Treasure behind the treasure: ‘t Spijshuisje

In this monthly feature, we shine the spotlight on one of our local entrepreneurs. This time, we’re visiting Arjenne, who runs her business from a truly charming (and very tiny!) location.

On the edge of The Hague, where the city meets Rijswijk and Voorburg, you’ll find a former bridge keeper’s house dating back to 1892, right alongside the Vliet canal. Once home to the bridge keeper who operated the Nieuwe Tolbrug, a drawbridge for cyclists and pedestrians, this historic little building has been transformed into a cosy kiosk where you can stop for a great cup of coffee and something sweet.

Time to get to know the passionate owner of ‘t Spijshuisje. Read on!

How did you end up in this unique location?

Through good old Marktplaats! I wanted to start something that felt accessible for me, preferably something temporary or available to lease. That meant I wasn’t looking through hospitality brokers, but on less obvious platforms like Facebook and Marktplaats. I came across the bridge keeper’s house while searching for ‘hospitality premises for rent’. The listing had already expired, but I used the advertiser’s name as a starting point. Eventually, I found an article on Vlietnieuws.nl saying the bridge keeper’s house was available to rent, complete with the landlord’s email address. That’s when things started to fall into place.

What does a typical week at ‘t Spijshuisje look like?

‘t Spijshuisje is currently open four days a week, so that’s where you’ll find me. Every morning I arrive on my cargo bike, loaded with cakes, cartons of milk and everything else I need for the day. The first thing I do is switch on the coffee machine. Then I set everything up, arrange the terrace, write the day’s cakes on the chalkboard and slice the cakes. After that, I spend the day serving coffee and homemade treats, and once we close, I pack everything away again.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I spend the whole day baking at home, and I usually bake again on Friday and Saturday evenings. Every other week I also pick up a fresh delivery of coffee beans from fellow The Hague Treasure Brute Bonen.

We always say: “A Treasure is worth the detour.” What would you happily make a detour for?

I love combining a run with lunch or a really good cup of coffee and something sweet. So for me, it’s more like I’d happily run the extra mile! Because I live in Rotterdam, it’s usually somewhere in that area. Most recently I stopped by Man met Bril Koffiehotel. One of my all-time favourites is Paviljoen Struis in Ridderkerk: I run there and take the Waterbus back.

If there’s one thing I’d gladly go out of my way for, it’s a plate of nachos with a cold beer… or a delicious Bossche Bol!