First restaurants receive the Dutch quality label ‘Gezellig’
Jeannine Sok en Sven Heijkoop van gastvrijheidskeurmerk 'Gezellig'- credits Mathijs Hanenkamp
On September 24, 2025, the first ten businesses in the hospitality sector will be awarded the new, Dutch, hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ in Grolloo. This independent label, initiated by hospitality expert Jeannine Sok and entrepreneur Sven Heijkoop, shines a spotlight on front-of-house staff and aims to contribute to the professionalization of the industry. At the same time, the consumer magazine ‘Gezellig’ will be launched, featuring the certified businesses and inspiring stories from the hospitality sector.
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The launch of the Dutch quality label ‘Gezellig’ during the Week of Hospitality
The selection of the first businesses took place during a two-year pilot phase with mystery visits carried out by students of Drenthe College, later supplemented by assessments from experienced professionals. Criteria included hospitality, craftsmanship, presentation, and product. The official award ceremony will take place on September 24 at Hofsteenge Grolloo during the Week of Hospitality. On September 22 though, three new certified businesses will already be revealed at the hospitality trade fair Gastvrij Rotterdam, at 14:30 in the networking lounge, during the Culi Quiz Top 100.
Consumer magazine ‘Gezellig’
The magazine ‘Gezellig’ is an ode to hospitality and features contributions from, among others, Mandy Kwekkeboom-Overbeek (Gault&Millau Hostess of the Year 2025, restaurant Joann in Enschede), Thérèse Boer (De Librije, Zwolle), Gert Wiltvank (De Librije, Zwolle), Arjan Broekman (Het Wijnhuis), and Frans and Bart Hofsteenge (Hofsteenge Grolloo). The festive gathering on September 24 will be hosted at Hofsteenge. “The north is well represented in the magazine and among the first ten certified businesses. Moreover, this is a charming, traditional café-restaurant with a cozy communal table and a billiard table,” says Jeannine Sok about the choice of location.
The label is supported by various hospitality industry partners, including Week of Hospitality, Emixion, SVH, Horecava, Gastvrij Rotterdam, Bidfood Nederland, Herman Wines, FNV, Brinks CoffeeRoasters, VHC ActiFood, Horecavakbeurs Hardenberg, and Wijnkoperij De Lange. New partners are welcome to join.
The quality label ‘Gezellig’ was founded in 2023 by Jeannine Sok and Sven Heijkoop. Both bring their own expertise: Sok, the first gastologist in the Netherlands, is the owner of Gastologie in Nijmegen and author of several books on hospitality. Heijkoop is a hospitality entrepreneur and owner of Restaurant Copain in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
With ‘Gezellig’, Jeannine Sok and Sven Heijkoop aim to firmly put hospitality on the map, both within the industry and towards consumers.
Website: Gastologie
