Fenix Food Factory in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Stuart Forster heads to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and visits the Fenix Food Factory.

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The Fenix Food Factory stands in Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district, on the south side of the New Meuse river. Benches are set outside, on the dockside of the Rijnhaven. They allow visitors to sit and look towards the Hotel New York and the skyscrapers on the opposite waterfront while socialising, eating and drinking.

Inside, you’ll find a bakery, a brewery and bar, a cheese maker, a butcher, a cider store, plus a café and a grocery shop with a kitchen. The vibe is distinctly laid back and a touch alternative. At the centre of the Fenix Food Factory stands a piano plus tables and chairs. A swing hangs from the ceiling. Visitors are free to make use of them.

Fenix Food Factory

The building housing the Fenix Food Factory was previously a warehouse. In its earlier incarnations, it stored cotton, tea, coffee and, most recently, was a cold store.

Fluorescent lights provide illumination. The building has a raw look and feel.

“Quite a lot of people compare it to Berlin,” says Wouter Bijl, one of the Fenix Food Factory’s founders and the owner of Cider Cider, the first dedicated cider store in the Netherlands.

Standing next to an arched, corrugated iron hut, Wouter jokes that it’s his man cave.

“We wanted to make something that was real, where people could enjoy and learn about food. We want to keep prices low and for people to come here, enjoy food, sit and grab a beer, cheese and meat,” he explains.

“People can buy a bottle of cider from me or bring their own wine. I believe that’s the new way of thinking. If you leave people free they’ll come and buy something anyway,” he says with conviction.

Fenix Food Factory hosts regular live music events to draw visitors from beyond the local catchment area.

Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district

The Katendrecht district has undergone a significant clean-up in recent years.

“It used to be the place that sailors came to have a drink and for a good time. It had everything that God forbade. And after that, it became a place you didn’t want to be. Ten years ago, they started to rebuild it,” explains Wouter. “We selected the entrepreneurs based on the quality of their products, how they think and passion for what they do – we want people who understand what they are talking about.”

With a shrug of his shoulders and a nod, he adds: “We believe in thinking about food and that the economy can be different. We’re not here to make tonnes of money. We’re here to do what we do and enjoy our lives.”

Locally sourced products

“Some are organic but all of them are local products. We’re looking for the best quality. We’re always preparing things for people to taste,” says Arthur Nijhuis of Rechtstreex, which sells fruit and vegetables sourced from within a 50-kilometre radius of Rotterdam.

He points towards Baz, his chef, who flashes a smile and places a cup of warm mushroom soup on the counter.

“From the bottom up, I’m trying to make a difference, to show we can do things in a different way,” says Arthur.

“We’re trying to shorten the food chain and go to the consumer directly. You have better products, the farmer has a better price and the products are actually cheaper because you have less links in the chain taking a margin.”

Farmers deliver food boxes on a weekly basis and people have the opportunity to taste before buying. Additionally, Baz gives cooking demonstrations and provides recipes. This is proving helpful for generating interest in unfamiliar ingredients, such as New Zealand spinach.

“Try coming back here on a Sunday for brunch and to enjoy the music,” suggests Wouter as I photograph him by the door and say goodbye.

Things to do near Fenix Food Factory

Fenix Museum

The Fenix Museum tells the story of migration. It opened on 16 May 2025 and is next door to the Fenix Food Factory.

Nederlands Fotomuseum

The Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photography Museum) is also a short walk from the Fenix Food Factory. It moved to new premises in February 2026.

Map of the Fenix Food Factory

The map below shows the location of the Fenix Food Factory:

Travel to Rotterdam

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has KLM services from airports across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Rotterdam The Hague Airport has direct flights from London.

Eurostar train services operate between London St Pancras and Rotterdam.

Hotels in Rotterdam

Looking for accommodation in Rotterdam? You can find and book hotels using the map below:

Books about Rotterdam

Planning a trip to Rotterdam? You can buy the following books from Amazon:

Lonely Planet Pocket Rotterdam travel guidebook.

Rotterdam: Fernsby’s War Book 4 by J.C. Jarvis.

Lonely Planet’s 100 Weekends in Europe by John Keay.

DK The Netherlands by Linda Jaivin.

Further information

Fenix Food Factory is at Veerlaan 19D, 3072 Rotterdam. See the Fenix Food Factory website for opening times and information about events.

Discover more about the city via the Rotterdam and Visit Holland websites.

Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about the Fenix Food Factory in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Planning a trip? You can find out about major art exhibitions in the Netherlands here on Go Eat Do,

Stuart Forster, the author of this post, was named Travel Writer of the Decade at the Netherlands Press Awards of 2020.

Photos illustrating this post are by Why Eye Photography.

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A version of this article was initially published on Go Eat Do on 16 November 2014.