Wadapartja Zuiderdiep

Wadapartja Zuiderdiep is located at Gedempte Zuiderdiep 39-41 in the center of Groningen. Wadapartja itself identifies this as the place where the company began in 2015. Visit Groningen also lists this branch at the same address. This makes Zuiderdiep the oldest location within the current Wadapartja concept.

The founding is linked to Margreet Metting in public sources. In June 2015, it was reported that she developed the idea for a combination of hospitality and retail. Wadapartja states that the company started at Zuiderdiep in the spring of 2015 and opened its doors on April 19. By the end of April 2015, the business was already operating as a trial.

Little is recorded in the sources used about Metting’s professional background. It is noted, however, that she is from Winschoten. Gezinus Winters, from Zevenhuizen, joined the company in 2017. In October 2024, it was reported that Metting and Winters sold the Wadapartja concept to Ben and Michelle de Boed. It was mentioned that the concept would remain the same.

The concept blends hospitality with the sale of products and interior pieces. The venue is described as a place where dining, drinking, and shopping come together. According to the public description, many of the visible items in the interior are for sale. The official English-language page also mentions a shop, a living room setting, a terrace, and a menu featuring fresh, homemade dishes.

Wadapartja’s communications also highlight the use of local and partly organic products. This places the venue within a broader hospitality approach, where coffee, lunch, dinner, retail, and local sourcing sit side by side. For coffee enthusiasts, it is particularly relevant that coffee here is part of a wider daily hospitality and retail model, rather than being described as a standalone coffee bar.

The publicly documented coffee beans come from Koffiestation Groningen. Wadapartja names this supplier on its own company page. The 2026 drink menu also displays the Koffiestation brand in the coffee section of the menu.

The 2026 menu lists several espresso drinks. These include a single espresso, double espresso, single espresso macchiato, and double espresso macchiato. The menu also features small coffee, large coffee, cortado, flat white, cappuccino, verkeerde koffie, latte macchiato, and iced latte. Extra espresso and oat milk are listed as add-ons.

The menu also lists a few cold coffee specials, including iced classic caramel and white-chocolate iced cappuccino. The same specials section also features iced raspberry chai. Manual brewing methods such as filter coffee, pour-over, AeroPress, or batch brew are not publicly documented in the sources used.

Wadapartja lists an agenda of events and dinners for the Zuiderdiep location. A concrete example is “WADAPARTJA 10 JAAR!”, scheduled for April 19, 2025, at Wadapartja Zuiderdiep. The official agenda also includes events at other Wadapartja locations, such as an Easter activity in 2025 and a King’s Day mention in 2024 at Westerhaven.

At its launch in 2015, a social and creative role was also mentioned. Wadapartja aimed to connect people and provide space for new talent. Collaborations were mentioned with Tasenik, Diedot keukenkunst, and Grafiquelien. The official information further states that both locations can be rented for private gatherings and that Wadapartja provides catering. Public coffee workshops or coffee tastings at Zuiderdiep are not documented in the sources used.

Wadapartja names various local suppliers. Examples include beer from Baxbier, Brouwerij Martinus, and Eggens Craft Beer; bread from Groningen baker Luuk; coffee beans from Koffiestation Groningen; and vegetables from De Eemstuin via Boer & Chef. Cards by Grafiquelien are also mentioned.

The page on local suppliers also mentions Stadsbakker Luuk, the biodynamic grower De Eemstuin, ‘t Ailand in Lauwersoog, local brewers, regional suppliers for dairy and eggs, Slagerij Boersma for Gronings Weiderund and local Porc Local pork, and cranberries from Terschelling.

Sustainability is reflected in the public communications through LED lighting, organic products, a zero-waste policy, and second-hand items in the shop. Wadapartja also mentions the Groen Genieten recognition from Horeca van Groningen Werkt Slim. According to its own Groen Genieten page, the kitchen is further working on vegan dishes to reduce meat consumption.

The venue has been described multiple times in Groningen media since its opening. In 2015, an article about the hospitality and retail concept in the city center was published. In 2024, news covered the transfer of ownership to Ben and Michelle de Boed. In 2026, a profile on Wadapartja and the current owners was published.

Beyond media attention, there are mentions regarding sustainability and vegetarian offerings. Wadapartja states that it received the Groen Genieten label in 2023. The Groningen City Club also listed Wadapartja Zuiderdiep among companies holding this label. The Dutch Vegetarian Society mentions a LEKKER VEGA Silver certification for Wadapartja Groningen, with criteria requiring at least 75% vegetarian dishes and at least 30% plant-based dishes.