Brasserie Eiggenwijzz

Brasserie Eiggenwijzz is located at Langeviele 20-22 in the city center of Middelburg. Michelle Bartlett and Joop Steeman opened the business in 2012, with May 15, 2012, cited as the opening date. The brasserie succeeded Restaurant-Café NXT, which previously occupied the same address. The business is still active there in 2026.

The origins lie in an initiative by parents and five young people with intellectual disabilities. The lunchroom was set up independently and was not affiliated with a care institution. The concept offers employment in service, the kitchen, the bakery, and the restaurant. Tasks are tailored to the capabilities of each employee.

The company's own website mentions 21 or 22 young people working at Eiggenwijzz. Most hold part-time positions. The discrepancy between the two figures is not explained in public information. Bartlett and Steeman are named as independent owners. Little public information is available regarding Steeman's professional background.

Bartlett also served as chairman of the Vereniging Ondernemers Middelburg for nearly three years. She stepped down from this role in 2025. Eiggenwijzz joined this business association in 2017.

The associated Bakkerijzz opened on April 1, 2016. There, bread, pastries, and other products are made for use in the brasserie. According to the menu, bread is baked daily. Some products served with coffee and tea also come from this bakery.

According to the company, the lunch menu is updated every six months to reflect available seasonal products. A 2023 menu listed Kaasboerderij Schellach as the supplier of cheese croquettes. This reference is absent from the December 2025 menu. As a result, it cannot be determined whether this supplier is still used.

Beukenhorst Koffie has been publicly named as the coffee supplier. The company also reported the installation of a Mondrian espresso line at the brasserie. However, available information does not mention the coffee blend, bean origin, or roast profile. Certification and purchasing agreements are also not publicly described.

The December 2025 menu lists coffee, decaf coffee, cappuccino, coffee with milk, and latte macchiato. Espresso and double espresso are also on the menu. The offering is thus primarily built around espresso and milk-based drinks. Manual filter methods or other brewing techniques are not mentioned.

In addition, the menu features several coffee drinks with syrup or other additions. Examples include hazelnut cappuccino, caramel cappuccino, and cinnamon bun cappuccino. The latter is served with syrup, whipped cream, and a small cinnamon bun. Irish coffee is also on the menu.

For cold preparations, the menu lists iced coffee with whipped cream. There are variants with salted caramel and chocolate. Whole milk can be replaced with oat milk for an additional charge. No further information on dosing, extraction, or equipment used has been made public.

For coffee enthusiasts, it is primarily clear which drinks are available. Information on producers, regions, varieties, processing, and roast dates is missing. Tasting notes and rotating single origins are also not mentioned. As a result, it cannot be determined how the coffee is selected, purchased, and roasted.

A concrete sustainability policy has also not been publicly elaborated. There is no data on organic coffee, Fairtrade, waste reduction, reusable packaging, energy use, or emission reduction. The semi-annual adjustment to seasonal products and the in-house bread production are, however, documented.

Eiggenwijzz organized a free anniversary event at De Spot in May 2022. The program was intended for people with intellectual disabilities from Middelburg and the surrounding area. In November 2024, activities were held to mark the 12.5th anniversary. This included a private moment for the young people working at the brasserie.

In January 2021, team members helped with recovery and cleanup work at the De Belt mountain bike trail after damage. Public coffee tastings, workshops, or exhibitions are not documented. However, the company offers commercial services such as high teas, parties, weddings, and catering upon request.

Over the years, the establishment has received attention from local media. It is also listed in a 2026 restaurant overview and on a candidate list for Horecaprijzen.nl. While these mentions demonstrate public visibility, they do not constitute independently confirmed awards. No formally documented prize win has been recorded.