Theatercafé De Roode Remise: a cozy community hub on Haarlemmerplein

Easily identifiable by its distinctive red wooden sign framing the entrance, Theatercafé De Roode Remise stands out for its cozy and lively atmosphere, its entirely vegetarian menu prepared with local and organic ingredients and the wide range of cultural events it hosts. Tucked away from the bustling streets of Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk, it offers an informal and relaxed space where to enjoy a drink with some finger food or a healthy meal. The colorful interiors and the artworks showcased on the walls add character and warmth to the space, creating a welcoming atmosphere. In summer, the terrace on Haarlemmerplein provides the perfect spot to bask in the sunshine and listen to their Sunday afternoon concerts, while in winter you can warmly curl up indoor and enjoy the daily live show.

Many people may know Theatercafé De Roode Remise through its affiliation with Theater De Roode Bioscoop, with which it shares its name. When the café opened in 2019, it was initially called Theatercafé Spinoza, a name chosen by the theatre’s director. However, since many visitors did not realize the connection between the two venues, it was later renamed De Roode Remise to emphasize its role in supporting the theatre.

Contrary to a common misconception, Theater De Roode Bioscoop is not in danger of closing, but it is undergoing a change in management. Its collaboration with De Roode Remise will therefore continue without issues. De Roode Remise partners with both De Roode Bioscoop and the cinema The Movies, allowing visitors to complement a film screening or theatre performance with a delicious meal at the café with a special discount.

Although De Roode Remise originally opened with the aim of supporting De Roode Bioscoop by offering its visitors a complementary dining experience, it has gradually become more than just a café, establishing itself as a gathering place for the community. What makes this café unique is its combination of an entirely vegetarian menu with a diverse cultural programme, which ensures there is something for everyone. De Roode Remise hosts free concerts every Thursday and Sunday evening. From May onwards, the Sunday concerts are held in the afternoon, allowing visitors to enjoy the performances from the sunny terrace. On Wednesdays, Game Nights turn the café into the perfect matching ground for both seasoned players and amateurs to meet. The café also hosts Dutch Comedy Nights every second Tuesday of the month and monthly Singing Sessions, where everyone is welcome to participate.

As Joris Wondergem, the manager of De Roode Remise, explains, “It all just started with a note on the door: if you want to play here, then let us know”. Then some local musicians saw the note and came to perform. Since one of the chefs is also a musician and has his own record label, he helped De Roode Remise find other musicians who  were interested in performing. From there “things just started rolling”, as Joris says. Today, the café has built a broad network of musicians and aims to offer as wide a range of genres as possible, from Jazz to Latin music. 

J: “We don't want to be profiled as a place where you go for a specific type of music. We try to be as diverse as possible, as long as it fits the place. And sometimes we find out that something is very experimental, but we try it out and we see what happens.”

From that note on the door, the Theatercafé now hosts so many events that they have trouble fitting them all on one flyer. “It's getting a little bit small now. We have too many things going on. But I'm glad that it's like that because it's what makes a normal bar a special bar.”

What is one of the most memorable events you organized?

J: “We have a monthly singing session around the Red Table, which is a different company every time for different people. Depending on the night, some of those sessions were really wonderful because they're not sitting on a stage, but in the middle of the room. The audience gathers around, and if the crowd is larger and more engaged, something really special can flourish. When the song starts, everybody's welcome to contribute. You can sing with them, you can play with them if you want, or you can just listen and enjoy it.”

The sense of togetherness of the singing sessions is also reflected in De Roode Remise’s effort to create “an informal, nice atmosphere where people are free to be themselves”, and prices are deliberately kept affordable to welcome people from all economic backgrounds.

How would you describe De Roode Remise?

J: “This place is all about supporting culture in different ways. It's about introducing people to culture, but also to responsible and sustainable ways of eating and drinking”. 
De Roode Remise has become fully vegetarian, as Joris explains “it's the wise choice in the current world”. They also try to offer as many vegan dishes as possible. The café’s commitment to sustainability is reflected not only in its vegetarian menu but also in the products they use. They prioritize using organic products and buying their supplies from small local businesses. Most of their vegetables come from the biological markets of Noordermarkt and their distillery is located only 200 meters away. The café is also fully independent from commercial parties, allowing them the freedom to decide which drinks to sell. “If people come with a good suggestion or a good idea for a new drink, which we don't have yet, we're always open for new opportunities to try something new.”

What would you like people to experience at De Roode Remise?

J: “I would like them to have the full experience, so coming early, having time to enjoy the terrace a little bit, then seeing what's inside. Maybe looking around, deciding to try a meal, going to see a show at De Roode Bioscoop or The Movies. Then coming back here, where we often have another performance going on. For me, the most beautiful thing is when people come for one thing and they experience five.”

The uniqueness of De Roode Remise is precisely the variety of experiences it offers, from its vegetarian cuisine to its wide range of events. Their fixed menu also changes frequently, four times a year, constantly providing guests with new experiences. While some dishes are available all year-round, like the starter of spinach pancakes with halloumi cheese and lime butter, most of the menu changes regularly, like the soup or dish of the day. The café’s walls are decorated with art pieces from exhibitions that change every two or three months. There is also great variety in the events they host, which is why the café attracts people from different age groups and backgrounds.  

J: “We have a mix of moviegoers, which is a very diverse group in age, but then the theater attracts mainly the 40-50 age group, but it depends a lot on the shows; if there are more alternative shows going on, there's a younger audience coming. But then it goes until the 90-year-old people from the neighborhood and the elderly home nearby, and for the Wednesday game nights, the average age is 20-25.”

Their location on Haarlemmerplein also contributes to attracting a diverse audience. 

J: “I think this is quite a special neighborhood, because it's between the more touristic center of Amsterdam and the more outer neighborhoods like the Spaarndammerbuurt and Staatsliedenbuurt, which are more working-class neighborhoods. And we're right in the middle of that, so the people come from both sides, and you have a nice blend. Here, people know each other even if they are from completely different backgrounds. People from the elderly home connect with the homeless and the expats, and they all meet each other. It's a good mix.”

Joris shares that he grew up in the neighborhood of Haarlemmerplein and has seen it change over the years, from being outside the center to becoming part of it. As the center expanded, squatted places and cheaper housing slowly disappeared from the area. J: “I think it's really important to protect the small alternative places that are still in Amsterdam because a lot of them are already disappearing.”

De Roode Remise also had its share of challenges, especially after its first opening in 2019, right before the Covid-19 pandemic. They had to close after three months, but later they tried again, reopened, and things gradually improved. When asked about his motivation for continuing to manage De Roode Remise, Joris answered that culture is what drives him. He is also grateful for the freedom he and his team receive from the owner. “We can do our thing: we can think of our new plans and of what we want to do together without being too controlled. It's that free atmosphere and the open possibilities that I really, really like.”

De Roode Remise aims above all to be a relaxed place where people can feel free, welcome and experience something new. 

De Roode Remise aims above all to be a relaxed place where people can feel free, welcome and experience something new. Whether you’re coming for a drink, a full three-course meal or you’re simply curious to see what event is taking place, the Theatercafé welcomes you every day: from Monday to Thursday from 17:00 to 23:00, Friday from 16:00 to 24:00, Saturday from 13:00 to 24:00 and Sunday from 13:00 to 23:00. More information on reservations for dinner, private events and meal discounts in collaboration with De Roode Bioscoop and The movies can be found on their website www.rooderemise.nl.