Dining out without phones on the table for a change. In a time when screens are everywhere, Grand Caf\u00e9 Het Noorden in Aalten is deliberately choosing the opposite approach. Starting in April, the hospitality business is launching a striking experiment: Het Noorden Offline Resort. Upon arrival, guests can voluntarily hand in their smartphones to be stored in a secure locker. In return, they receive an offline menu featuring puzzles, games, and other table activities.<\/p>\n
2 minutes read<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The initiative comes from owners Wesley<\/a> and Nita H\u00fcning<\/a>, who have noticed a clear change in their guests in recent years. An extra push came from within the hospitality industry itself. Trendwatchers Wouter Verkerk and Gijsbregt Brouwer recently mentioned in their podcast Tien voor Tien<\/em> that \u201cbeing offline\u201d is one of the developments that will shape the hospitality sector towards 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cThat really got us thinking,\u201d says Wesley H\u00fcning. \u201cYou see it more and more often: families or groups of friends going out for a nice meal together, but all of them are on their phones at the same time. And to be honest, I recognize that in myself as well. It can be quite difficult to truly put your phone away. So we thought: if we already find it difficult, what must it be like for our guests? That\u2019s when we came up with this idea. With the Offline Resort, we want to help people take a step back from their phones and really give each other their attention again. In a way, we just want to do our guests a small favor.\u201d<\/p>\n Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by an \u2018Offline Host\u2019. Anyone who wishes to do so can safely store their phone in a special locker. A unique menu appears on the table: the offline menu. Instead of dishes, it features activities that guests can enjoy together, such as a cryptogram, a small jigsaw puzzle, dice for a game, the day\u2019s newspaper or a mini-painting to colour in. There is also an anniversary magazine about the history of Het Noorden on the table. The aim is simple: to take a break from screens and make room for conversation, games and relaxation.<\/p>\n According to Nita H\u00fcning<\/a>, this fits perfectly with what Het Noorden has stood for over generations. \u201cOur core value is \u2018Attention Connects,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cWe truly believe in that. Sometimes you just need to turn off the noise. This experiment is a playful way to bring people back together at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A post shared by Het Noorden van Aalten (@tnoorden)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\nOffline menu<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n