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Bar14 | Johan Cruijff ArenA opens the first frictionless stadium bar in the Netherlands

24-7-2026

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The Johan Cruijff ArenA is the first stadium in the Netherlands to introduce a smart frictionless bar, Bar14. This innovation delivers a new visitor experience during matches and concerts. The high-tech bar kiosk uses advanced tracking and AI technology to automatically register which products visitors take and process payment directly. Usage is simple: visitors tap their smartphone upon entry to pay. Thanks to this modern technology, visitors are served faster and more efficiently. The cashierless bar will be used for the first time during Ajax – Burnley on July 26th.

2 minutes read

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BlueBlood Bubbles | A monthly Champagne & Oyster celebration in Hilton The Hague

24-7-2026

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Restaurant BlueBlood at Hilton The Hague introduces BlueBlood Bubbles, a new monthly Champagne & Oyster celebration taking place on the last Friday of every month. With free entry, guests are invited to enjoy premium Pommery champagne, freshly shucked oysters, live DJ music, and a vibrant social atmosphere; the perfect way to welcome the weekend in style..

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 30

24-7-2026

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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:

• American Express and ALL Accor expand the power of membership with new global partnership.
• Eberhardjes and Dolly Bellefleur launch limited edition ‘Liefde (love) NOW’, available at all STACH stores in Amsterdam.
• Registration for the Horecava Awards 2027 is now open. Since July 23rd, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs in the foodservice industry are able to submit their most innovative product or concept.
• Claridge’s has announced the publication of its first-ever book, Claridge’s: Queen of Hotels, Hotel of Kings.
• POP+BARK and Rooftop Cinema Club UK are bringing dogs to the movies for a full day of dog-friendly rooftop cinema action on Sunday, August 16.
• The McDonald’s restaurant in Breukelen, operated by the new franchisee Ronen van ’t Hoog, is the Dutch flagship location for the international ‘World Menu Heist’-campaign.
• Are you already thinking about how to create a festive Christmas atmosphere in your hotel? The Immersive Christmas Experience, ice!™ at the Gaylord Hotels has already been announced!

Enjoy reading!

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Which café will win the title ‘The Favorite Hertog Jan Café of the Netherlands’?

20-7-2026

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Brewer AB InBev celebrates the Dutch café as society’s second living room with new nationwide competition. Starting today, hundreds of pubs across the country will compete for the coveted title ‘The Favorite Hertog Jan Café of the Netherlands’. Beer brewer AB InBev is launching a large-scale, national competition under the motto ‘Out of love for cafés’. The goal is to draw attention to the social value of the café, which for many Dutch people serves as a second living room. From July 20 through August 30, beer lovers and regular visitors can vote daily for their favorite (local) pub.

2 minutes read

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Solo dining | From trend to the new normal in hospitality

20-7-2026

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For many hospitality entrepreneurs, it is still an awkward moment: the guest who walks in alone and is given a table for two because the staff are not quite sure where to seat them. Yet the number of people consciously choosing solo dining continues to grow. Not because they have no company, but because they want to. An evening out with yourself. A little me-time.😉 Peace. Focus on the food. A chance to recharge. We have been following the solo dining trend for years. From Japan’s Ichiran Ramen, where guests sit in individual ‘flavour concentration booths’, to the rise of dining at the bar or counter with a view of the open kitchen. And do you remember when “Twitter dinners” were organised?

2 minutes read

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Vlees & Co opens its fourth location in Eindhoven with its first ‘Meat Sommelier Workshop’

10-7-2026

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Vlees & Co has opened the doors of its new location at Wilhelminaplein in Eindhoven. With this opening, the restaurant, which already has locations in Arnhem, Nijmegen and Amsterdam,  continues its expansion across the Netherlands. The new location is the largest to date, with 90 covers inside and a spacious terrace with nearly 70 seats. The Eindhoven location also marks the launch of their first ‘Meat Sommelier Workshop’, read the full article to find out what happens there!

2 minutes read

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This summer, the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace is open in Antwerp

9-7-2026

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This summer, Antwerp gains a truly special terrace. Grand Café Horta is teaming up with Veuve Clicquot to open a temporary rooftop terrace above one of the city’s most iconic hospitality venues. Throughout July and August, the rooftop of Horta is open to the general public, with champagne, bites, cocktails and DJ sets under the banner of beats, bites & bubbles. On the line-up: Buscemi, Phill Da Cunha, Sven Van Hees, Cherokee, Tony Talboom and Stefan Vranckx. Enjoy the summer at the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace, all through July and August.

The design of the Horta x Veuve Clicquot Rooftop Terrace is reminiscent of the beach clubs along the Côte d’Azur and other parts of southern Europe that are getting a summery takeover by well-known designers this year.

2 minutes read

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Ottovino wines & bites brings exceptional wines from small producers to Leiden

7-7-2026

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Since the first of July, Leiden has a new wine bar! At Haven 62, Ottovino wines & bites has opened its doors. After a successful first week, during which the team had the opportunity to further refine the concept, Ottovino is now officially introducing itself to the people of Leiden. With more than thirty wines by the glass, a carefully curated wine list and refined bites, the wine bar aims to become a regular meeting place for wine lovers in the city.

We’ve already tried a few of their wines! Great location, a cosy atmosphere, tasty snacks and delicious wines, what more could a wine lover ask for?

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 27

6-7-2026

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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 Lounges chain with 250+ venues in the UK will open its first location overseas in Essen, Germany.
• After weather codes yellow, orange and red, there’s one more colour to watch this summer – Code Purple at Bagels & Beans.
• Brouwerij (brewery) Homeland in Amsterdam launched its own lager, Homeland Puur Pils.
• Pick up your pizza by kayak at the ‘Paddle In’ at Otomat in Ghent.
• Handwritten Collection, a characterful collection of bespoke hotels launched by Accor in 2023, recently announced a significant milestone with the opening of its 50th address.
• At McDonald’s Germany, you can enjoy 23 international product highlights during ‘Mission: World Menu’.
• Travel And Tour World (TTW) recently unveiled its Top 100 Luxury Hotels in the World 2026, a global ranking honouring exceptional properties redefining modern hospitality.
• Great news for Belgian fries lovers heading to Paris, chef Mallory Gabsi has opened his Fry Shop 140 Degrés.
• Wonder, a leading food technology platform, and Zipline, an autonomous delivery service, recently announced a partnership to bring on-demand drone delivery to Wonder locations across Texas.
• Inspiration for ice cream parlours: we spotted ‘Cookies Cloud Cups’ at Ovis Coffees in London.

Enjoy reading!

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Restaurant Luwte opened last month in Groningen | Casual fine dining with northern produce

3-7-2026

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Chef Falk van Essen and host-sommelier Caroline de Vries recently opened restaurant Luwte at Zwanestraat 26 in Groningen. In a characterful 19th-century listed building, they bring high-end gastronomy in a relaxed, approachable atmosphere. The name Luwte refers to ‘a shelter from the hustle of everyday life’.

2 minutes read

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