November 9, 2016 · Team HG
The distinctive staircase beneath the Drie Gezusters, illuminated by blue neon letters and over which many a walker has stumbled (or stumbled), will soon lead to a new but well-known destination: The BarrelThe café, which was located on Poelestraat for many years, is making a fresh start at Grote Markt 39 as of November 23, 2016.
After having been a distinctive gathering place for students on Poelestraat for twenty years, the lease was terminated because the Municipality of Groningen had other plans for the location. But the drive was not lost to manager Jeroen de Vries, who is also the owner of Dinercafé Diep – which he runs together with partner Irene van de Velde.
“The name of Het Vaatje still lives on, even with me personally,” says De Vries. The café was missed. Over the past year and a half, many premises were viewed for a restart of the café. Often, the plans fell through due to sound technical considerations or lack of space. Until the owners of Diep were approached by the operator of Feestcafé De Blauwe Engel on the Grote Markt.
About een dikke twee week, op 23 november, gaat het Vaatje weer als vanouds los. Het publiek is zowel aan het begin van de stapavond (22:00 uur) als in de late/vroege uurtjes welkom. Borrelaars en feestgangers kunnen weer terecht voor het befaamde kannetje Raket, de huisgemaakte dropwodka en de ouderwetse Paardenkut (lees: Apfelkorn met Spa Rood).
Not much will be renovated; the building on the Grote Markt is still in good condition. However, the many paintings, signs, and photos of Het Vaatje will return to the walls. “The passageway – also known as the lock – through which you enter the pub will be filled with photo moments from twenty years of Het Vaatje.” Input from Het Vaatje regulars throughout all those twenty years is more than welcome for this. The owner is considering retaining an element of De Blauwe Engel after all, in order to honor the history of the building.
Het Vaatje will always remain a café. The candles, coasters, and nuts are being put back on the bar and tables. “Everyone – aged eighteen and over – who feels at home in Het Vaatje is welcome to have a drink with us right at the start of the night out. But eventually, you can also expect a transformation into a real party night where you can really let loose,” says De Vries. The staff plays an important role in this. The bartender will sense the atmosphere of the evening and respond to the crowd by playing many (request) records. Whether that’s Top 40, Dutch-language music, or Happy Hardcore, De Vries says: “Anything should be possible during the course of the evening – no night will be the same.”
In this way, every partygoer should feel good and be able to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. Both old, familiar partygoers who have spent evenings at Het Vaatje and new faces are welcome to recognize their traces or leave them behind in the old toilet doors of the former building.
Het Vaatje will be open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 PM; closing times are largely left to the nightlife crowd.
