Stadscafé Blij

Stadscafé Blij is located at Grote Markt 13A in the city center of Zwolle. The establishment combines a café and restaurant with spaces for meetings, parties, presentations, and other gatherings. Coffee is thus one component of a broader hospitality concept, alongside food, drinks, and events.

The operators were given the opportunity in 2014 to take over the former location of De Harmonie. This was followed by a seven-month renovation. Stadscafé Blij subsequently opened in July 2015. The original plan brought together dining, meetings, events, and nightlife in a single building.

The official history does not list the founders individually. During the pandemic, Mark Corporaal, Angelique Lau, Berry Kouwen, and Inge Kouwen were named as the four owners. The current website is signed by Mark Corporaal and lists Berry and Inge Kouwen as co-owners.

Corporaal stated that he had worked in the hospitality industry for over forty years. Lau mentioned a career spanning 38 years. Her parents and grandparents previously ran a Chinese restaurant on Sassenstraat. The reviewed materials contain no further information on the professional backgrounds of Berry and Inge Kouwen.

The business describes its interior and approach with the term “stylish no-nonsense.” This phrasing comes from their own communications. In practice, it is a multifunctional venue where regular hospitality services and private events take place side by side.

The coffee is supplied by Mocca d’Or, a coffee roaster from Zwolle. The public menu lists coffee, espresso, double espresso, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. The offering is therefore primarily espresso-based. The machine model, grinder, milk blend, and roast profile are not specified.

Manual brewing methods, such as pour-over, Chemex, AeroPress, or French press, are not documented. Batch filter is also not listed on the consulted menu. As a result, it cannot be determined whether such preparations are available outside the public menu.

In addition to hot coffee drinks, the menu lists a frozen cappuccino. This is available without extra flavor or with hazelnut, white chocolate, caramel, or coconut. Various Monin syrups can also be added. The listed flavors are hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, white chocolate, and almond. Some variants are also available in a sugar-free version.

The menu also includes coffee with alcohol. The listed drinks are Tia Maria, Amaretto, Jameson whiskey, Grand Marnier, Bénédictine, and Baileys. These preparations are combined with ingredients such as cream and sometimes cane sugar. This means the coffee offering also caters to sweet and mixed drinks.

The venue features five named spaces: Stadscafé Blij, De Kornuitkamer, De Blije Bovenzaal, De Borrelkamer, and De Hap en Tapkamer. They are used for workshops, meetings, brainstorming sessions, networking events, product presentations, dinners, and private parties.

In the main café, dinners and tastings can be organized. Group packages include High Tea, High Wine, High Beer, and High Cocktail. These are general dining and drinking programs. Public coffee tastings, barista courses, or coffee workshops are not documented.

Stadscafé Blij collaborated with COC Zwolle on the monthly Blije Borrel. This gathering and dance night was aimed at LGBTQIA+ participants and other visitors. According to local news, the first edition took place in October 2017. The inclusive dance night Be You was also previously organized. Its current status has not been determined.

Other documented events highlight the broad use of the building. ESN Zwolle held a gala there on June 13, 2025. In December 2015, a free classical music program took place, featuring a guitar duo, poets, and a vocalist.

During a later renovation, a fully gas-free kitchen was installed. The business also states that it uses seasonal produce and sources ingredients regionally whenever possible. The Stadsbakker van Zwolle supplies organic brown and white bread. Beef carpaccio from cattle raised in the Vechtdal valley is cited as a prime example of regional sourcing.

The menu also features vegan dishes and snacks. However, less information is available regarding the origin of the coffee beans. Production countries, coffee farmers, certifications, purchasing terms, and traceability data are not publicly disclosed. As a result, the supply chain behind the served coffee cannot be further evaluated.

Since its opening, Stadscafé Blij has appeared in various local and national hospitality roundups. These publications primarily covered the renovation, lunch options, and the multifunctional concept. The collaboration behind the Blije Borrel also received attention in local media.

There is a public mention of a nomination for a public vote on restaurants. However, no verified final result or award has been found. Coffee-specific accolades and independently confirmed national hospitality awards are also not documented.