Zaanse Koffie — Restaurant in Zaanstad

My visit to Zaanse Koffie at Zaanse Schans Station was far from the pleasant experience I had hoped for. While the café itself was clean and well-maintained, the staff's behavior left a sour taste in my mouth.

It was a chilly day, with temperatures hovering around 1-2°C and a biting wind. I was waiting for my train back to Amsterdam when I spotted Zaanse Koffie inside the station. Seeking a warm respite from the harsh weather, I stepped inside and found an empty seat. I had no intention of lingering; my train was due in 10-15 minutes. However, my brief respite was cut short when a male staff member approached me after just two minutes and demanded that I leave.

His abrupt and rude demeanor caught me off guard. Had he politely asked if I would like to order something, I would have gladly obliged, especially since the cost of a coffee or tea would have been negligible. But the way he treated me left me feeling unwelcome and disrespected.

As a tourist visiting your beautiful country, I was disappointed by this experience. I expected a more welcoming and accommodating atmosphere, especially from a local business. Zaanse Koffie's staff's behavior was unprofessional and tarnished the impression I had of the Netherlands.

I hope that Zaanse Koffie will reconsider its policy towards customers who are simply seeking a brief respite from the elements. A warm smile and a polite offer to purchase a beverage would go a long way in making customers feel valued...

Don’t go if you’re not local. The man working the shop absolutely berated me in front of customers while I was talking to my children. I quickly stepped in planning to buy a drink - at that moment my husband called from the U.S. with my children and we had two minutes to chat before they had to go (due to the time difference). I quickly wanted to say hello to them inside away from the rain and then hang up, and buy my coffee. The man working the counter came over to me and said that location was for paying customers only. OK no problem - I immediately grabbed my things to head out and finish talking to my children. He continued to raise his voice, berate me in front of customers and tell me how rude I was for talking on the phone (it was less than two minutes). I didn’t say a word because I didn’t want my children to be alarmed over the phone. That man was awful and made me feel unsafe as a woman who was alone. If he reads this, I hope he understands what a scene he made and how unsafe he made me feel. That was entirely unnecessary and clearly he was frustrated with the rotation of tourists and “rowdy Americans” (which I was not...

As a local who commutes from this station, the owner is a mean and rude man. When I had my old mother with me, he screamed at us for sitting in the waiting room on a cold day without buying something. They lock the far door so you have to walk past the counter and they snottily remind you to buy something in order to sit. And they scratched off the “nicest waiting room in the Netherlands” sticker they used to have because 1) it’s definitely not nice with this guy running it and 2) they act like it’s not a waiting room for the train, but part of their personal property. I wouldn’t give them money if I don’t...