Trends we spotted | Week 42
20-10-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- BottleCloths catch the drips every time a bottle comes out of the ice bucket, give staff a better grip and turn every pour into a considered, elegant gesture. A useful item!
- Restaurant ‘Jean-Georges at The Connaught’ has refreshed its menu, bringing back signature dishes from Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s celebrated restaurants Vong and Spice Market. With the return of an icon: the Black Plate.
- Bouillon d’Amsterdam opened in March 2026 in Hotel Die Port van Cleve, followed in June by Le Petit Bouillon d’Amsterdam in Amsterdam-Zuid. In 2027 they will open in three more cities in the Netherlands.
- SeaNext and Horecava open debate on the forgotten role of seafood in the protein transition during the Dutch Horecava on January 12.
- Hello Kitty® and her Friends are making their way to Burger King® restaurants in the US. To bring this Hello Kitty® partnership to the next level, Burger King is hosting a one-day Golden Claw Machine experience in a location in California.
- In the US, Stoner’s Pizza Joint serves up Halloween fun with pumpkin-shaped pizza.
- World-renowned artisans begin carving the immersive Christmas experience, ice!™, at resorts across the US.
Enjoy reading!
MaGie Creations launches apple pie made with brewer’s grain and 20% less butter
19-10-2026
On World Food Day (16 October), MaGie Creations launched an apple pie for the hospitality industry, made with brewer’s grain. Brewer’s grain is an innovative ingredient made from the grain left over from beer brewing, which now mostly ends up in animal feed. The pie tastes like a classic foodservice apple pie, but contains more fibre and 20% less real butter. The apple pie can now be ordered through the wholesaler Chef Centraal.
2 minutes read
Le Souterrain Amsterdam | Gastronomy, live entertainment and nightlife under one roof
16-10-2026
Amsterdam has a new culinary experience. Chef Julius Nuiten, known from the Michelin-starred Bistro de la Mer, is joining forces with the Chin Chin Club on Amsterdam’s Rozengracht. Together they are creating Le Souterrain: a place where you don’t just come to eat, but to experience a complete evening. From the first course to the last beat. From table to dance floor.
2 minutes read
Pizza concept Toni Loco opens at Schiphol | 50 Centimetres. Size does matter
16-10-2026
At the end of October, the Italian-American 50-centimetre pizza concept Toni Loco, part of THE ENTOURAGE GROUP, opens its doors at Schiphol Plaza, in the arrivals hall of Amsterdam Schiphol. This gives Toni Loco a second Dutch location, adding to its growing list of international destinations after its location in The Westfield Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam and its locations in the United Kingdom. With this new location, the brand is also preparing for a place where thousands of travellers, airport staff and visitors come together every day.
2 minutes read
Restaurant Robuust moves to the world’s oldest drive-thru in Moespot
16-10-2026
Restaurant Robuust has taken a big step. After nine years, the restaurant of brothers Peter Ian and Raimon Pot has moved from the centre of Vollenhove to the hamlet of Moespot (also the name for a hot plate of food), between Vollenhove and Blokzijl in Overijssel. Since the end of September 2026, the brothers have been welcoming guests in the former stable of the iconic Café de Moespot. The fine dining restaurant, listed in the Michelin Guide as an ‘Inspector’s Favourite’ and awarded 13.5 points in the Gault&Millau guide, is ready for its next chapter in its new location. A fun detail: the café is nicknamed the world’s oldest drive-thru!
2 minutes read
SPIZZA PIZZA | Chef Tim Raue (**) brings premium pizza to airports and train stations
13-10-2026
The famous German chef Tim Raue (**) eats pizza wherever he travels, from the Maldives to Capri. Yet at airports and train stations, where he spends more than 200 days a year, he never found one that convinced him. So he teamed up with Berlin entrepreneur Nils Hölterhoff to create SPIZZA PIZZA, a travel retail concept for places where people only stay briefly. Raue developed the recipes and leads the culinary direction, while Hölterhoff builds the company, from site development to financing. The first branch opens at BER Airport (Berlin) this December, followed by Hamburg Dammtor station in the first quarter of 2027.
3 minutes read
De Kuyper launches a limited edition ready-to-serve Tiramisu Martini for the hospitality industry
13-10-2026
Creamy mascarpone, bold espresso and a hint of cocoa: this autumn, tiramisu is landing not only on the plate but also in the cocktail glass. Royal De Kuyper is launching the De Kuyper ready-to-serve Tiramisu Martini, a premium batched cocktail that turns the world-famous Italian dessert into a festive finale for the hospitality industry. The cocktail is fully pre-mixed and only needs to be shaken with ice and poured. Even the signature, velvety foam layer is created during shaking!
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 41
12-10-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Thai quick-service concept Pad Thai opened its newest location at Utrecht Centraal at the end of September, with an AI wok robot as a colleague.
- Spaghetteria is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary with the introduction of the ‘Pastapas’. They sold out in no time! New Pastapasses are likely to become available in November.
- Ron Blaauw, Bas Brouns and the team behind Ron Gastrobar Groep are entering into a long-term partnership with the Garçons Group, the culinary event company of Jeroen Robberegt and Jasper Gronert.
- The Flower Farm is entering the hospitality industry with palm oil-free minis. Hospitality professionals can request a sample via the website.
- PlanSimpler is a scheduling tool via WhatsApp, developed by a start-up from Eindhoven. The have enrolled in the 2027 Horecava Awards.
- Last week, Subway® unveiled Blueprint, a renewed restaurant and brand experience that modernizes the way guests order and eat, in support of growth in EMEA.
- KFC is introducing Go Buckets, a new way to enjoy KFC, which makes its signature Finger Lickin’ Good® chicken suitable for snacking and moments beyond the traditional meal.
- McDonald’s bottled pickle brine, Pickle Boost, was handed out as a pick-me-up for runners at last weekend’s Chicago Marathon.
Enjoy reading!
Restaurant À la Maison brings refined French cuisine and homely hospitality to Breda
9-10-2026
Restaurant À la Maison opened its doors on September 10th on Prins Hendrikstraat in Breda. The fine-dining restaurant is inspired by the charm of a French bistro. Owners Fenna Monsieurs and Harm Dierks, both with backgrounds in top-level gastronomy, offer pure, classic French cuisine with a contemporary twist, a personal approach and a warm, homely atmosphere.
2 minutes read
GLP-1 weight loss drugs | Figures, examples and how to adapt your menu
8-10-2026
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: you’re reading about those GLP-1 weight loss drugs more and more often in the Netherlands, and increasingly in connection with the hospitality industry. In 2025 we already published a blog about the Ozempic menu. Back then it was still mainly a foreign curiosity. Now McDonald’s is adapting its menu in the US, and that is a different league altogether. In this blog, Marjolein van Spronsen puts it all in order: the numbers, the behaviour of users, how the chains are responding and how to adapt your menu as a hospitality industry entrepreneur.
4 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 40
5-10-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Gault&Millau’s Austrian hotel guide has introduced a ‘Longevity & Medical Wellness’ category for the first time.
- CÔNE Paris opened in March 2026 and is a coffee bar serving espresso-based drinks, including a −86 °C Dirty Coffee.
- In Leiden, during the 3 October celebrations, we spotted a focaccia from Giò Neapolitan Espresso topped with hutspot cream: a tradition in Leiden with a Neapolitan soul.
- EMMA Safety Footwear is introducing Connect Sport: a new O2 work shoe built for demanding days in hospitality.
- Marketer Sem van der Wilk built software while employed at the Inge de Bruijn Swimming Pool in Barendrecht, connecting the pool’s existing systems. Since January 2026 he has done so through his own company.
- Disaronno is introducing a new bottle design with the global campaign ‘The Dolce Side of Life’.
- On Wednesday 14 October, The Biggest Wine Club in Utrecht kicks off. Wine influencer Annemiek Hummelink and Tessel Andeweg of bar Vivid are organising the first edition.
Enjoy reading!
Owners of Amí Bistro Breda announce new delicatessen and lunchroom Amí daily
5-10-2026
With the opening of Amí daily, entrepreneurs Malou Hagenaars (32) and Jasper Verhagen (35) will add to Breda’s culinary landscape at the end of November 2026. Tucked away in the courtyard behind their successful Amí Bistro on Ginnekenstraat, an exclusive delicatessen, shop and lunchroom all in one is taking shape at number 88 B. Soon, guests will be able to visit not only for high-quality delicacies and luxury items for the table, but also for an excellent cup of coffee, pastries and a light lunch.
2 minutes read
Restaurant 273 expands with speakeasy Cocktailbar 273 | Culinary craftsmanship in a glass
2-10-2026
Five years after the opening of Restaurant 273, Tommy den Hartog and Gyöngyi Peijnenburg are opening Cocktailbar 273. This stylish speakeasy, hidden in the historic wharf cellar beneath the restaurant on the Oudegracht in Utrecht, opened its doors on 17 September 2026. Handcrafted cocktails, gastronomic bites, top-level hospitality and an atmospheric ambiance come together here.
2 minutes read
Mati brings traditional Brazilian yerba mate to the Netherlands
29-9-2026
Amsterdam-based startup Mati is introducing a different kind of energy drink to the Dutch market: organic yerba mate, inspired by the centuries-old South American tradition. No sugar, no sweeteners and no unnecessary additives, just natural energy rooted in Brazilian culture.
2 minutes read
Beagles & Beans during Animal Week | From dog walking clubs to the Purple Furfection Furryccino
29-9-2026
Bagels & Beans is celebrating Animal Week with walks for owners and their four-legged friends. From 4 to 11 October, Bagels & Beans will once again transform into Beagles & Beans, with free coffee for pet owners, a Purple Furfection Furryccino for dogs, and walking clubs at various locations across the Netherlands.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 39
28-9-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- Spotted on Instagram: a ‘Bar à Oeufs’ at restaurant Ter in Paris.
- NYC BAKERY RUN is back with ten stops, including a treat at Eleven Madison Park! The free half marathon is organized by TIPSTER and takes place on October 25.
- KFC introduces Open House in McKinney, Texas: a location where the brand will test new dishes and ideas.
- BON (Beauty of Nature), the world’s first luxury theme park, has a soft opening on October 24 for guests of the VidantaWorld resort in Mexico.
- Accor reaches a new milestone with the introduction of ALL Concierge, the first end-to-end conversational travel assistant deployed at scale in the hospitality sector.
- Burger King recently introduced brand-new chicken nuggets with updated sauces in the US. And at the beginning of September, in the middle of fashion season, BK launched the season’s most unexpected accessory: Le Nugguette, a nugget-sized bag!
- Queer Beer celebrates all breasts with the new Nipple Tripel, and the Queer Market Store in Amsterdam gets a boob-themed window display from October 9 through October 31. For every can of beer sold, €0.10 goes to breast cancer research.
- Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam has been named Netherlands’ Best Hotel Spa 2026 at the World Spa Awards.
Enjoy reading!
FLATONS in Antwerp serves ‘Peace on a plate’
25-9-2026
At Theodoor Van Rijswijckplaats 4 in Antwerp, FLATONS is opening its doors. A place where food, design and social engagement meet. Behind the concept are chefs Sandip Patel (India) and Faeiq Al Mamoori (Iraq).
A new restaurant in Antwerp that serves mostly vegetarian and sometimes vegan dishes. This fine-dining restaurant operates under the “Peace On The Plate” philosophy.
2 minutes read
Chef built his own reservation system BoekEerlijk with AI
24-9-2026
Four months after launch, fifty restaurants have already joined BoekEerlijk (Book Honest is the proper translation), twenty of them paying customers, and the system has processed more than 7,800 reservations. Founder Jeremy Arrascaeta runs it alone, alongside his job as a chef, and is competing for the Horecava Innovation Award 2027.
3 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 38
22-9-2026
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. With this week links to articles about:
- The ’50 Best Pizzerias’ 2026 and the ’50 Best Hotels in the World’ 2026 have recently been announced.
- At the Wijnkeuring (wine tasting) of the Low Countries 2026, a record number of 103 gold medals were awarded. In total, 247 Dutch and Belgian wines were judged.
- We already wrote about Spin’s plans back in August, and since 12 September, Bar Spin has opened its doors in Amsterdam-West. Enjoy analogue music, cocktails, bites and games.
- Kewpie Corporation invited Londoners last weekend to discover how one simple squeeze can transform one of the world’s most iconic sandwiches. A fun pop-up.
- In November 2026, Brasserie De Hofsmid will open in Buren, the third restaurant by entrepreneur Edwin Muns, in collaboration with chef Cas Vieleers and host Yorick van Gelder.
- Omakase Amsterdam is celebrating its first anniversary and has made a short documentary to mark the occasion. Well worth a watch!
- Since 11 September, Bagels & Beans has become the first major national hospitality chain to serve Gkazas’ new Sparkling Olive Waters, available for a limited time in two flavours: Cucumber and Pickles. You can try them until 15 November at all their locations.
- This fall marks a new chapter for THE BUTCHER Social Club. THE ENTOURAGE GROUP’s concept is making its international debut in Gibraltar.
Enjoy reading!
From dots to flavour | Schilo van Coevorden honours Kusama at Restaurant Sandberg
18-9-2026
To mark the major retrospective exhibition of Yayoi Kusama at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Restaurant Sandberg and chef Schilo van Coevorden are presenting a five-course menu inspired by her work. Since September, during small-scale dinner evenings, Schilo has been translating Kusama’s visual language into flavour, texture and form. Not by literally imitating her art, but by exploring what her ideas about repetition, colour, material and infinity can mean in culinary terms.
Buurthotel celebrates Neighbour Day in Amsterdam and Rotterdam
18-9-2026
Following the success of Open Hotel Week, hotels in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are transforming into meeting places for their neighbourhoods. On Saturday 26 September, participating hotels will invite residents of Amsterdam and Rotterdam via Buurthotel to a pizza workshop for children, a kickboxing class or a wild-foraging walk. The aim: to connect residents and hotels. This takes place as part of Burendag (Neighbour Day), the nationwide initiative by Douwe Egberts and the Oranje Fonds. With this, Buurthotel is also introducing ‘co-tourism’ in Rotterdam: a model in which tourist facilities create local value for both visitors and residents.
Restaurant LUTE Kruid ’02 opened in Amstelveen
17-9-2026
On the spot where Peter and Marieke Lute opened their first restaurant almost 25 years ago, LUTE Kruid ’02 recently opened. The former Kruidfabriek at Oude Molen 5 in Amstelveen has been completely renovated and deliberately scaled back from 140 to 40 covers. In doing so, they are recreating the freedom to do what they have stood always for: cooking from their own vision and giving every guest the personal attention they see as the greatest luxury of our time.
How to score points with dog lovers | No surprises at check-in
21-8-2026
The holiday season is drawing to a close, and recently I was out walking with other dog lovers. Only one dog had stayed home, looked after by acquaintances, while the others had either been to a kennel or came along on holiday. My family and I, along with many other dog owners, choose to bring the dog along whenever possible. Finding a destination that works with a dog, however, is a challenge. We always rent a holiday home, and for hotels along the way we often use Booking.com; there, at least, you can indicate that you’re looking for a hotel or holiday home where dogs are welcome. What it actually costs per night, though, remains unclear there too. A blog by Marjolein van Spronsen on how to communicate transparently about welcoming dogs and how that can help you to score points with dog lovers.
2 minutes read
Vuurzee and Prinsenleven win gold at the World Beer Awards 2026
20-8-2026
De Goede & De Stoute, a small Burgundian brewhouse, took home no fewer than five gold awards at the World Beer Awards 2026. Vuurzee, the flagship beer, once again claimed Gold and Gold Country Winner. But the real surprise is Prinsenleven: launched this year and virtually unknown outside the brewery’s own circle of members, it immediately picked up Gold, Gold Country Winner, and World’s Best Pale Beer, Belgian Style Blonde 2026 — the highest honor worldwide in that style category.
2 minutes read
Pet-friendly hospitality | A list of great examples of how to treat your pet guests!
18-8-2026
Your four-legged friend is part of the family, and most families want to take their pets along on holiday. Luxury travel is ready for its new VIP guests, and there is a whole world of business built around taking your best friend on your trip. Airlines allowing pets of all sizes in the cabin are popping up around the world, and luxury pet-friendly hotels are creating all kinds of extras for travelling pet owners. We have written many articles on pet-friendly hospitality offered by hotels and restaurants, and we have even spotted some wonderful terms for it: hosPETality, Bark-cuterie, pup-flight, poochini or a puppicino and dogstronomy. In this article, we have compiled a list of great examples of how to treat your pet guests!
4 minutes read
BottleCloths - Pour like a pro
Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings back the iconic ‘Black Plate’ to The Connaught
Bouillon d’ expands - restaurants will open in The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven in 2027 - credits A Delicious Story 
Hello Kitty® and Friends are coming to Burger King® in the US
In the US, Stoner's Pizza Joint serves up Halloween fun with pumpkin-shaped pizza
 brings premium pizza to airports and train stations)
