Boefjes en Barista’s Zuiderschans

Boefjes en Barista’s Zuiderschans is located at Sweelinckplein 12, 5216 EH in ’s-Hertogenbosch. The venue is situated at the Ontmoetingsplein of Wij zijn Zuiderschans. The space focuses on fostering connections between young families, children, and elderly residents within a residential care setting. Coffee plays a role as a staple of these encounters, but the concept is about more than just consumption.

The origins of Boefjes en Barista’s lie in Den Bosch. Carlijn van den Berge is credited as the founder and director. In 2018, the idea was described as a place where parents with young children could gather, while elderly residents from a care center were also present. According to that description, Van den Berge had been working on the plan for five years before the first location was announced.

The first location was linked to residential care center Nieuwehagen and was expected to open in 2018. From there, the initiative grew. A later description mentions that Boefjes en Barista’s began as a pilot in Den Bosch in 2018, subsequently evolving into a foundation. This gave the concept a more permanent structure, with weekly morning sessions in care centers.

The Zuiderschans location came into play following a move. Starting February 1, 2023, Boefjes en Barista’s welcomed visitors on Wednesday mornings at Zuiderschans. Current information lists Wednesday and Friday as the fixed days. Gatherings take place from 09:00 to 12:00 in the community room. Catinka van der Ham is mentioned as the community connector for the Den Bosch and Eindhoven locations.

The concept focuses on creating connections between three groups: parents, children, and seniors. Activities include playing, games, crafting, movement, and drinking coffee. The setting is practically designed for young families, featuring seating, space for small children to play, and amenities such as changing mats and wipes.

No prior registration is required for the regular Wednesday and Friday morning sessions. This reflects the welcoming, low-threshold nature of the meeting spot. At the same time, the context remains clear: this is an organized activity within the Zuiderschans environment, rather than a standard coffee shop with extensive daily opening hours.

The menu features coffee blends from Africa, supplied by Pure Africa. The selection includes espresso or coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato, dirty chai latte, Boefjes coffee or babyccino, and hot chocolate. A caramel syrup shot is listed as an option for the latte macchiato. Cappuccino and latte macchiato are described as espresso-based drinks with frothed milk.

The available information makes no mention of manual brewing methods such as filter coffee, pour-over, AeroPress, or batch brew. Consequently, based on public documentation, the focus lies on espresso-based drinks and hot milk beverages. Alongside coffee, the menu also offers chai latte, various types of Trending Tea, fruit and herbal teas, apple juice, ranja, and packaged snacks.

The menu provides information regarding suppliers and origin. Pure Africa is listed as the coffee supplier. According to the menu, Pure Africa purchases coffee beans directly from farmers, pays a fair price, and invests one euro per kilo of coffee sold into microcredits for farmers in Africa. Pure Africa describes these loans as being used for investments such as land, coffee trees, and livestock.

Origin is also mentioned for the tea. According to the menu, Trending Tea is sourced directly from tea farmers in Sri Lanka at a fair price. The pyramid tea bags are described as fully compostable and plastic-free. Additionally, the menu lists product names and suppliers such as De Kleine Keuken, Schulp, Callebaut, Organix, and Fruitfunk.

Beyond the fixed morning sessions, the Zuiderschans location hosts activities with a broader community function. In September 2024, it was reported that the location added extra Friday mornings from October 4th through the end of January. This included the crafting activity Groetjes van Boefjes, which was made possible by Fonds Sluyterman van Loo.

Groetjes van Boefjes also emerged during the Covid period. At that time, children created crafts, drawings, or cards for elderly residents. Available information states that nearly 1,200 residents across nine care centers received these greetings, with over 3,000 greetings delivered in total.

On May 14, 2025, a performance by Concert Curieus took place at Boefjes en Barista’s. Children and residents of Wij zijn Zuiderschans were involved. Such activities demonstrate that, beyond coffee, the location focuses on encounter, connection, and shared activities within the residential care environment.

In 2021, Boefjes en Barista’s received first prize in the IGNITE Award, with an investment amount of 100,000 euros. Additionally, Stichting De Buurtverbinder mentions support from the Anton Jurgens Fonds in 2022 and 2023 for further development. The foundation also participated in the Oranje Fonds Groeiprogramma, focused on training and coaching.

On November 26, 2024, founder Carlijn received a certificate from the Dutch royal couple for participating in the three-year Oranje Fonds Groeiprogramma. Furthermore, Boefjes en Barista’s is mentioned as a member of Social Enterprise NL. Publicly documented partners and supporting organizations include Wij zijn Zuiderschans, Van Neynsel, Fonds Sluyterman van Loo, Anton Jurgens Fonds, and Oranje Fonds.