January 14, 2025 · Culinary Journalist
An old-fashioned brown pub, tucked away in a narrow alley on the Grote Markt in Groningen. That is where it sits. Café Der WitzNot very clear to everyone walking by, yet guests have known how to find the café perfectly well for 40 years.
Bas Berendsen has been the owner of the Witz, as it is popularly known, for nearly 30 years. He sees all kinds of guests drop by his pub. ‘During the day, it is mostly the regulars who walk in for a good cup of coffee.’
‘We really do have a very extensive coffee selection. But we can’t compete with the many coffee shops that are on every street corner these days. In addition, we get a lot of shoppers who want to unwind with a nice craft beer. In the evening, we mainly see slightly older students and graduates. A bit of everything, really.’
A small pub doesn't necessarily mean a small selection. There are eleven beers on tap and about sixty beers available in bottles. "You have to," says Berendsen. "Not just for the students, but everyone is crazy about craft beer these days. You see in almost every pub that there is a huge choice of beer. It's really more about enjoyment. Drinking less in volume, but better and more special. But generally speaking, those aren't beers you drink down quickly."
‘The real bestsellers are Paulaner, a wheat beer that has been 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.’
According to Berendsen, what makes Der Witz special is the interior. ‘It’s a real brown pub, and you don’t see those much anymore.’ And then, of course, there’s the location. ‘We’re right in the middle of the Grote Markt. In the summer, the terrace is full every day; everyone walks past here.’ Yet Berendsen still runs into people who don’t know it. ‘It really is a hidden gem,’ he says proudly.
How do you ensure, as a traditional pub, that you can survive and keep up with the times? ‘When I first came here, there were still lace curtains in front of the windows and everyone wore a sleeveless sweater. In terms of decor and staff, changes have definitely been made,’ says Berendsen. ‘And the beer menu, of course,’ he adds.
For more information, see www.derwitz.nlDer Witz is open every day.
