Café De Witte Raaf is hidden like a gem in a side street of the fish market, close to Der Aa church. The round bar, above which kerosene lamps adorn the wooden ceilings, is the heart of the old brown bar. De Witte Raaf will reopen on 1 September 2017.
Nostalgia
As we wrote before in our Groningen pub book The decorations in café De Witte Raaf are reminiscent of a past life, the life of the former innkeeper who was a barge skipper until 1978. A yellow lifebuoy, ship tools, a rudder and a painting of a tug and a coaster on the turbulent waves. It is the authentic elements that make the café a warm favorite pub. Groningen broadcasting company EYE can report that the new owner of the 'Raaf' Erik Verschragen wants to leave the unique interior of the café completely intact. “The cafe has to keep its original look, you have to look at this beautiful bar and the original side walls, that's beautiful, isn't it?” said Verschragen.
Music
What has changed is the background music in the cafe. Where it used to be quiet after years on the talking regulars in Café De Witte Raaf, ex OOG radio DJ and current owner Verschragen will play the necessary tunes. His genre 'Dutch Hits' will be heard frequently after the opening on September 1!