An old-fashioned brown café, hidden in a small alley on the Grote Markt in Groningen. There you can Café Der Witz. Not very clear to everyone who walks by, but guests have been able to find the café for 40 years.
Coffee and beer
Bas Berendsen has been the owner of the Witz, as it is also known in the vernacular, for almost 30 years. He sees all kinds of guests come to his pub. 'During the day, it is mostly the regulars who come in for a good cup of coffee.'
'We also have a very extensive range of coffee. But we can't compete with the many coffee shops that are on every street corner these days. In addition, there are also many shoppers who want to relax with a nice special beer. In the evening we mainly see the somewhat older students and graduates. A bit of everything actually.'
Sixty types of beer
A small café does not necessarily mean a small selection. Eleven beers are on tap and about sixty beers are available in bottles. 'You have to', says Berendsen. 'Not just for students, but everyone is crazy about special beer these days. You see in almost every pub that there is a huge choice of beer. It is really more about enjoying. Drinking less in volume, but better and more special. But in general, those beers are not easy to drink.'
'The real top sellers are Paulaner, wheat beer, a top seller for thirty years, then La Chouffe and Karmeliet. We also have our own beer from Maallust; Der Witz Blond. People really enjoy ordering that.'
Unique place
What makes Der Witz special, according to Berendsen, is the interior. 'It's a real brown pub, and you don't see that much anymore.' And of course the location. 'We're in the middle of the Grote Markt. In the summer, the terrace is full every day, everyone walks by here.' Yet Berendsen still meets people who don't know it. 'It really is a hidden gem,' he says proudly.
With time
How do you ensure that a brown café can continue to exist and keep up with the times? 'When I first came here, there were still net curtains in front of the windows and everyone wore a sweater. In terms of decor and staff, there have been some real changes', says Berendsen. 'And the beer menu', he adds.
For more information on www.derwitz.nl. Der Witz is open every day.
