Example B · Basis · 5 pages Fictional business, website by SGS · Why does this site work? · also Example A · Example C · Example D · ← all examples · Nederlands

De Gouden Leeuw / About us

A café on this corner since 1952

Corner building of a Dutch neighbourhood café in the evening: lit windows with net curtains, a dark green awning, bikes against the front and a small terrace
The landlord pulls a small pils, only his hands and the tap in shot, the foam being skimmed off, warm light

De Gouden Leeuw has been a café since 1952 and owned by the Zijlstra family since 1989. Lennart and Hiske started with a tap and a toastie maker; now their son Ricardo runs the bar and Sabine cooks the dish of the day every day.

How it went

A café since 1952, owned by the Zijlstra family since 1989.

  1. 1952The grocer's on the corner becomes a café. The name comes from the sign of the inn that once stood here.
  2. 1989Lennart and Hiske Zijlstra take over, with a tap, six stools and a toastie maker.
  3. 2004A real kitchen arrives. From now on it's an eetcafé, with a dish on the board every day.
  4. 2011The old storeroom at the back becomes the function room. The klaverjas club moves in too.
  5. 2016Their son Ricardo takes over the bar. Hiske still works the tap every Thursday.
  6. NowTwelve taps, a full terrace in summer and a packed quiz every first Tuesday.

“You should walk in here and hear your name after two evenings. Then we've got it right.”

Ricardo Zijlstra

Behind the bar and in the kitchen

Five people you'll often see here, and a few extra hands at the weekend.

  • Ricardo Zijlstralandlordbehind the bar since 2016, and at the glass washer as a teenager before that
  • Hiske Zijlstrastarted it in 1989every Thursday, for the stamppot and the stories
  • Sabine Akkermanhead chefmakes the gravy from our own bones and the dish of the day on the board
  • Tarik Vlugcookin charge of the satay and spare ribs, and the best chips in the area
  • Meike Tjoelkerquizmasterwrites eight new rounds every month, the local round is her favourite

How things work here

No tickets, no app. Just like in any good neighbourhood café.

  1. Walk inWant to be sure of a table for dinner? Book one. There's always room at the bar.
  2. OrderAt a table or at the bar, as you like.
  3. On the beer matWe mark your rounds as tallies on your beer mat.
  4. PayingWhen you leave. Card is fine, cash too.

In numbers, no fuss

  • 1952a café on this corner
  • 12taps at the bar
  • 80guests fit in the room
  • 7dishes of the day a week

Come and see us. How to find the corner.