Brasserie Spiegelaar

Brasserie Spiegelaar is located at Nieuwestad 141 in the heart of Leeuwarden. The venue sits at the corner of St. Jacobsstraat and Nieuwestad, right by the water. This places the brasserie in a bustling part of the city where shops, dining spots, and walking routes converge. Available information positions the business primarily as a broad hospitality venue, rather than a dedicated coffee bar.

The establishment was founded in November 2008 by Wim Spiegelaar and Vincent Posthumus. Their background is described in general terms as a combination of entrepreneurial experience, enthusiasm, and an affinity for the hospitality industry. While this formulation offers little detail about their previous work, it makes it clear that the business was designed from the start to be broader than just coffee or lunch.

The concept includes coffee with pastries, lunch, dinner, drinks, High Tea, and High Wine or Beer. The venue also mentions options for private and corporate gatherings. A family-friendly setting is also highlighted in the description, with play areas for children. Thus, the brasserie caters to various times of the day and a diverse range of visitors.

For coffee enthusiasts, the house blend is particularly relevant. Brasserie Spiegelaar documents a coffee blend under the name “Brasserie Spiegelaar № 141”. This blend was developed with Brandsma Koffie from Bolsward. The description also notes that tastings were conducted and that the “Special Roast” roastery in Amersfoort was visited during the development process.

The blend consists of Arabica from Brazil and Robusta from Uganda. The venue describes the blend as suitable for both espresso and a regular cup of coffee. This means the coffee is not tied to a single brewing method. The available data does not mention filter methods, manual brewing techniques, or technical details regarding extraction, grinding, or equipment.

The documented public offering of hot coffee drinks includes coffee, espresso, espresso macchiato, cappuccino, Dutch coffee (koffie verkeerd), latte macchiato, and flat white. Iced latte is also mentioned. Additionally, there are coffees with alcoholic additions or regional names, such as Liwwadder koffie, Dokkumer koffie, Irish coffee, Spanish coffee, Italian coffee, and French coffee.

The information suggests a hospitality venue where coffee plays a consistent role within a broader offering. The house blend gives the coffee menu a specific point of recognition. However, the publicly available information remains limited. There are no recurring coffee workshops, cuppings, exhibitions, or other coffee-focused activities found. Details about roast profiles, seasonal selections, or changing origins are also absent.

For a reader following the specialty coffee sector, this distinction is important. The venue does communicate about its own blend and the collaboration behind it. However, there is no public image of an extensive coffee program featuring multiple brewing methods or individual single origins. Therefore, the coffee offering should be read within the context of a brasserie.

In addition to regular hospitality activities, Brasserie Spiegelaar mentions various arrangements for groups and companies. Examples include Vaar & Geniet, City Hunters, The Wedding Game, Wie is de Verrader?, and Escape in the City. The arrangement “Wie is de verrader?” is described as a guided activity for groups or teams, using an app by TB Events. Dinner and drink arrangements can be added as options.

The establishment also offers corporate lunches, receptions, parties, packages, and business outings. This indicates that the business caters not only to individual guests or small groups. The local connection is further highlighted by sponsorship. Leevoc lists “Brasserie Spiegelaar Dames 1 (promotieklasse)” and mentions Brasserie Spiegelaar as a team sponsor.

Additionally, route maps for the Miniature People-route are available at the brasserie. This places the establishment within a broader tourist and cultural route through Leeuwarden. The available information does not clarify whether the brasserie is substantively involved in the route, other than serving as a location where route maps can be obtained.

No publicly documented information regarding sustainability policies is available in the provided material. However, there is information about the coffee supplier and the composition of the house blend. Brandsma Koffie from Bolsward is mentioned as a partner, Special Roast in Amersfoort as a visited roastery, and the blend consists of Arabica Brazil and robusta Uganda.

The establishment also notes that gluten-free, lactose-free, or low-carb pastries are available upon reservation. This is a dietary and allergen provision, not a sustainability claim. The distinction is relevant because such provisions speak to guest needs but do not automatically reflect purchasing practices, environmental impact, or social conditions within the supply chain.

Brasserie Spiegelaar was ranked 34th in the 2025 Terras Top 100. In the same context, the establishment was named the provincial winner for Friesland. Foodies Magazine covered this mention in their reporting on the 2025 Terras Top 100 and later referenced this status again in a 2026 article about restaurants in Leeuwarden.

Another documented moment dates back to 2021. The Leeuwarder Courant reported at the time that friends of owner Vincent Posthumus delivered boxes of a beer specially made for Brasserie Spiegelar during the pandemic period. While this report does not concern coffee, it does illustrate how the establishment remained visible locally during that period.