Nice Venloos

The first thing I noticed when I moved back to Venlo five years ago… There are so many nice and diverse restaurants! Sushi? Motown! Hip & trendy? Grenswerk Café! 1-2-3 Pizza? Nena! But what about the Venlo cuisine? Does it (still) exist? Definitely! In this blog I will take you along in the typical Venlo cuisine – with dishes that you really have to try!

Ever heard of a fries-egg? Or of zoorvleis? These are real classics that you don't want to miss if you are in Venlo for a day. Are you from here? Then imagine yourself back in time with these delicious nostalgic meals. Fan of meat? Then this list is for you! Do you prefer vegan, then I also have something nice for you. I will give you my vegan twist on the real classics, so that you can make the tastiest typical Venlo dishes yourself at home - vegan style!

'Zoorvleis'

Hachée, stew, boeuf bourguignon… When I tasted these variations in other cities and countries it was clear; Venlo zoorvleis really has its own authentic taste - you want to taste it when you are here! This classic with its characteristic sweet and sour taste is an indispensable part of the Venlo cuisine. This may even be one of the oldest dishes in Venlo (and the Netherlands)! ​​When the Romans came to our region, they brought meat with them in jars with wine and vinegar to preserve it. Since then, this dish has been further developed with the basic ingredients of beef, vinegar, bay leaves, apple syrup, gingerbread and beer/wine. Of course, every chef gives it his own twist.

Want to try it? You can order fries with zoorvleis at almost every Venlo Cafeteria. Prefer to eat out? You can find this tasty dish on many menus, such as at De Alde Mert. This authentic Venlo restaurant serves even more Venlo classics. Also recommended: Eetcafe Hemingway. The menu and interior have been renewed, but the sour meat has remained - according to the recipe of the new chef.

(Annie's) Zwarte Kiep

I'm not the only one who loves ketjap... It's clear that we in Venlo are crazy about Indonesian cuisine. Indonesian dishes continue to be on the menu, such as satay, soto and spekkoek. We also have several Indonesian restaurants, such as Tante Toer and Into Indo. An Indonesian flavour also seeps through in this authentic Venlo dish - zwarte kiep. The ketjap gives the chicken a black colour and makes the meat deliciously tender and sweet.

Where to taste it? You can do that at Grand Café Restaurant de Graanbeurs, among others. But of course my tip is Eetcafé de Brasserie, where this dish comes from. Annie's Zwarte Kiep - served with a peach, fries and mayonnaise - is a household name in Venlo. Grandson Rene (junior) is now in the kitchen and, in addition to the traditional dishes of his grandmother Annie, such as zuurvlees and kip piri piri, he also prepares changing (seasonal) dishes. More chicken? At Grand Café Bonaparte they serve many more tasty chicken dishes besides black chicken.

Kalde Schóttel

If there is a party, the ‘kalde schóttel’ is often on the table! This festive meal salad is a Venlo dish that has been passed down for generations. You can compare it to the Dutch cold dish or Huzarensalade. ‘Wie de huzare nog in Venlo ware…’ is an old Venlo song about hussars, but whether this can be linked to these salads is unknown. What is known is that the Venlo version with soup meat is more generously filled and not such a finely mashed puree.

Kalde schóttel is often found on the menu as a side dish. Recipes may vary, but the basis consists of potatoes, silver onions, gherkins, peas, apple and beef.

Friet-ei

Venlo's pride is this delicious delicacy: the fries-egg! A fries-egg is a boiled egg with vegetarian curry ragout in a crispy jacket - a phenomenon in Venlo and surroundings and can be found in almost every cafeteria. Not to be confused with the Groningen egg ball with meat ragout. This legendary snack is definitely recommended to try if you are in Venlo!

The original fries egg, invented by Toon Scheurs, can be pulled straight out of the wall at his Automatiek Piccadilly. Fancy a late night snack? Search no more! From experience I know that you can still score this snack in the late hours with a nice beer in Brouwerplaats. Do you want to try the most luxurious version? Read about the Valuas’ fries egg and more in this blog with the tastiest egg dishes in Venlo!

Valuas Kroket

At gastronomic top Restaurant Valuas you will not only find the most luxurious fried egg, but also luxurious croquettes and bitterballen! The Valuas Kroket is the croquette you want to eat in Venlo. In 2004, Master Chef Eric Swaghoven developed this luxurious croquette in which he only processed the very best ingredients - sustainably and environmentally friendly produced.

The Valuas Krokettenlijn has almost 40 different flavors and sizes, such as beef and shrimp croquettes, with veggies such as asparagus and kale, and even a gluten-free variant! You can order this delicacy at Restaurant Valuas and their ‘Valuas Boutique’, but also in the city at Café de Klep, among others. Prepare it at home? You will find a whole shelf full at the Beej Benders Versmarkt!

Yes, besides all the meat dishes, these veggies are also typically Venlo! Boeremoos is Venlo's word for kale. This vegetable is also the name giver of one of the most characteristic Venlo parties - the Boeremoosbal. This is a party before carnival, or Vastelaovend, that heralds the most fun weeks of the year.

Around February you can eat kale stew, or boeremoos, everywhere in the city, such as at Bistro de Luif,Café de Klep, Café de Blauw Trap, Brasserie Sur Place and even a vegan take-away version at Leon's Veggie Fun. My tip, Grand-Café Deckers or Prins Hendrik, here you can enjoy typical boeremoos in a very authentic interior. During the day, many German tourists enjoy the Venlo specialties here.

Hela Curry & Venlo Sauces

When Venlo residents order special fries, we want (no, demand!) the one and only Hela Herb Ketchup Curry! The Venlo story of Hela began with Harry Thissen; in 1967 he imported the originally German Gewürz Ketchup Curry Delikat and made this sauce big in the Netherlands from Venlo. The famous red bottle has now achieved cult status. Hela now even has its own Product Development department in Venlo, where they make incredibly tasty & innovative sauces, such as salad & sandwich dressings or worldly snack sauces with wasabi and jalapeño, among other things.

Tip: visit the Hela shop! This store is located near the new Museum Quarter on the Parade. Here you can not only buy sauces and dressings but also Hela gadgets and fun gift packaging.

Vlaai

Fancy a cake? We have vlaai! Maybe a bit corny. But the Limburg vlaai also belongs in this list. Cherry vlaai, apricot vlaai, rice vlaai, crumb vlaai (or in Venlo Botterflaai)… All Limburg favourites and often found on the pastry menu in Venlo. Looking for a vlaai with a special character? Then go to Banketbakkerij Lamers! In addition to the above vlaais, they also have the staekbeere schoém. This is a gooseberry vlaai with a meringue foam – you have to try this combination!

Tip: Fancy an ice cream? At Ice and Macaron Chef they have an ice cream in the flavour of crumb vlaai! Deliciously sweet and you can really taste the crumbs! Definitely worth trying during summer temperatures.

Venlose Köpkes

If you want to thank someone in Venlo, I know something nicer than the standard box of Merci... namely: Venlose Vötjes! Vötjes, or buttocks/cones, originate from the Venlo saying de kins dich op de kónt klatse. Which means: ‘you are lucky’, ‘you are lucky’. In the special centuries-old Keizerstraatje you will find a relief with this saying: a naked lady lies with her bare buttocks in a field of four-leaf clovers, enjoying herself and can’t believe her luck! Hence the Venlose Vötjes as a good luck wish!

Speaking of the Keizerstraat, or Flôddergats; in this beautiful hidden street lies one of the most visited sights of Venlo: the Köpkes van de Flôddergats. On this dialect fence by artist Ger Janssen you will find 81 bronze Köpkes and 35 other figures that depict expressions and proverbs from the Venlo dialect. You can even eat some of the Köpkes! Because at Banketbakkerij Lamers you can buy the Blieje, the Linkmiechel, Miene Golde, the Prônkmedam, the Bäökmoel, Venlose Vötjes and Paeterkes in a delicious chocolate variant.

Truuk-blik

Are you a real sweet tooth? Then you don't want to miss Candy Shop Truuske! At this nostalgic sloék shop you imagine yourself back in grandma's time and scoop your own sweets! Within the theme 'typical Venlo' they have a real authentic candy tin for you with all kinds of sweets from the past. All beautifully presented in the special Truuk tin, with photos from the past, such as the most famous candy shop in Venlo at the time, 'de Siem'. A nice look back!

Venlo Beers

Beer lovers, take note! We have plenty of typical Venlo beers! Such as Venloosch Alt; this type of Alt beer was brewed in the city centre of Venlo around the 17th century. At that time, you drank beer from a 'klep': a beer mug with a lid. At the eponymous Café De Klep you will find all kinds of Venlo beers, new and old, with beer from their own brewery and special Venloos Paeterke Klooster beers. This 'Preuf & Praotlokaal' is definitely worth a visit, according to Bart's Boekje it even has one of the best terraces in the Netherlands! You can also take a look at the Köpkes of the Flôddergats! More tips: Foodhall MOUT - with a brewery from de Klep, Beers&More77 - with at least 1,800 beers, and specialty beer café Brouwersplaats, with a chip egg on the side!

Do you like cooking and beers? Then the cookbook ‘Biëstig Lekker 3 - Kaoke met beer’ is really something for you! 35 Venlo chefs give their special recipe with beer in dialect, such as a ‘Bieramisu' with Paeterke Quadröppel from De Klep. Super fun illustrated with beautiful Venlo stories. Buy? Then drop by Boekwinkel Koops, or order online.

Even more to toast to

Fancy something stronger? Then stop by Wijnhandel Dielen & Zn.. This family business not only sells drinks, but also makes them themselves! Liqueurs, wine and even Limburg port, unique and therefore certainly worth mentioning. A cup of coffee, or even more? If you order a teske coffee in Venlo, you sometimes get a Venlo liqueur with it. With a dollop of whipped cream and a tasty biscuit, a Venlo coffee is a true Venlo temptation, tip: MOCCA.

Even more Venloos

more typical Venlo products, feel free to take a look in the shops in the Festina Lente Straatjes, Begijnengang, with cheese and more from our region. Also check out Tourist Information Venlo, located in Boekhandel Koops. Here they have a changing assortment of Preuf Lokaal, such as Venlo honey, babbelaers, Venlo nut mix, zeut-zoor, Venlo coffee and a Kukske of eige deig. Maybe you can still find the temporary Venlo Bonbons from IJsco Fantastico here (or online).

Meer verhalen uit Venlo