Fret

Fret is located at Postelstraat 37 in the city center of ’s-Hertogenbosch. The venue opened in August 2023 and is run by Cynthia Jongenelis. She previously worked at Eetbar DIT and has been active in the local hospitality scene in ’s-Hertogenbosch since the age of sixteen. In addition, she graduated from an art program as a concept designer and product developer. Alongside her work in the restaurant, she has continued to design textile products.

Fret operates as a fully plant-based bistro rather than a specialized coffee bar. The business serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and pastries for takeaway. The setup follows that of a regular bistro, while the menu is entirely plant-based. According to Jongenelis, this core principle is not prominently displayed on the facade or in the presentation of the menu. The venue presents plant-based food without a preachy or moralizing tone.

Coffee is part of the daily service and is also available for takeaway. Fret uses coffee from La Jeu Coffee, an independent coffee roaster from ’s-Hertogenbosch. This means the bistro works with a local supplier. La Jeu itself states that it roasts in the city and uses fairtrade specialty coffee.

Only limited public information is available regarding the coffee offering. A flat white is mentioned on Fret’s own Instagram account. An espresso martini also appears on social media and on the public menu from May 2026. That menu focuses primarily on food and does not provide a complete overview of espresso or milk-based drinks.

Details about the beans are also missing. Fret does not publish the countries of origin, farms, cooperatives, blends, or certifications of the coffee served. Manual brewing methods such as V60, AeroPress, and Chemex are not documented either. The same applies to batch brew and other filter options. As a result, it is not possible to determine how broad the offering is for filter coffee enthusiasts.

According to Fret, the entire food and drink offering is plant-based. This choice is a fixed part of the business concept. However, the venue does not publish figures regarding the environmental benefits or emissions of this approach. Policies on energy use, reusable packaging, waste measurement, and formal environmental certifications are also not publicly documented.

Jongenelis has stated that the kitchen prepares the majority of the dishes in-house. She cited purchased plant-based shrimp as an exception. These are then further processed and pickled in the house kitchen. On the website, Fret also lists several fixed suppliers. PROEF supplies wine, Bakkertje DEEG from Heusden is the bakery partner, and Heerkens supplies vegetables and fruit. La Jeu Coffee is the named coffee partner.

In addition to individual guests, Fret also hosts groups. The venue offers space for business meetings, corporate lunches, and shared breakfast or lunch menus. Its own coffee workshops, tastings, or exhibitions are not publicly documented.

In January 2025, Fret served as the venue for the second Vegan Lunch Club. At this networking event, approximately thirty women who work in vegan or sustainability-focused businesses gathered. Fret provided a plant-based brunch. Various brands in the fields of tea, soft drinks, herbs, cookies, granola, and plant-based products also contributed.

In 2024, Fret participated in Local Taste in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Twenty-nine hospitality businesses took part in this city-wide initiative. The program was designed to introduce residents to local food and drink establishments.

Since its opening, Fret has appeared in various publications about the hospitality scene in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Food Inspiration wrote about the opening, the interior, and the plant-based concept in August 2023. Bossche Buik included the venue in its 2023 and 2026 guides, noting the coffee from La Jeu.

The Hippe Vegetariër published an interview with Jongenelis in March 2025 about her background, menu development, and business vision. Foodies Magazine mentioned Fret in March 2026 in an article about lunch spots in the city. On November 1, 2024, the venue received a Vegan Award from the Dutch Vegan Society in the hospitality category. The nominations were established through public suggestions and a professional jury; the public then determined the winner.