ROTTERDAM, 10 March 2026 – Restaurant Aan de Zweth is approaching its first anniversary under owners Justin Koopman and Indy Akkermans. Nearly a year after taking over the long-running restaurant by the Schie, the couple are reflecting on a steady first year while preparing a series of updates for the next chapter.
Justin Koopman and Indy Akkermans
Restaurant Aan de Zweth, formerly De Zwetheul, has been in the hands of Koopman and Akkermans since 29 March 2025. For Rotterdam food lovers, that first anniversary matters because this is one of those addresses just outside the city that has long been part of the wider culinary story of the region.
The pair took over an established restaurant with a strong reputation and chose not to overhaul it all at once. Instead, they focused on building stability, shaping their own style gradually and refining the menu around what they describe as balance, simplicity and quality.
A careful first year
Koopman says the aim was evolution rather than revolution. “We took over a beautiful, successful restaurant with a good reputation,” he says. “So we agreed that we had to shape the business in small steps and develop our own signature.”
That approach started with the team and the kitchen. On the menu, Koopman has been working to sharpen the balance between classical French cooking and his own influences, with dishes such as quail, pistachio and tonka bean reflecting the direction Aan de Zweth is taking.
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Two roles, one rhythm
The restaurant’s owners describe their partnership as naturally complementary. Koopman is focused on the menu, produce, detail and refinement, while Akkermans leads on atmosphere, hospitality and the rhythm of service.
Akkermans says that mix has worked better than expected. “Justin’s Rotterdam pragmatism and my Zeeland hospitality turn out to be a perfect combination, allowing us to keep raising the level in a way that makes both our guests and our team feel at ease.”
What is changing next
The next phase at Restaurant Aan de Zweth includes a larger restyled terrace, a dedicated cheese room and a Chef’s Table in the middle of the kitchen. The couple also want to keep improving the wine selection and make full use of the setting, from the waterside terrace to the private dining options.
For Koopman, the project also has a personal edge. The 35-year-old chef grew up in Rotterdam and has spent his career cooking in the region, so taking over this historic address with Akkermans, 29, felt like a full-circle moment. “We want an evening at Aan de Zweth to be more than just dinner,” they say. “We want it to be a memory that lasts forever.”
Restaurant Aan de Zweth marks first year with new owners
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A long culinary history
Aan de Zweth traces its roots back to 1685, when an inn stood on the site. In later years it became café Zwetheul, and in the modern restaurant era it developed into one of the best-known fine dining addresses between Rotterdam and Delft.
That history still carries weight. Over the past four decades, chefs including Fred Mustert, Erik van Loo and Mario Ridder cooked there at two-star level, giving the building a reputation that still means something to anyone who follows the restaurant scene in and around Rotterdam.
Restaurant Aan de Zweth marks first year with new owners
Anniversary menu on 29 March
To mark the anniversary, Restaurant Aan de Zweth will celebrate on 29 March with a special jubilee menu. Guests can book a five-course dinner that begins with champagne and includes five carefully selected champagnes paired across the evening, along with water, coffee or tea, and a selection of house-made friandises.
How to get there
Restaurant Aan de Zweth is at Rotterdamseweg 480 on the Schie, between Rotterdam and Delft. From Rotterdam, the easiest route is generally by car, taxi or bicycle, especially if you are coming from Overschie or the western side of the city and heading out towards Schipluiden and Delft. The setting is part of the appeal here, with the restaurant sitting by the water in a quieter stretch just beyond the city.
