July 24, 2023 · Team HG
It is the building in the Noorderplantsoen where everyone has had a drink at some point, or at the very least cycled past. That beautiful round pavilion, on the edge of the pond. The pavilion dates back to 1930 and was designed by city architect Siep Bouma. Over the years, various entrepreneurs have tried their luck there; for the last eight years, Svende Reeskamp has been in charge, together with her boyfriend Hans Moerkerk.
‘I’ve actually always lived in the neighborhood,’ says Svende, ‘and every time my boyfriend and I walked past, we thought: this looks like something for us. At some point, we made an offer, and from that moment on, everything moved very quickly.’
Without any experience in the hospitality industry, Svende embarked on his entrepreneurial adventure. ‘In the beginning, I got those pitying looks from many representatives: Do you know what you’re getting yourself into? Good luck with that. But in the end, everything just went well. Yes, of course you fall into every pitfall there is, but you learn from that too. Next time, you won’t make the same mistake again.’
What Svende hopes to project with her establishment is that it is an open, warm place where people can find what they need. A kind of crowd-pleaser. ‘And besides,’ she continues, ‘this place doesn’t scream for very fancy hospitality. Most people in the park don’t have very high expectations or anything. They are often grandmothers with grandchildren coming in for a quick toasted sandwich, or students coming in for a beer or a mixed drink. We don’t need a bartender here with a leather apron, a beard, and tattoos shaking cocktails right in front of you.’
Atmosphere is what it’s all about at Zondag. ‘Sometimes there are representatives who come up with all sorts of trendy things. Too flashy, too hip, or too niche—then we don’t do it. At a place like this, such a public location, you don’t want to focus on a specific group. You want everyone who comes here to think: yes, that’s my place. From the elderly to students. I think it’s important that people feel at home,’ says Svende. ‘That is also exactly what I look for myself when I work in the hospitality industry. I don’t want to be a guest somewhere; I just want to be part of it. When people say: I find it so cozy here, I find that by far the most important thing.’
Something Svende dislikes is accepting large groups wanting to rent out the place. ‘We deliberately don’t do that,’ she says. ‘People walk all the way into the park just to have a cup of coffee or a piece of cake with their grandchild, and then there’s a large group sitting here and they can’t get a table. No, I don’t do that; I always want to be open to everyone. So that you arrive here and know, this is the place for you.’
And as for the menu, there is plenty to choose from. From pancakes, toasted sandwiches, and yogurt with granola to hamburgers, pasta, and chicken. And for those who had a bit too much to drink the night before and are looking for hangover food to satisfy their greasy hunger: the hangover sandwich, with egg, cheese, tomato, and bacon, is perfect for that.
Sunday is open every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
The kiosk daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
For more info, see www.zondagnoorderplantsoen.nl
