Located within Quench Café on Weimarstraat, WarmePretzel is a new pop-up that offers a relaxed space to enjoy something delicious. The concept is the creation of Joanna, an international entrepreneur based in The Hague.
The name says it all — while these handmade pretzels can be enjoyed cold, the real wow factor comes when they’re eaten warm. Served fresh in the café or easily reheated at home, they’re soft, satisfying, and full of flavour.
After noticing that pretzels were hugely popular in other parts of Europe but not yet common in the Netherlands, she decided to bring these treats to her new home city. What began as a personal project quickly developed into a growing local business with a loyal following.
Joanna’s passion for baking and hospitality shows in every detail. She hand-rolls and bakes each pretzel with care, using quality ingredients and experimenting with a range of both sweet and savoury options.
Regular customers often return to try new flavours, and Joanna listens closely to their feedback, adapting recipes and toppings based on what people love most. The current range is mostly vegan.
Adding to its charm, WarmePretzel also makes dog-friendly pretzels — a thoughtful touch for pet owners who like to share their outings with their four-legged friends.!
During our visit, we sampled both a sweet and a savoury filled pretzel, as well as one of the traditional salted versions. Each one was warm and freshly baked, striking the perfect balance between texture and flavour.
Quench your thirst
Alongside your Prezel, you can enjoy drinks from Quench Café’s distinctive selection of local and international brands.
Prezel Workshops & Catering
Beyond its daily offerings, WarmePretzel also runs interactive Pretzel Workshops — fun, hands-on sessions ideal for friends, families, or team-building events. Participants learn to roll and twist their own pretzels, choose toppings, and bake them together, with no prior baking experience required.
For larger gatherings, WarmePretzel provides catering and team events, offering freshly baked pretzels, ideal as a snack, dessert or a meal. Suitable for team events, conferences, trade shows, concerts, weddings, and stadiums thorough out the Netherlands.
Try them for yourself
Although currently a pop-up inside Quench Café, Joanna can often be found at local markets and events, bringing her signature pretzels to different parts of The Hague and beyond.
Whether for a quick snack, a full meal, or an interactive experience, WarmePretzel combines homemade quality with a warm, welcoming community spirit.
Find out more about the menu, opening hours, catering, and workshops at warmepretzel.nl
Seventeen-year-old Ukrainian pianist Ivan Petrenko, a student at the Davidsbündler Academy in The Hague, has been selected for the prestigious VIRTUOS program on AVROTROS Klassiek. This appointment underscores his exceptional artistic talent and places him among promising young musicians on the path to an international career in classical music. At 17, Ivan is only the second pianist of his age to be selected for the VIRTUOS program. The only other one was Nikola Meeuwsen, who has since won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Milestone for Davidsbündler Academy
Although the Davidsbündler Academy has already produced students who have won international competitions in a short time, this selection represents an important milestone — both for Ivan, who is taking a step towards an international professional career in classical music, and for the academy itself.”
Founder and artistic director Anna Fedorova: “We are already very proud of the many awards our students have won, but this is a different story. Ivan’s selection demonstrates that the Davidsbündler Academy’s mission – guiding young top talent towards a sustainable, international professional career – is becoming a reality. It is tangible proof that the academy’s approach works at the highest level.”
While being selected for VIRTUOS is an important recognition, the academy sees it primarily as a beginning. Ivan will remain closely associated with the Davidsbündler Academy in the coming years, preparing for important performances, the recording of his debut album, collaborations with renowned musicians, and participation in major international competitions. “The next challenges are already upon us – and Ivan is ready for them,” says Fedorova. “We will continue to provide him with intensive support in this next, crucial phase of his development.”
About the VIRTUOS program
As part of the AVROTROS Klassiek talent development program, Ivan, along with cellist Stefano Bruno and violinist Hawijch Elders, will have the opportunity to record a professionally produced debut CD and perform in various media and concert halls. The CD recording will take place from May 6th to 8th, 2026, at the Broadcasting Music Centre in Hilversum. The highlight will be Ivan’s solo performance with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra during the AVROTROS Friday Concert on May 21st, 2027, at TivoliVredenburg and the Sunday Morning Concert at the Concertgebouw.
About Ivan Petrenko
Ivan studied with Tatiana Abaieva in Kyiv between 2019 and 2022 and has been studying at the Davidsbündler Academy since its founding in 2022, with both Abaieva and Borys Fedorov. Since September 2025, he has been combining his studies at the academy with a bachelor’s degree at Codarts Rotterdam with Nino Gvetadze – a program he has just begun, which complements his main program at Davidsbündler.
He won major prizes at an early age, including the Yevhen Stankovych Competition (Kyiv), “Merci, Maestro!” (Belgium), the WPTA Spain International Piano Competition, and the “Kharkiv Meets Zurich” Competition.
As a soloist he has performed with the Britten Youth Orchestra, Kyiv Camerata, the Davidsbündler Chamber Orchestra, and the Hague Symphony Orchestra Euterpe, performing, among others, Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.
For more information about Ivan Petrenko or the Davidsbündler Academy in The Hague:
The Hague received the highest classification of the Cycle City Label last Tuesday. This label is awarded to cities that are committed to making cycling more attractive and safer. The award was accepted by Alderman Hilbert Bredemeijer (Sports), Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Mobility), and cycling legend Michael Boogerd during the Cycling Festival surrounding the Tour of Holland.
“It’s great to see that The Hague is receiving recognition for its efforts to promote cycling,”says Alderman Kapteijns.It’s important for the livability of The Hague that we increasingly use bicycles. Cycling is not only a fast and healthy way to get around the city, but it’s also a sustainable and affordable mode of transport.
Alderman Bredemeijer: “The Hague is a true cycling city. This was confirmed again this week during the Tour of Holland, and also last year during the Tour de France Femmes. A huge number of children and young people were motivated to jump on their bikes themselves. On those days, The Hague lived and breathed cycling. I’m proud that the ASO has awarded this with the Cycle City Label. Perhaps the new Michael Boogerd is already cycling the streets of The Hague.”
The Hague: a real cycling city
The Hague has received the Cycle City Label thanks to investments in bicycle-friendly policies. The city now boasts an increasing number of cycle paths. As an additional safety measure, the speed limit has been lowered to 30 km/h in many places. This has led to a significant increase in bicycle use in The Hague.
There’s also a bicycle plan for residents of The Hague below the poverty line, where they can request free bicycles. The “Learn to Cycle Safely” cycling lesson is also taught at schools to familiarize students with traffic. Through initiatives like The Hague Cycles! and cycling events like the Tour de France Femmes inIn 2024 and the Tour de Holland in 2025, The Hague will be further promoted as a cycling city. During these cycling tours, residents of all ages were encouraged to get on their bikes with fun activities.
About Cycle City Label
The Cycle City label was introduced in 2021 by ASO, the organization behind the Tour de France. The label recognizes municipalities that are committed to making cycling more attractive and safer. This includes a sign with the Cycle City Label, which will be placed somewhere in the city. A suitable location is still being investigated.
The assessment looked at the quality of cycling infrastructure, road safety, bicycle parking facilities, educational programs for learning to cycle, maintenance and repair facilities, and activities that promote bicycle awareness and use.
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag, translated by The Hague Online
This year marks the 5-year anniversary of HSiF, and we are celebrating it with a special edition.
Join us on 10th of December for an evening where fresh ideas take the stage and where you, as part of the audience, play a key role in the action!
🎟️For the Audience
Your ticket is free, and you’re not just there to watch!
As part of the audience, you will:
•Vote for your favourite pitch and help decide who wins the First Fans Prize (€250) •Shape which idea receives funding •Connect with aspiring founders, investors, and industry professionals
💡For the Pitchers
Ready to take the next step as an entrepreneur? This is your moment to pitch. •Selected founders will present their ideas in front of investors, founders, and industry experts, competing for three amazing prizes 🏆:
The province of South Holland is most strongly represented this year in the KVK Innovation Top 100, an annual overview of the most innovative Dutch SMEs, The Chamber of Commerce (KVK) announced last month.
The province of South Holland has 29 companies on the list, topping the rankings. North Holland comes in second with 15 companies, followed by North Brabant and Utrecht with 13.
The 100 companies were selected from 270 submissions , assessed by panels of innovation experts based on criteria such as impact, originality, revenue potential, and social significance. Entrepreneurs could register in one of five categories:
Circular economy
Energy transition
Labor market and society
Agriculture, water and infrastructure
Health and nutrition
Exciting announcement on the winners in November
During the KVK Business Days on November 14th and 15th at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, the expert jury will announce the category winners on November 14th. The winner will also be revealed, taking over the title from Concord Neonatal , last year’s winner with their groundbreaking Concord Birth Flow.
In addition to the five category prizes and the overall winner, this year there will also be five Innovation Promise Awards for young companies and startups with promising concepts that have just or not yet reached the market.
Twenty years of innovation power in images
The KVK Innovation Top 100 is celebrating its 20th anniversary . While the first editions primarily showcased industrial innovations, the 2025 focus shifts to social relevance and transitions. From sustainable energy and circular building materials to medical technology and AI-driven platforms, SMEs demonstrate that innovation often begins with small businesses driven by entrepreneurs.
Public votes
The Dutch public will once again influence the final outcome. Voting is now closed for one of the 100 finalists is open until October 20th at www.kvkinnovatietop100.nl . The jury will weigh in for 80% of the decision, and the public for 20%.
About the KVK Innovation Top 100
The award was launched in 2006 to showcase the innovative power of SMEs. Since then, the list has become a leading overview of innovative entrepreneurship in the Netherlands.
