ROTTERDAM, 22 May 2026 – After almost 20 years under longtime owners Madelon and Dick, Bagels & Beans on Hoogstraat is entering a new chapter. The Rotterdam city-centre branch is being handed over to Patrick, a hospitality professional with more than 23 years of experience.
Madelon and Dick are handing over more than a branch. Patrick takes over a place with regular guests, an experienced team and almost 20 years of daily routines behind the counter.
Patrick takes the lead
Patrick officially takes over the Hoogstraat branch from 22 May. He has worked in hospitality for more than two decades, starting on the floor before moving into several management roles.
In recent years, he was responsible for nine restaurants. Still, he wanted something different: a business where he could work more personally, stay close to guests and give more attention to the team around him.
That move from managing restaurants to running one location himself is the main shift. Patrick is not entering hospitality as a newcomer. He is choosing a smaller, more direct form of entrepreneurship after years in larger restaurant operations.
“At Bagels & Beans, it is not just about good food and drink,” says Patrick. “You really take time here, both for guests and for your team. That personal contact really appeals to me.”
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Longtime owners step back
For Madelon and Dick, the handover closes a long period on Hoogstraat. For nearly 20 years, their branch became a familiar stop for regular guests, people from the neighbourhood and passers-by in the city centre.
People came in for coffee or a freshly filled bagel, but also for a chat or a quiet moment during the day. That kind of rhythm is built slowly, through familiar faces, regular orders and small moments of attention.
“We have enjoyed all those years in which we were able to welcome so many guests and make them happy with our treats and warmth,” say Madelon and Dick. “We will certainly miss the lovely regular guests, and of course the sweet girls in the team.”
They now hand the branch over to Patrick with confidence. “We wish Patrick lots of joy and success at this beautiful location.”
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Learning the local rhythm
In recent months, Patrick has been preparing for the takeover through an extensive induction period. He worked alongside Madelon and Dick, learning how the Hoogstraat branch runs from the inside.
That meant making coffee as a barista, learning the bagel routines and getting familiar with the details behind the scenes. But the most important part may have been meeting the guests.
“I think that may be the nicest part,” says Patrick. “I am starting to recognise more and more regular guests. I now already know who comes in for a matcha latte and who always orders a fresh juice.”
That is the sort of detail that turns a chain branch into a local spot. Rotterdam has enough places where you can buy coffee. The real difference is when someone starts remembering your order, which is either very comforting or a direct threat to your carefully maintained mystery.
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Small refresh for Hoogstraat
The branch will receive a small refresh in the coming period. During a short closure, the walls will be freshened up and the interior will get a cleaner look.
From 22 May, guests can also visit earlier in the day. The Hoogstraat branch will open from Monday to Saturday at 07:30, while Sunday opening starts at 09:00.
The branch sits on Hoogstraat, one of the city-centre streets where Rotterdam constantly passes by. It is close to the market, the library, Blaak and the daily flow of shoppers, students, workers and visitors.
Patrick’s task is clear: keep the familiar warmth built by Madelon and Dick, while adding his own energy to the place. No tiny assignment, but at least he already knows who orders the matcha latte.
How to get there
Bagels & Beans Hoogstraat is located on Hoogstraat in Rotterdam, close to Binnenrotte, Markthal and Rotterdam Blaak station. From Blaak, it is a short walk through one of the busiest parts of the city centre, with the branch sitting right in the daily rhythm of Hoogstraat.
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