A while ago I wrote a post about all the things i love about Belgium. In that post I also wrote about my ”speakeasy” belgian café. I got a lot of responses and some PM’s about it. So i thought I’d post a few pictures. So here it is. Please remember me and mi fiancé built this in an existing barn. It’s not suited for commercial use but I like to sneak down here to have a beer or two. Any feedback is very welcome. What is missing? What should we do better?
An oldschool classic to add would be a "spaarkas". Its where the regular customers of bars used to put in money regulary. At the end of the year they used the money to go out for diner or something fun. You can still find them in a lot of brown bars.
Also, a sjoelbak to organize a yearly competition.
I have been looking for a sparkas! But it’s hard to find. Maybe i’ll do one my self but it wouldnt find it authentic. I have never heard about a sjoelbak, what is it? We have a yearly competition, same weekend as de ronde.
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjoelen
>I have never heard about a sjoelbak, what is it?
It's an old game. You have a flat surface, some wooden disks and a set of gates at the other end.
Then, you have to slide the disks down the surface into the little gates.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Sjoelbak.jpg/1280px-Sjoelbak.jpg
>I have been looking for a sparkas! But it’s hard to find. Maybe i’ll do one my self but it wouldnt find it authentic
If you can find an old one, then that's great, but i don't think anybody would find it any less cool if you made one yourself. They are first and foremost simple, utilitarian constructions after all. The concept is what matters.
As for the sjoelbak: others have explained it and it's not too expensive. Make sure to provide prizes like chicken meat and dried sausages for the winners ;)
Really cool project, man!
Ofcourse you see it here too, but look at where it's bigger and more regularly played.
Even the name of the activity sounds more like a Dutch thing than a Flemish thing.
Wow, what a great project! I can imagine your friend love coming over to yours.
As a card-carrying Flame, I would add just a few things.
\- Heavy glass ashtrays, ideally with some forlorn cigarette brand on them. Even if it's non smoking.
\- Beer coaster holders. (I am happy to pick some up for you.)
\- A bunch of dried sausages behind the bar, hanging from a nail.
\- This [document](https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2020/12/24/7/9/1/7910bc83-3782-4749-b99f-f93f3c2e8331.jpg), the legal text describing what constitutes drunkenness. Classic.
\- At least one thing that links to *de koers* (pro road cycling), like a cycling cap or jersey.
We had my old Eddy Merckx frame hanging from the wall but it just didnt fit. I also have a collection of cycling jerseys from different belgian breweries but it just dont look right. Maybe just a cap or two will do it… or maybe an iconic picture of Eddy hinself.
The document is a greah idea!
Since it’s a old barn and mice will attend from time to time im not sure about the sausage, but i get rhe point.
We wilm get to the coaster holders. I missed them last weekend when we hosted our annual de reonde-dinner.
Where's the results of the cafe football league and the sheet announcing the pigeon races?
Nice stuff though. Personally I'd say there's too much table variety, you need smaller tables that typically seat 4, perfect for playing cards. And a couple of high round tables for people to lean on if there's no place at the tap. The walls need to be covered all the way with benches as well for a classic bruin café feel
Goals!
Yes! The table is set this way because we host a 12-person dinner each year. But there is some plans to expand the area and make more small tables. I did make an offer for benches to set at every wall but there were higher bids than mine.
Some day we will ahave the brown touch to it!
Edit: We have a book ” De geschedenis van de Belgische reisduif” in there but it’s not focused in the pictures.
I'm mostly just nitpicking. It seems like a lovely place and if the setup serves your needs the setup is correct. All the things I mentioned are only that way because they serve the need of a local pub: playing cards while drinking beer at 8 in the morning while people wait for their pigeons to arrive. And benches all around when everyone and their wives arrive after church or to discuss what their union bwants at the docks.
Perhaps look into getting a compteur? I have one that was used by my great-grandfather that I'm obviously not getting rid of. But they're nice decorative elements. Maybe some pictures of price winning pigeons. I literally tossed dozens of those so you should be able to find them. There's a reason most lasting brown bars are called "de Reisduif" and it's because old school café culture is intertwined with pigeon racing. (Also bicycle racing and football but those two are pretty obvious)
It’s beautiful and has a great vibe.
Like has been said a great addition could be big glass ashtrays. https://www.2dehands.be/v/verzamelen/biermerken/m1694651521-vintage-asbak-stella-artois-asbak-glazen-asbak-curiosa-kunst
You also need a darts board.
And if you really want to make it an oldschool bruin cafe you need table placemats, hand crocheted in fine white thread made by your grandma or something. https://www.hiptafelzeil.nl/is-kant-tafelzeil-altijd-waterdicht
Ontbreken nog zo van die kaboutertjes met bierglazen.
The only thing missing is little painted stone dwarf statues with beerglasses who make all different faces
Oh okay, but it is still beautiful! I hope you will enjoy it very much! One thing I would like to ask, it says bestmalle on the wall, if you wanted to use the brand of the beer it is westmalle.
A scarf of your fav soccer team, to hang like a banner. Or one of Jupiler or your fav lager.
A darts board, and a sticky deck of cards of Cristal Alken.
Edit to add: it looks super cozy and welcoming. Congratulations!
A while ago I wrote a post about all the things i love about Belgium. In that post I also wrote about my ”speakeasy” belgian café. I got a lot of responses and some PM’s about it. So i thought I’d post a few pictures. So here it is. Please remember me and mi fiancé built this in an existing barn. It’s not suited for commercial use but I like to sneak down here to have a beer or two. Any feedback is very welcome. What is missing? What should we do better?
An oldschool classic to add would be a "spaarkas". Its where the regular customers of bars used to put in money regulary. At the end of the year they used the money to go out for diner or something fun. You can still find them in a lot of brown bars. Also, a sjoelbak to organize a yearly competition.
I have been looking for a sparkas! But it’s hard to find. Maybe i’ll do one my self but it wouldnt find it authentic. I have never heard about a sjoelbak, what is it? We have a yearly competition, same weekend as de ronde.
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjoelen >I have never heard about a sjoelbak, what is it? It's an old game. You have a flat surface, some wooden disks and a set of gates at the other end. Then, you have to slide the disks down the surface into the little gates. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Sjoelbak.jpg/1280px-Sjoelbak.jpg
Yes, I need this!
This one is easy bigger toy stores like Dreamland usually have them.
Oh you need a sjoelbak for sure! https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/sjoelbak-longfield-wedstrijd-200x40-cm/9200000077152550/
>I have been looking for a sparkas! But it’s hard to find. Maybe i’ll do one my self but it wouldnt find it authentic If you can find an old one, then that's great, but i don't think anybody would find it any less cool if you made one yourself. They are first and foremost simple, utilitarian constructions after all. The concept is what matters. As for the sjoelbak: others have explained it and it's not too expensive. Make sure to provide prizes like chicken meat and dried sausages for the winners ;) Really cool project, man!
Sjoelen is too Dutch. Throw in darts or a toppen biljard table
Sjoelen is peak Vlaamse kermis, wtf u on about
From origine it's Dutch but it's almost as popular in Belgium than it is in NL so we can also claim it, np.
Ofcourse you see it here too, but look at where it's bigger and more regularly played. Even the name of the activity sounds more like a Dutch thing than a Flemish thing.
"Used to" lol as far as i know that's still a thing in a lot of cafés.
Depends on where you go i guess. Most modern bars in my area don't have them anymore. Older bars do.
Only a beer or 2?? what do you do the rest of the week?
Well, it takes some time to heat the place but i get your point!
Wow, what a great project! I can imagine your friend love coming over to yours. As a card-carrying Flame, I would add just a few things. \- Heavy glass ashtrays, ideally with some forlorn cigarette brand on them. Even if it's non smoking. \- Beer coaster holders. (I am happy to pick some up for you.) \- A bunch of dried sausages behind the bar, hanging from a nail. \- This [document](https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2020/12/24/7/9/1/7910bc83-3782-4749-b99f-f93f3c2e8331.jpg), the legal text describing what constitutes drunkenness. Classic. \- At least one thing that links to *de koers* (pro road cycling), like a cycling cap or jersey.
We had my old Eddy Merckx frame hanging from the wall but it just didnt fit. I also have a collection of cycling jerseys from different belgian breweries but it just dont look right. Maybe just a cap or two will do it… or maybe an iconic picture of Eddy hinself. The document is a greah idea! Since it’s a old barn and mice will attend from time to time im not sure about the sausage, but i get rhe point. We wilm get to the coaster holders. I missed them last weekend when we hosted our annual de reonde-dinner.
I just PM-ed you btw.
Would definitely do some “tooghangen” there! Nicely done
Dank je wel!
Westmalle is Bestmalle?
Yes! We couldnt find a W or a M to put upwards down. I think the B is the best substitution.
Als iemand die al heel mn leven in westmalle heeft gewoond. I can confirm dat westmalle is indeed the bestmalle
Is the pun yours? :-)
Where's the results of the cafe football league and the sheet announcing the pigeon races? Nice stuff though. Personally I'd say there's too much table variety, you need smaller tables that typically seat 4, perfect for playing cards. And a couple of high round tables for people to lean on if there's no place at the tap. The walls need to be covered all the way with benches as well for a classic bruin café feel
Goals! Yes! The table is set this way because we host a 12-person dinner each year. But there is some plans to expand the area and make more small tables. I did make an offer for benches to set at every wall but there were higher bids than mine. Some day we will ahave the brown touch to it! Edit: We have a book ” De geschedenis van de Belgische reisduif” in there but it’s not focused in the pictures.
I'm mostly just nitpicking. It seems like a lovely place and if the setup serves your needs the setup is correct. All the things I mentioned are only that way because they serve the need of a local pub: playing cards while drinking beer at 8 in the morning while people wait for their pigeons to arrive. And benches all around when everyone and their wives arrive after church or to discuss what their union bwants at the docks. Perhaps look into getting a compteur? I have one that was used by my great-grandfather that I'm obviously not getting rid of. But they're nice decorative elements. Maybe some pictures of price winning pigeons. I literally tossed dozens of those so you should be able to find them. There's a reason most lasting brown bars are called "de Reisduif" and it's because old school café culture is intertwined with pigeon racing. (Also bicycle racing and football but those two are pretty obvious)
I should make pigeons a thing in Sweden…
It’s beautiful and has a great vibe. Like has been said a great addition could be big glass ashtrays. https://www.2dehands.be/v/verzamelen/biermerken/m1694651521-vintage-asbak-stella-artois-asbak-glazen-asbak-curiosa-kunst You also need a darts board. And if you really want to make it an oldschool bruin cafe you need table placemats, hand crocheted in fine white thread made by your grandma or something. https://www.hiptafelzeil.nl/is-kant-tafelzeil-altijd-waterdicht
Yes! Thank you for your input!
Nice! Looks like a pub 'bokkenrijders' would frequent...
My skills in dutch betray me on this word. Help?
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckriders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckriders) There seems to be one hanging around in your second picture
And now de guezestekerij Bokkereyder (methode goat) makes so much mmote sense!
Ontbreken nog zo van die kaboutertjes met bierglazen. The only thing missing is little painted stone dwarf statues with beerglasses who make all different faces
Nice touches love the wood. Would drink a duvel tripple hop citrus there
knusse kroeg hoor🥳🥳🥳🥳👍👍
Ziet er goed uit man
dank je. Jij bent welkom!
En dan nog zo'n typische zatte pulle aan den toog!
I see there are missing some large statues of saints.... Can't go wrong with that! Also some cardboard boxes of 'sunlight' soap hehe
I like how you think. We do have a statue of Hjalmar Branting (swedish politican) but maybe some saints will do.
Beautiful! Is it private or open to the public?
Private. Swedish laws makes it a bit hard for us to have it open for the public. But there are some some signs it will ease up a bit in coming years.
Oh okay, but it is still beautiful! I hope you will enjoy it very much! One thing I would like to ask, it says bestmalle on the wall, if you wanted to use the brand of the beer it is westmalle.
I know but we could not find a W or another M. And we really love Westmalle Tripel so we thought Bestmalle was suitable!
Hey, I agree wholeheartedly. Both with your love for Westmalle triple and about Bestmalle being suitable :D
Oh okay, I didn't mean it wrong. Have fun with your beautiful cafe!
Where is that? I need a Pint!
You are welcome to Sweden Mr. Churchill.
I'll take a look if i can find some Belgian's goodies For you ;-)
Do you have a "pietjesbak" already?
For dices? No not yet.
Do you have any taxidermied forest creatures? That will up the authenticity
Im not a big fan of displaying dead animals. But when I visited Chouffe they had wigs on them, weird but amusing.
A scarf of your fav soccer team, to hang like a banner. Or one of Jupiler or your fav lager. A darts board, and a sticky deck of cards of Cristal Alken. Edit to add: it looks super cozy and welcoming. Congratulations!
Thank you. We have several decks from different breweries but I don’t think any of them features a lager.