Jan Kemper. In 2020, when actually looking for a house in Brandenburg, we instead felt in love with the Kemper Hof site, which used to be a classical country side hotel back then. Seeing its endless possibilities, we suddenly found ourselves the owners of a hotel. And then our first guest arrived: Covid.
During the lockdowns, we renovated, refurbished and ruminated. We turned the whole place inside out: the rooms, the façades, the televisions, the sheets, and the internet! Then came the grand finale when we decided to take it all one step further and transform the place into a countryside retreat. During all of that, there were about 5,000 guests who came to visit in that first summer between the lockdowns.
Try, try again
We originally had our eye on the classic hotel concept of our predecessor. We wanted to try it out and take a closer look to see how it fit our family, and how we could keep developing it.
A few of our ambitious ideas didn’t work. Some plans turned out differently than expected. There were a few highs and a few lows. Joyous moments quickly followed flashes of self-doubt and raw nerves. But one thing never changed: We always had faith in this unbelievably beautiful place.
Progress in 2022
The word “platform” has a funny ring to it in German. The first part, “plat”, sounds like the German word “platt”, or “flat”. In other words, a “flat form”. A blank canvas, if you will. And that’s exactly what came to mind the first time we visited this old farming estate outside of Berlin. We want our countryside retreat to be a blank canvas, a place where people can come together for different occasions and with different goals, and create something together. Something creative, inventive, versatile, diverse, enjoyable, focused, adventurous and much more.
From a farming estate to Kemper Hof
With all these changes, we decided to give this old farming estate a new name.
Jan’s family had its own Kemper Hof, or Kemper Farm, for many years in Westfalen, not far from the Netherlands. The last person to run it was his great-grandfather Franz-Josef Kemper
Anton Kemper (27) on the Kemper Hof 1943
Jan’s grandfather Antonius, who went by Anton (pictured below), was very active in the family business, but ultimately decided to study medicine instead of pursuing a life on the farm.
So even though it’s a different farm, the Kemper Hof has breathed renewed life into a bit of the Kemper family legacy. Being able not only to realize this dream, but also to shape it and leave our mark is a true privilege for us.
Welcome to Kemper Hof!
Dénise
Master of bookings, first contact, problem solver and planner with a heart - she balances the big picture and attention to detail in order to address your special needs. Without her, nobody would get to Kemper Hof!
Margitta
Head of housekeeping, universal weapon & at lightening speed - for 19 years she has been making sure that you feel at home in all rooms.
Stephan
Responsible for the house and garden - you can almost always find him tandeming with Ralf ... or at Obi. The garden, the animals and the old stable are his territory.
Anika
Team: Housekeeping - keeps your rooms in great shape, calm under pressure and has been an absolute plus for the team since early 2022.
A new chapter
[2020 - today]
After 18 years of Märkische Höfe, the Untersteiners hand over the farm to Jan and Fränzi from Berlin, just before Corona hits the world. They start renovating and develop the place into a creative hotspot for groups, offsites, weddings and more. Building on the vision and strength of their predecessors, their aim is to preserve the magic of this extraordinary space.
South Tyrol inspires Märkisches Land
[2002 - 2020]
In 2002, South Tyroleans Hans and Martina Untersteiner acquired the farm and continued to develop Wagefeld’s vision with a great deal of warmth and drive. They turn it into a family-hotel, frequently visited on the weekend mostly by Berlin families. The passionate hostess, and Berlin-born Martina inspires a growing number of regular guests and Hans brings their visions to life with his craftsmanship and gardening skills.
Raising the curtain for further potential
[est. in 1996]
Johanna Wagenfeld, wife of Horst Wagenfeld, adds her own touch of magic. She founded the Theatersommer in Netzeband. Since 1996, this annual event has transformed the once overgrown estate park into an enchanted theatre backdrop, drawing drama fans from far beyond Berlin and Hamburg to this tranquil little village.
The beginning of the reinvention
[1991 - 2000]
Horst Wagenfeld, landscape architect and visionary from Düsseldorf, found out about Netzeband. Wagenfeld started renovating the church, with the help of subsidies. His motto was “New life in old walls”. In the course of time, he transformed two of farms—including today’s Der Kemper Hof —into a country hotel with a riding school, petting zoo, tree nursery and farm shop.
After the change
[middle 20th century - 1991]
Already before the fall of the wall, the farm stood empty without any purpose or owner and was progressively deteriorating.
GDR times
[middle 20th century]
The farms are subordinated to the East German Agricultural Production Cooperative. The farm administration/management resides in the “Gäntikowhaus”.
It all began with the peaceful bleating of sheep
[early 20th century]
Built around 1903, the Kemper Hof initially served as a farm and belonged to the Gäntikow family.
