A Century of Hospitality (Early 1900s–Present)

The café building itself has functioned as a traditional Dutch bruin café (brown café) right on the lock basin for over 100 years. The Local Social Hub: Over the past century, it served as a meeting spot for local workers, boatmen navigating the Vliet, and villagers leaving nearby church services or market days along the Sluiskant and Damlaan. Preserving Tradition: While the surrounding town modernized and steam/motorized traffic replaced horse-drawn barges, the café retained its traditional character—offering a front-row view of the lock gates operating right outside its front door.
Today, the café sits at the historic heart of Leidschendam’s waterfront district, drawing boaters clearing the lock, cyclists along the Vliet route, and locals gathering on the terrace overlooking the water.