It's not there yet, but it's coming!
Update: It opens August 5, 2009. Here is the news story via Starbucks.com [click here].
I can honestly live without Starbucks, usually only enjoying it when I return to America, but it's been interesting to watch for the last few years this all unfolding: Watching Starbucks slowly grow in the Netherlands.
Up until now, it's been a slow progression with rumors of locations to come in various spots. Up until now, the only locations of Starbucks found in the Netherlands have been the three at Schiphol in Amsterdam. And, of course, the Starbucks only for Nike employees at Nike Headquarters in Hilversum.
I spied this above photo online yesterday when I was looking for any news updates about Starbucks coming to other locations in the Netherlands. This particular photo was taken at the Utrecht Centraal train station. The sign says:
Apologies for the inconvenience.I have yet to see a similar situation for Starbucks at the Amsterdam Centraal train station, but I did find online these reports about these Starbucks coming to the Netherlands:
In the near future we're serving you here with pleasure delicious coffee.
- Reportedly two Starbucks locations, in train stations Utrecht Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal, are set to open in August of 2009 [click here].
- From April 16, 2009, report says two locations will open within a few months, in both Utrecht Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal [click here].
- Fodor's reports also about this [click here].
For more blog entries of mine about/containing stories about Starbucks in the Netherlands, click here.
Special thanks to Gijsbregt for the permission to use here above his photo.
Click here to return to the main page.
Posts
Shops:
Winkels:
24 comments/reacties:
seems someone is missing starbucks and Amerika ;)
I will definately visit Starbucks while at a train station while in the Netherlands.
There's only one Starbucks in the whole Denmark and that's in Copenhagen airport.
I can live without Starbucks either as my country boasts local coffee such as Java and Sumatra coffee which happened to be inspiration for many great coffee chains.
Here in Denmark we have our own local chain called Baresso and I personally think Baresso offers better taste than Starbucks
OK this is good news. Although I'm not a big coffee drinker I can't help but Loooove Starbucks. My friends in the NL travel cross country togo to the one in Schiphol. I'd love to see it in more locations.
Aruba is getting its first Starbucks soon too! Yay for good American exports! :D
*scowl* I view Starbucks in the same way that I view McDonald's or even WalMart, frankly: a huge corporation plopping their identical yuppified (was there ever a company more synonymous with "yuppy" than "Starbucks"?) outlets everywhere they can, and sucking away the local character as they take over the world (maybe I'm biased because I live near Seattle, where there is literally one on nearly every block). I avoid them whenever possible. Yes, I'm snooty when it comes to my coffee 'n' cafes :) I'm a sucker for "charm"!
I'm not a big coffee drinker, although I do enjoy it on occasion. However, I have a soft spot for the iced mocha latte from Starbucks. I might end up stopping in for one when I'm over in that area. Too bad they didn't put it where the new Subway just opened. It's closer to me. ;) Regardless, it's kind of strange seeing these American chains popping up more here now.
there's only one starbucks coffee that i enjoy, the caramel macchiato. the others are just too overpriced (well even the macchiato)and too sweet for my taste. in the philippines, starbucks and all those western coffee shops are very popular. in addition to macchiato, i only go there for a nice cup of brewed coffee or espresso. when i came to netherlands, i realized that the world can exist without starbucks because the dutch standard in coffee is very high. good for those who loves flavoured, overpriced coffee but i dont the Dutch is so into that. Unless, they will launch a massive ad campaign to change the coffee-drinking culture in this land.
@ ~Lopa: Thanks for your comment! I'm half-missing/half-not missing on a regular basis ;-) I can go without Starbucks, but if I am in America I always visit at least once ;-)
@ The Writer: If I happen to pass by a Starbucks here, I'll visit, but I can go for a long time without. So I see you have it similarly in Denmark! In the Netherlands, they are crazy about their Douwe Egberts just like Denmark is about their Baresso. I like Douwe Egberts now as well ;-) Thank you for your comment on this too!
@ Joel: Thanks for your comment! I have yet to do so, but in a train station it will be easier for me to not avoid it. I know a few people who have gone out of their way to go to Schiphol as well for Starbucks & not to catch a flight ;-)
@ Ann: I don't blame you. Though I enjoy seeing these in some essense & for once-a-year, it has been interesting to watch them slowly springing up & how. Especially in the Netherlands, where it's taken a long time. The brown cafés, which I wrote about in my last blog entry before this particular Starbucks entry, I prefer much more. I also have grown to like the flavor of the famous Dutch coffee brand, Douwe Egberts. Thanks for commenting on this :-)
@ Oranjeflamingo: I agree ;-) Subway, Dominos, KFC being all over, I have been surprised by how long it's taken for these few locations to materialize. When I first came here, I thought for sure I'd see them here as frequently as I had in America. Instead I see Coffee Company all over [http://www.coffeecompany.nl/]. Have you tried this yet? I almost did recently but needed to get to my train instead. Thanks for your comment on this as well!
@ Pinay in Dutchland: You said it! Caramel macchiato is it if I order from Starbucks. I liked Christmas eggnog lattés in America, but I found a nice alternative to making something similar at home to ease that craving ;-) You are right about the Dutch standard in coffee being high. Why, they drink it at least 2 times per day: morning and either mid-afternoon or in the evening with dessert. Also, you can't go to the hypotheker or buy furniture in the Netherlands without also being offered a cup of coffee. In my job interview, what did my to-be boss offer me at the beginning of the appointment? A cup of coffee ;-) Thanks to you too for your comment on this!
Ooh.. this is very exciting! Wonder how it will go over in the Netherlands? Love your blog by the way!
@ H: Thank you :-) I'll be keeping an eye on the latest & write about it, when I get the time. It's been interesting to watch it happen! Thanks for your comment on this :-)
I don't know what's the big deal about Starbucks. Seriously. They've got one here and it's always packed, as if Germans can't find any good coffee around. LOL.
One Starbucks, I can understand. More than 2 or 3 in a city is just ridiculous. I'm not really a fan of Starbucks, but I will have a cup or two when it suits me. ;)
I prefer to brew my own coffee or buy locally. Bah, Starbucks is way too overpriced though. I'll buy their mugs and put my own coffee in it! ;)
We've only got the one Coffee Company here in Utrecht. I've seen it, but never ended up going in, although I've been tempted. Maybe I'll make a point of trying them the next time I'm over on the Oudegracht. Or I could stop in at the D&E mega shop. We picked up early on that you should always offer coffee, so when my boyfriend has the occasional business meeting here at home, we've always got the coffee press ready to go!
i'm not sure how i feel about starbucks anymore. i lived off the stuff in university, since i hate tim hortons (canada's huge coffee/doughnuts chain). when we first moved here, i loved getting starbucks at schiphol and i still do, but mostly just for the novelty of it. i actually prefer to sit and enjoy my coffee in a brown cafe than grabbing it to go.
i wonder how the dutch will take to starbucks, seeing as they have such a strong relaxing coffee culture here already...
@ Bchai: Thanks for your comment on this too! I remember grocery shopping in America & seeing a Starbucks stand inside [Safeway]. Then, while loading my groceries in the back of the car, noticing the Starbucks across the street ;-)
@ Oranjeflamingo: Same here. De koffie staat altijd klaar bij ons. I keep an extra package of Douwe Egberts, just in case. I've never tried coffee at the D&E shops, but I tried Coffee Company yesterday & it reminded me a lot of a Starbucks-concept. Let me know what you think when you've given it a try! :-) And thanks for your comment on this too!
@ Life Abroad: Thanks for your comment too! I wonder as well how they will accept it here. Will be interesting to see! Like some sort of experiment ;-)
I, like you, like much better the idea of sitting at a café and having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine/beer, relaxing, and I know the Americans would love this concept as well. I noticed my last time back in the States how it seems even my own hometown tries to mimic it in the newer, trendier shopping areas with the "European" terrace-feel. To take it slow & enjoy once in a while ;-)
I even overheard at a restaurant one couple talking with another couple about how much they loved their last visit to Italy & decided to adopt the plan to go a few times each month to a restaurant where they could sit & enjoy that same feeling.
I have really liked a cappucino at Starbucks... but only when they serve it in a real cup. The foam just doesn't 'keep' in those paper cups.
I do like the frozen drinks but the coffee itself is over roasted for my taste. I think SB would do well in those locations for travelers or young people but I cannot really see normal Dutch replacing their own coffee habits.
well, as a Dutch: i have heard of Starbucks, but I.......well I just drink coffee at home??.. Honestly, I only know of Starbucks via a (controversial) South Park episode, where this company took over the whole town.
OK: I admit: I just like plain coffee... Not any mocca flavour, no nuts, no cream, no sugar even..
Wow
The only reason I like Starbucks is their Frappucinos (and actually Costa Coffee in the UK makes better ones, called Frescatos) - their actual coffee doesn't taste particularly good to me. I like their interiors, with the couches and space, but that's probably not realistic in NL due to the space crunch.
I like the idea of having the option of having a Frappucino when it suits me - hope they open one up at Zuid train station as I rarely go to Centraal or Utrecht.... I think like with many things, the Dutch will complain and be dismissive about it initially, then slowly it will creep into their lives and they will be addicted :-)
Wait...if they have Starbucks mugs that say "Amsterdam" on it, then I'll have to stop in the store to buy one. Imagine collecting Starbucks mugs from all over the world!
I'll need to stop by the one here in town and see if there's anything special about their products. Hmmmm...it has me wondering now.
;)
@ Nanc Twop: Thanks for your comment! I would prefer a specialty like a cappu. also in a real cup. Much nicer that way, especially if they draw in the foam :-)
@ Juli: Thanks for your comment on this too! I also prefer the flavored drinks over plain coffee at Starbucks. I once up on a time used to think it tasted really 'burnt,' so I don't believe I've had a normal coffee from them in ages. I think too the youth will grow on it first, and then the Dutch who travel outside of the Netherlands/Europe may as well. It will be interesting to see how it begins to evolve ;-)
@ Suus: Thanks for your comment on this as well! I've seen this South Park episode! Hilarious because this is almost how it is in suburban America. To be honest, I was shocked to see the total number of stores in America was such a small number. I would've thought there were at least 50 locations per city, by the scheme of it all. I fixed your comment mix-up, by the way ;-) I don't understand what goes wrong with the commenting sometimes, but I also experience it myself on other blogs.
@ Amsterdamon: Thanks for your comment on this too! Very good points in your comment :-) Now you have me curious about Costa Coffee in the UK!
I remember while visiting a friend in a city on the west coast of the U.S., this coffee café had rotating tables... It was in Portland, Oregon and already so many years ago, so I am not sure if the place even exsists anymore... Oh, wait they do:
rimskys.blogspot.com
I'd like to see a place like this in Amsterdam. A mix of brown café with a funky-twist ;-)
@ Bchai: Thank you too for your comment! True, the coffee mugs are fun to collect :-) I have already about a dozen from various locations, but I didn't find one at the Münster location I visited last Christmas season. I hope they'll have some. Let me know if you do pass through my neck of the woods, OK? ;-)
Oooh, wonderful!! I look forward to enjoying a Dutch Starbucks in the Centraal station next time I'm there :)
Thanks for your comment! I hope you have a wonderful week too!
Groetjes!
Saskia xx
We have a Starbucks in Aachen; just ate lunch there today as a matter of fact. Funny enough, I hardly ever go there for coffee. If I go, it's for a bagel, sandwich, or cold coffee drink. I don't share the German obsession with mayo, which is piled on every sandwich in the local bakeries, so Starbucks is an easy place to grab a quick bite sans mayo. :)
@ Saskia: You´re welcome and thank you too for your comment! :-) I haven´t seen yet a ´coming soon´ sign at Amsterdam Centraal, like the image above in the blog from Utrecht Centraal... But as soon as I know, I'll share it here :-)
@ Spotted Sparrow: Oh, now I didn't realize the Germans loved to put mayo on their sandwiches! Something new I've learned today! My husband dislikes mayo on sandwiches very much. Wanna know what he likes instead on his sandwiches, in the place of mayo? Butter. Bluh... Haha! Thanks for your comment on this ;-)
We were JUST wondering about Starbucks in the Netherlands (not that we care for it), and here, an answer! Thanks.
@ The Blue Suitcase: No problem ;-) Thank you very much for your comment!
Post a Comment