It was quite a surprise when Tonnie and Willem decided to open a restaurant together in Molendam. This was unheard of by the citizens. They had always thought eating was done at home and you prepared your own potatoes and vegetables in your own kitchen. But the young couple were convinced of their opportunity and of Willem’s culinary skills and converted their large canal house into a restaurant. And they were right.

A city like Molendam with all its hungry visitors arriving via the harbour from near and far, was crying out for a decent eating-house. Their first customers were indeed seafarers. After unloading their goods and delivering them to Jacobus van Cromvoirt’s weighhouse, they heist up their trousers and allow themselves to be treated by Willem who fries large pieces of bacon, sausages and juicy chops which he lays atop piles of curly kale or sauerkraut together with plenty of gravy. This is especially appreciated in winters such as this. Traders visiting the weighhouse gave the couple the idea of including somewhat more refined food, such as roast chicken and guinea fowl. But the "Broosjes" have most success among the inhabitants of Molendam themselves with simple dishes such as beans with treacle and fried bacon, which the miller, Hermensz loves, fried black pudding with beets, Greet Steenbergen’s favourite and of course scrapple that Hieronymus van Andel from the Mint can’t keep his hands off. Even farmers from the polder sometimes visit the restaurant when they come to the city to deliver their goods. And Tonnie and Willem are convinced that the more visitors that come to the city, the more successful their restaurant will be.