Velvet Square Café

Velvet Square Café is located at Asterweg 15K in Amsterdam-Noord, within the Max & Moore building. Public information links the café to Velvet Square, a venture that bridges the gap between hospitality and real estate. According to their description, the company focuses on work and living environments where creativity and connection take center stage.

The name Velvet Square, therefore, refers not just to a café, but to a broader corporate structure. Publicly available sources name Daan Meischke and Ralf Benda as co-founders of the company behind the location. A separate list specifically for the café founders was not found in these materials. Laura Hovestad is publicly listed as partner and commercial director.

The backgrounds of those involved show that hospitality and real estate converge in this concept. According to public profiles, Daan Meischke previously worked on the growth of hybrid hospitality brands, including Vascobelo. The same sources link Ralf Benda to previous roles at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and A'DAM Six Senses. Laura Hovestad is described as a commercial real estate specialist with experience in office leasing and building marketing.

An exact opening date for the café is not recorded in the public channels reviewed. However, there is a public reference to a “new” café in the Max & Moore building. The Instagram bio summarizes its positioning as hospitality with a focus on specialty coffee, breakfast, lunch, drinks, and private events, with opening hours from Monday through Friday.

The beverage selection features a compact, recognizable coffee menu. The publicly accessible menu lists espresso, doppio, americano, espresso macchiato, cappuccino, cortado, latte, and flat white. Additionally, several cold variations are mentioned, including iced latte and iced americano. Espresso tonic is also explicitly listed on the menu.

Regarding specialty coffee, one name is clearly visible in public sources: Stooker Specialty Coffee. An Instagram post from Velvet Square tags this roastery. No other coffee roaster is mentioned in the researched material. Furthermore, no separate manual brewing methods were found, such as filter coffee, V60, or Chemex. The available information therefore points primarily toward espresso-based drinks and milk-based derivatives.

Alongside coffee, the menu lists various other beverages. These include fresh ginger tea, fresh mint tea, Wilderland tea, chai latte, and matcha latte. Furthermore, lemonade, homemade iced tea, and fresh orange juice are mentioned. Later in the day, the offering shifts toward beer, wine, and spritz. This combination aligns with the broader purpose of the location as a café and meeting place.

Public communication surrounding Velvet Square Café also highlights its function as an event venue. The Instagram bio mentions that the space is available for private events. Additionally, there are concrete examples of public activities organized in collaboration with other parties. This gives the location a role that extends beyond just coffee and lunch service.

One such example is a “Swap & Network” gathering on March 27, 2026, organized in collaboration with The Swap Club. This activity was described as a combination of clothing swap and networking. Additionally, there is a separate Eventbrite listing for a “Clothing Swap: Spring Edition” in April 2025 at the same location. Public information thus shows a recurring use for community-oriented gatherings.

Regarding sustainability, the picture in public sources is mixed. Little specific policy was found regarding the café itself. However, extensive information is available about Max & Moore, the complex in which Velvet Square Café is located. That building is described as energy-neutral, with BREEAM Excellent certification, solar panels in the facade, thermal energy storage, advanced ventilation, reuse of materials, and attention to biodiversity and social interaction.

At the product level, several suppliers are mentioned by name. In addition to Stooker Specialty Coffee, public posts mention Breadwinner Bagels, Holtkamp kroketten, and Tocco Vini. Regarding the coffee roaster, their own site states that they are B Corporation certified and committed to transparent sourcing and fair prices for farmers. A shared post about Tocco Vini describes the wines as organic. A separate, café-specific sustainability policy was not found in the official materials examined.

Velvet Square Café appears in several public guides and curated lists. WijnSpijs features a dedicated entry for the location and includes the café as part of a walking tour through Amsterdam-Noord Overhoeks. Additionally, Laptop Friendly Café has published its own profile page, while social media overviews list the spot among the best work cafés in Amsterdam.

This visibility primarily reflects the business’ public positioning within the hospitality sector, coworking spaces, and community activities. No formal awards or competition results were found in the consulted public sources. Consequently, the prevailing image is that of a café closely linked to a larger hospitality and real estate concept, featuring a classic espresso menu and serving as a venue for both daily service and small-scale events.