Bakery Baas is extinguishing its ovens today after 30 years, energy crisis is the last straw

Due to the energy crisis, energy prices continue to rise. The local baker from Hoogwoud therefore sees no point in continuing. Hoogwouder Erik Mooij is a regular customer and does not yet know where he will get his bread from next week. “The baker may often be more expensive, but also much tastier, we still have to see which new bakery is worth it.”

It is not the case that Mooij will be going to a new bakery from next week. “I’m filling the whole freezer now,” he laughs. The line is all the way out, Els and Cor de Jong from Medemblik are also in it. “We often cycle through the region and then stop at Bakkerij Baas and get a delicious pastry,” says Els. “We deserved that.” Like many others in line, she is disappointed that ‘their’ bakery is closing.

But it’s not just busy today. “The hustle and bustle has been going on for a while. That way you can see that you have done good work for 30 years”, Loes feels. She has received many cards and flowers from customers in recent days. “Many customers also come by to thank us. We sometimes brought a cake on a Sunday or took into account certain dietary requirements.” The drop-off bags in particular are doing well. “It contains four delicacies: our famous Burgundian apple pie, a loaf of our last flour, four croissants and a pack of biscuits. Be on time, because it’s gone.”

Earlier than planned

Her husband, Hans Baas, is busy at the back of the business where the oven is still full. He sold the oven trays for the gingerbread to a Belgian baker. “It sucks, you know, that we’re closing today. It’s a bit of a swallow, more than a year earlier than we planned.” He doesn’t have much time to think about it: “I notice that our complaints, who used to order two of something, now order ten, it’s really busy.”

Today they put out their ovens for the last time: with their heads held high and chests out. “We are going to imitate our opening ceremony, but then the opposite,” says Loes. An old photo, which hangs in the bakery, shows a red bow being removed by their daughter. While removing that snare, Loes is lifted by Hans. “She said it’s not necessary this time,” says Loes with a big smile. “We have been able to experience thirty fantastic years here with many special moments. We have enjoyed every day, what a beautiful profession we have.”

After closing, they will open one more time to sell their contents. “Although we are already being called a lot by bakers who have seen us on television,” says Loes. They even got a phone call from a bakery from Belgium, who wants to buy their oven trays for the gingerbread. “They’ll be picking it up soon.”