NL NØRD on Sint Jacobsstraat in Leeuwarden combines retail with a coffee bar. The article describes the assortment, collaborations, sustainability claims, and the limited public information about the menu and brewing methods.
About NØRD
NØRD Leeuwarden: A retail concept with a coffee bar
NØRD is located at Sint Jacobsstraat 10 in the heart of Leeuwarden. Older publications sometimes refer to number 15, which was the previous location on the opposite side of the street. The business combines a retail shop with a coffee bar, catering to both retail and hospitality.
Origins and retail concept
The business opened in March 2018. Owners Suus de Glee and Gerard Folkerts moved from Amsterdam to Leeuwarden prior to this. According to public profiles, Gerard grew up in a village in the Friese Wouden. Suus was born outside of Friesland and grew up there as well, as the daughter of Frisian parents.
NØRD describes itself as a mixstore in the historic shopping district. The assortment includes home accessories, plants, toys, stationery, books, and personal care products. The owners state that they select items they would buy themselves, working with both established brands and small independent designers.
Coffee as part of the concept
The coffee bar is an integral part of the shop. NØRD works with Bocca Coffee, a roaster from Amsterdam, for its coffee. Both NØRD and local tourism publications use the term specialty coffee to describe the offering.
Little public information is available regarding the current drink menu. A 2022 publication specifically mentioned a flat white. However, this is a third-party mention and not a current menu. No public overview of espressos, filter coffee, or other preparations has been found.
The brewing methods and equipment used are also not publicly documented. As a result, it is not possible to determine based on available materials which beans, recipes, or extraction methods are currently in use. The partnership with Bocca Coffee is the only identified relationship with a coffee roaster.
Activities and Local Collaborations
In addition to retail sales and coffee, NØRD occasionally organizes events with other makers. A page on their website described a jewelry-making workshop with Xzota. This event was scheduled for Sunday, May 25, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Sint Jacobsstraat 10. The year was not specified. According to the description, materials, coffee, tea, and a snack were included.
There was also a collaboration with Margriet Keramiek from Leeuwarden. Through a promotion, customers had the chance to win a workshop for two people at the pottery wheel. The promotion referred to purchases in November and December and an announcement in January. The year is missing here as well.
NØRD regularly states that it collaborates with small, independent designers. An external location guide also mentions local designers in this context. No public information was found regarding coffee workshops, tastings, or exhibitions.
Sustainability and origin
In its own communications, NØRD expresses a preference for products with a clear story. Where possible, the shop reportedly chooses sustainably made items. However, no company-specific sustainability certification or independently audited procurement report has been publicly documented.
Regarding coffee, NØRD refers to the approach of Bocca Coffee. According to this description, the roaster buys directly from coffee farmers, without intermediaries. The intended outcome is that a larger share of the purchase price reaches the farmers.
A profile of NØRD further claims that farmers receive a fair price and that workers on the farms are paid appropriately. These are claims from the public communications surrounding the business. No independent verification of these claims for the coffee served by NØRD was found.
Publications and City Presence
Since its opening, NØRD has appeared in various media outlets and travel overviews. YourPost published a profile in December 2019 about the founding and the owners' move. Barts Boekje and Liefs uit het Noorden wrote in 2019 about the combination of shop and coffee bar.
Later mentions included those by De Koffiefilters, Ze.nl, LINDA.nl, and Nederlandse Spoorwegen. These publications primarily place NØRD within overviews of shops, hospitality venues, and routes through Leeuwarden. No formal industry awards or other professional distinctions were documented in the available research.
As a result, the public image primarily shows a mixed retail and hospitality concept. Coffee is part of a broader assortment, while detailed information about the menu, preparation methods, and procurement controls remains limited.