Luhu

Luhu is a coffee, tea, and lunch location at Munnekeholm 4 in the center of Groningen. The establishment opened on October 1, 2022. The café is managed by deaf people and caters to an audience of both deaf and hearing guests.

The visionaries behind the project are Engelien Kester and Dennis Hoogeveen. Their plan was born from the realization that there was no established hospitality venue in the Netherlands run entirely by Deaf people. The name Luhu refers to Sam Pattipeiluhu, a figure connected to the Deaf community and Dutch Sign Language.

Kester previously worked as a pedagogical worker with Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Hoogeveen has a background in organizational studies, project management, interpreting, and information provision for the Deaf community. These backgrounds align perfectly with the social and linguistic character of the café.

At Luhu, Dutch Sign Language is the primary language of work. Everyone employed at the café is Deaf. Guests can place their orders by signing, pointing, or writing. In doing so, the establishment demonstrates that communication does not have to rely solely on spoken language.

The interior and the ordering process support this principle. There are screens displaying signs for ordering drinks. Additionally, the opening featured a screen at the till showing basic signs. The goal is to lower the barrier between Deaf and hearing people.

This approach places Luhu within a broader movement for the visibility of Deaf people, Deaf culture, and Dutch Sign Language. The café uses the hospitality setting not just as a place of business, but as a daily meeting space where language and connection are central.

Luhu serves coffee using beans from Black & Bloom from Groningen. The menu features hot drinks such as espresso, double espresso, Americano, and cappuccino. Additionally, latte macchiato and hot chocolate have been mentioned in public descriptions of their offerings.

No specific information regarding manual brewing methods is available in the provided materials. Preparations such as pour-over, AeroPress, or batch brew are not documented. The available imagery focuses primarily on espresso-based drinks and hot beverages for café consumption.

The choice of Black & Bloom connects Luhu with a Groningen-based coffee roaster. Black & Bloom selects coffee seasonally, roasts in their own micro-roastery in Groningen, and delivers within the city via cargo bike. This operational method belongs to the supplier and is not described as Luhu’s own sustainability policy.

Luhu is connected to the Clubhuis voor Doven on the Munnekeholm. The space was already used by the club in the evenings. With the arrival of the café, the location gained a function during the day as well, making the spot more visible in the streetscape.

Various activities around Luhu have been described. These include Friday afternoon drinks with sign language lessons, recurring forms of sign language education, and Sketch & Coffee gatherings. Requests from vocational schools for workshops, as well as inquiries regarding short internships or workplaces, have also been mentioned.

Prior to the opening, there was talk of potential coffee or baking workshops, where Deaf bakers or chefs could play a role. In January 2025, a tour with an NGT interpreter was paired with a coffee moment at Dovencafé Luhu.

In December 2025, Luhu, Turkoois, and Stichting Clubhuis voor Doven were involved with a large screen on the street side of Munnekeholm. On it, “Imagine” and a poem in sign language were displayed. The project aimed to make the Deaf community more visible.

No specific environmental regulations or sustainability goals have been established for Luhu in the provided materials. However, public profile texts link the café to coffee, local produce, and sign language. Crowdfunding communications mentioned that breakfast and lunch would be prepared using local products as much as possible.

This information primarily indicates the intended procurement direction for food and beverages. There is no substantiated basis to make broader claims regarding sustainability, climate impact, or waste policy. Therefore, a neutral description remains limited to the mentioned local orientation and the partnership with the roaster in Groningen.

Luhu is mentioned in accessible city information as a coffee bar with various facilities. These include personal assistance, an accessible toilet, access for assistance and guide dogs, and accessibility for people with auditory or motor impairments.

The establishment received attention in both local and national media. The coverage focused primarily on its founding, the use of Dutch Sign Language, the role of deaf employees, and the connection with the Clubhuis voor Doven. Later articles also described the screens behind the counter and the process of ordering using signs.

Within the Dutch specialty coffee sector, Luhu occupies a distinctive position. The café combines coffee, lunch, and tea within a clear social context. The available information primarily demonstrates how hospitality, language, and accessibility converge in one place.