‘Patatje Kees’ pulls the plug from his fries stand: retired himself, municipality does not want a successor

The snack truck will not be followed up on Hoorn80. “I had sold it to someone on the condition that they can operate the cart here, only the municipality does not want to cooperate.”

The municipality indicates that ‘Patatje Kees’ is tolerated, but that they do not intend to do this with the next party. The municipality does recognize that there is a need for an additional catering facility at Hoorn80.

“There is currently room for a catering destination at Hoorn80. This is currently being used by coffee shop ‘Blue Tomato’. We are going to see if we can find a building somewhere centrally on the industrial estate that can be used as a catering industry, and if necessary we will change the zoning plan,” according to the municipality of Hoorn.

Premature plans

Kees thinks the plans of the municipality are premature. “Nine years ago, the roadside restaurant ‘De Clown’ left and I ended up here with my snack truck”, Kees looks back. He himself had the idea that what he was doing was allowed because it was on his own property. This just turned out not to be the case. After a signature campaign by entrepreneurs at Hoorn80, the municipality decided to tolerate Kees after all.

“Look, I earn enough to be here. But it has become less busy in the industrial area since Deen was taken over by Albert Heijn”, Kees sees. He thinks that a catering business on Hoorn80 is not financially profitable. Expensive rent and high start-up costs are mainly an obstacle, according to Kees.

The municipality has now approached several parties at Hoorn80 to see whether a more suitable space is available. “We are currently looking at a location, but we do not yet know how long it will take before it can start,” a spokesperson told NH Nieuws/WEEFF.

A number of people on Hoorn80 indicate that they think it would be a shame if ‘Patatje Kees’ – now grown into a household name – would disappear. The customers find the location where it is easy and it is convenient for a quick bite. “When we have a break and want to order something, for example, we have little choice. It’s pizza, döner or Bakker Bart,” says Bradley Ilaria, who works in the Albert Heijn distribution center.

He sees an extra catering business on the industrial estate. It just shouldn’t be too far away. “It would also be nice if, in addition to frying, you could also get a nice sandwich, for example. But it must be ready quickly,” says Bradley.

Another customer understands that the rules change. “In principle, Kees has benefited for nine years from being allowed to stand here.”