Eetcafé City
This location is part of the Wet Blue route.
It has been possible to have a drink at this location since the second half of the 19th century. The dilapidated little house that stood there at the time was replaced around 1895 by the present building, again with a taproom. Between 1912 and 1934 the catering function disappears to make way for a store and workshop of a saddlery and after 1920 for a house.
In 1934, the property was given another hospitality purpose as a former shoe and ...
This location is part of the Wet Blue route.
It has been possible to have a drink at this location since the second half of the 19th century. The dilapidated little house that stood there at the time was replaced around 1895 by the present building, again with a taproom. Between 1912 and 1934 the catering function disappears to make way for a store and workshop of a saddlery and after 1920 for a house.
In 1934, the house regained a catering purpose when former shoe and leather goods manufacturer Drik de Ruijter opened his Café City there. Being a billiard enthusiast, Drik decided to organize the billiard championship of De Langstraat in his café in 1936. Good example follows good practice, because Drik's sons Kees and Henny do credit to the billiard café in the 1950s and 1960s, respectively. They both became global top billiard players, winning several major championships. Kees mainly in framework 47/2, Henny in three-band.
After Kees wins the European title 47/2 in 1950, the proud father installs a neon light with the name "Kees de Ruijter" on the façade of café City.
In 1960, De Ruijter hands the café over to his son Henny. By the way, the name "Kees de Ruijter" continues to adorn the facade until Kees starts his own café at 147 Grotestraat in 1964. The neon lighting at City is then replaced with the name "Henny de Ruijter."
On December 31, 1985, Ina and Wim van Cromvoirt took over the café. The name Café City is kept in honour and initially the large billiard table also keeps its prominent place in the middle of the café, because Van Cromvoirt is also a billiard player at heart. In 1980, for example, he placed second at the Dutch three-tie championship. At the end of the 1990s, the billiard activities were moved to the upper floor of the adjacent building, christened Castle City, and Café City developed into the café it is today.
