ROTTERDAM, 20 May 2026 – Il Mercato Berkel opens on Thursday 28 May 2026 at Westpolderplein in Berkel en Rodenrijs, taking over the former Pasto location. The new Italian restaurant combines all-day dining, aperitivo, shared plates and a colourful interior designed to bring a lively Italian atmosphere just north of Rotterdam.
The restaurant is the third Il Mercato location, following Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Papendrecht. For Rotterdam-area diners, Berkel en Rodenrijs gets a new Italian spot that is close enough for a relaxed dinner without turning the evening into a full expedition.
Il Mercato replaces Pasto
Il Mercato Berkel opens at Westpolderplein 44-46, where restaurant Pasto was previously located. Hospitality entrepreneur Bjorn van Dijl is turning the site into a modern Italian restaurant with a strong focus on atmosphere, design and experience.
The restaurant forms part of the wider growth of his hospitality brand. The concept is built around an accessible Italian food and drink experience, with guests welcome throughout the day.
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Italian dining all day
Il Mercato Berkel is described as a contemporary Italian all-day dining concept. The menu includes familiar Italian dishes such as wood-fired pizzas, pastas, meat and fish dishes, antipasti, shared dining and dolci.
The bar will focus on wine and Italian cocktails, making the restaurant suitable for different moments: lunch, drinks, dinner, a long evening with friends or the classic “we only came for one drink” that somehow ends with dessert. Happens to the best of us.
Aperitivo meets shared dining
The restaurant leans into the Italian idea of eating together. Shared plates and antipasti are part of the concept, with the food designed to match a lively and social setting.
That makes Il Mercato Berkel less of a formal sit-down restaurant and more of a place where you can move from aperitivo to dinner without changing mood. For a town like Berkel en Rodenrijs, on Rotterdam’s doorstep, that could make it a useful new meeting place for both locals and people from the wider region.
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Il Mercato opens new Italian restaurant in Berkel
Interior goes full Italian
The interior is designed with a deliberately expressive Italian look. Van Dijl says the team chose a bold style with many layers, details and Italian influences.
“We deliberately chose an expressive style,” says Van Dijl. “An interior with many layers, details and Italian influences, where there is always something new to see.”
Colour and detail set tone
According to Van Dijl, the design is about the total experience, with colour, materials and decoration creating an energetic setting. “The interior is really over the top Italian,” he adds. “Everywhere you see colour, details and a certain energy that immediately takes you to Italy, with references to the Italian market and the products that belong to it.”
That is the kind of phrase that could easily sound like marketing fluff, but looking at the visuals, subtle was clearly not the assignment. Expect warm colours, bold fabrics, market-inspired details and enough visual drama to make beige feel personally attacked.
Space inside and outside
The restaurant will have room for more than 110 guests inside. The terrace adds space for around 100 more guests, giving Il Mercato Berkel a sizeable indoor and outdoor setup.
That matters because the concept is built around flexibility. Guests can come for different moments of the day, whether that means a quick drink, a family dinner, a date night or a longer evening with a group.
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Willaerts Group expands
Bjorn van Dijl is the founder and owner of Willaerts Group. The group includes Restaurant Kita, Le Barrage, Grand Café Willaerts, the Il Mercato restaurants and Grand Café Noordkade.
The company says staff development is an important part of its approach. It invests in training and workplace culture, with Van Dijl linking employee satisfaction directly to guest experience across the group’s restaurants.
How to get there
Il Mercato Berkel is located at Westpolderplein in Berkel en Rodenrijs, just north of Rotterdam. From Rotterdam, you can travel via metro line E towards Berkel Westpolder, then continue on foot or by local transport, depending on your route. By car, the restaurant sits in the centre of Berkel en Rodenrijs, close to the local shopping area around Westpolderplein.
