Café Het Ketelhuis of Westland Brewery Zwolle opens
The new café Het Ketelhuis of the Westland Brewery ZWOL at Kerkplein in Monster is opening its doors.
For Westland brewers Ad Zwinkels and Marty Olsthoorn, this marks the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream. At the end of 2021, the two started Westlandse Bierbrouwerij ZWOL, driven by the ambition to one day establish their own physical brewery in the Westland. At the end of last year, the plans gained momentum. At the beginning of this year, the brewers announced that they had set their sights on the premises of the former café Kleine Jan on Kerkplein in Monster. To realize their plans, Zwinkels and Olsthoorn raised €300,000 via crowdfunding in just two weeks last spring. A large portion of the nearly 250 investors comes from Monster and other Westland towns. “The positive reactions we have received since then from Monster and the rest of the Westland have been overwhelming,” says initiator Ad Zwinkels. “Monster was clearly waiting for a café, but Westland beer lovers also appear to be incredibly enthusiastic about our plans.”
Het Ketelhuis was recently officially opened for the investors. From Friday, September 18, the café will be open to everyone. In addition to the twelve ZWOL beers, there is a varied menu including coffee, soft drinks, wine, and cocktails. “It shouldn't just become a place where you can drink our beer, but above all the new living room of Monster,” says co-initiator Marty Olsthoorn. “A place where you can drop in for a beer, a cup of coffee, or simply for a pleasant afternoon or evening.”
Anyone stepping into Het Ketelhuis cannot ignore the Westland. Various references to the region have been incorporated into the interior. For instance, a greenhouse facade is a striking feature of the decor, and an old Westland grape staircase has also been given a new place in the café. At the same time, a conscious choice was made for a warm, cozy, and approachable atmosphere. “People should really feel at home with us,” says Zwinkels. “It should become a place where everyone feels welcome and where you can easily just pop in.”
The name Het Ketelhuis obviously refers to the brewery that will soon actually be located in the building. The brewing kettles have already been ordered and are expected to be installed in November. “From that moment on, we can really start brewing our beer in the Westland,” says Zwinkels. “That is a very special moment for us. Until then, we are still brewing our recipes at another brewery in the Netherlands.” Het Ketelhuis will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting Friday, September 18. “We are ready to welcome everyone with open arms,” concludes Zwinkels.