Coffee at Café Stobbe? You’ve just become part of a grand Rotterdam ritual. A traditional ‘brown café’ on Kortekade in the Kralingen district, the café is a cosy, humming, wood-panelled haven where conversation flows freely – along with the beer and bitterballen, of course. And it holds a special place in the heart of sustainability consultant Sophie van der Zandt (MSc Global Business & Sustainability, 2024).

Café Stobbe was where Van der Zandtwent when she needed a break. “You need a place to calm down, have a beer with your friends and eat spare ribs. Those spare ribs are amazing! Plus, it’s a super relaxed vibe. I loved sitting here with my friends from RSM, just talking and laughing about this journey we were all on. I lived on the Lusthofstraat with three amazing girls, and we’d often come here.”

And it was where she went to celebrate what she calls the biggest achievement of her life: successfully defending her thesis. “Afterwards, my grandparents, parents, boyfriend and my boyfriend’s parents all joined me at Café Stobbe to celebrate,” she remembers. “My grandfather passed away recently after an illness. That occasion was among the last dinners we shared before his health declined, so the café holds a special meaning for me.”

The café has chairs and tables outside, but Van der Zandt’s favourite spot is inside out of the Rotterdam rain, with a view of the kitchen. “I love sitting in the corner, so I can see everything that’s going on and really soak up the atmosphere. But it’s nice to wander around the area once you leave, too. There’s a real mix of students, young professionals and people who have lived there for their whole lives.”

Van der Zandt still lives in Rotterdam, and while she’s busy building her career, there’s always time for a visit to Café Stobbe with her partner, family and friends – particularly when they’re celebrating an Excelsior win or consoling themselves after a defeat. “Everyone’s really friendly, but it’s also a no-nonsense vibe – which is how Rotterdam is too, I like to think. I love the feeling of comfort you get from Café Stobbe, and the memories it holds. It’s as if the world stops for a bit when you’re in a place like this.”