Africa comes to The Hague: new African restaurant and bar opens and is looking for investors

Africa comes to The Hague: new African restaurant and bar opens and is looking for investors

The Africa Cultural Promotion Center has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the opening of ‘The African Granary’, an African restaurant and bar in the heart of The Hague. The campaign on CrowdAboutNow has already raised 106% of the minimum target amount and can therefore open the doors. The campaign is still running to raise the maximum amount of 110,000 euros.

From cultural events to permanent restaurant

Entrepreneurs Mollynn Mugisha-Otim and Stephen Otim, both from Uganda and living in The Hague for over 18 years, started the Africa Cultural Promotion Center in 2021. With African markets and cultural events, they have since promoted African culture, food and music. Now they want to take the next step by opening a permanent catering facility.

“We have been successful in presenting African food, music and a sense of community to our audiences at our events, especially the African markets. It is now time to create a space where people can experience African culture not only during scheduled market days, but at any time of the week,” said Mollynn Mugisha-Otim.

A ‘home’ far from ‘home’

The entrepreneurs have an existing family restaurant on Parkstraat 37 in mind, which they want to take over and transform into an African restaurant. The interior will be adapted with carefully selected items that portray African beauty, such as colorful fabrics and art that depicts African wildlife, landscapes and music.

The menu will feature authentic African dishes such as fufu, East African rolex, West African jollof rice, egusi stew, grilled fish, pilau rice with Kachumbari salad, African nyama choma/suya and many other traditional specialties.

Successful crowdfunding

“This crowdfunding campaign is not only important for funding our project, but also building a community that supports our vision of sharing African culture,” says Stephen Otim. “It’s heartening to see how many people have already contributed to our dream.”

The campaign has currently raised €58,500, which exceeds the minimum target of €55,000. The target amount is €110,000, which will allow the entrepreneurs to cover the takeover and refurbishment of the restaurant as well as the operational costs for the first six months, while they build a customer base.

The campaign runs until March 30th and offers two ways to contribute: via a loan with an annual return of 3.5% that is repaid within 5 years, or by purchasing vouchers. Investors also receive different rewards depending on their contribution.

Opening in March

The African Granary is scheduled to open its doors in March. The entrepreneurs will receive the keys in early March, after which they will immediately start furnishing and decorating the location. The official opening is scheduled for March 14, 2025, with a festive opening event at the end of March.

About Africa Cultural Promotion Center

The Africa Cultural Promotion Center was founded in 2021 to promote African culture and values in the Netherlands. With various cultural events, programs and activities, the center brings together people who are interested in African culture. With The African Granary, the founders want to create a permanent meeting place where everyone can experience authentic African hospitality.

Fore more information: https://crowdaboutnow.nl/campagnes/africangranary

https://theafricangranary.nl/en

A Feast of Stars: Michelin Masters at Kasteel de Wittenburg (28-30 March 2025)

A Feast of Stars: Michelin Masters at Kasteel de Wittenburg (28-30 March 2025)

From Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30, 2025, the magnificent Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar will be transformed into a culinary palace of stars. Ten Michelin-awarded chefs will unite to craft an extraordinary fine-dining experience for you and your guests—whether for a luxurious evening out, a business gathering, or a special celebration.

An Unforgettable Gastronomic Journey

Your evening (or Sunday afternoon) begins with a warm welcome from the Chef de Château, accompanied by sparkling bubbles and exquisite amuses.

From there, your culinary adventure unfolds with a guided walk through the castle, where four top chefs will present a selection of refined starters.

The experience continues in the elegant Oranje Nassau room, where six renowned chefs will serve four exquisite hot dishes and two delicate desserts, each carefully crafted to elevate the senses. Throughout the evening, live music will provide the perfect ambiance, enhancing every moment.

To conclude the night, choose between a relaxed after-dinner experience in the lounge café with coffee, liqueurs, and sweet delicacies, or step into the ballroom, where a DJ will set the tone for a festive finale. A curated selection of wines will accompany the dishes, with beer and soft drinks also available.

A Star-Studded Culinary Lineup

Among the distinguished chefs bringing their expertise to this exclusive event are:

Martin Kruithof – De Lindenhof, Giethoorn (2 Michelin stars)
Eric van Loo – Parkheuvel, Rotterdam (2 Michelin stars)
Wilco Berends – De Nederlanden, Vreeland (1 Michelin star)
Thomas van Santvoort – Flicka, Kerkdriel (1 Michelin star)
…and six other Michelin-starred masters.

Practical Details

Dates: Friday, March 28 – Sunday, March 30, 2025
Location: Kasteel de Wittenburg, Wassenaar
Tickets: From €359 (all-inclusive)

An evening (or Sunday afternoon) of world-class gastronomy, music, and elegance—perfect for discerning food lovers, business gatherings, and special occasions.

Secure your place at this exceptional event and indulge in an experience like no other.

More information and bookings (in Dutch)

The Hague Cookbook

The Hague Cookbook

In this new English-language book released this month, readers can learn the history of the Hopjes, the frikadel panggang, the Hague bluff, the Hague kakker and the famous braudje è met ùi . It is a book about the culinary history of our residence with excursions to other typical Hague things, peculiarities and anecdotes.

About the author

Nelly de Zwaan has roots in The Hague. Her father spoke the dialect of The Hague, but she was in class with daughters of ministers and diplomats. Her interest in good food led to a job as a cookbook editor. Later she switched to the world of magazines, where she wrote about lifestyle, culture and culinary matters. Since completing a study in socio-economic history, she has worked freelance. She has published several recipe books. 

Nelly de Zwaan | The Hague Cookbook | Published February 10th by Het Zwarte Schaap
ISBN 978 94 928 2129 4 | Hardcover | Language: English | 80 pp. | €14,99