In 2007 the café existed for 80 years. It was then 40 years ago that Bet van Beeren died. Since Greet van Beeren ( Bet’s sister who took over the pub) became ill in 2007 and died in August, all anniversary dates just passed by ….
Because of the importance of this historical pub, of “Auntie Bet“ for Amsterdam, the Zeedijk , the gay community and beyond, and also of “Auntie Greet” who kept it all going for 40 years, plus the fact that this concerns a family-business, the only thing we wanted and could do, was to put our efforts into re-opening the café.The historical and cultural value are too important to just disappear into a box in the attic.
Café ‘t Mandje is Café ‘t Mandje again as everyone knew it: Everyone is welcome, and can be themselves, just like in the times of ,,Tante Bet”en ,,Tante Greet”.
During the last couple months of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 we have worked hard onre-opening Café ‚t Mandje.
Because celebrating the Queens Birthday (30th April) has always been a major event in Café ‚t Mandje, our goal was to once again have an Orange Ball in the pub.
The official opening was conducted on April 29th 2008 by former District Chairwoman Els Iping and the former President of the COC Frank van Dalen, so that we could ring in the Queen’s birthday once againby one pull on the ol brass bell: at midnight. Orange-bitters for everyone! The next day the pub was finally open to the public. And daily, from then on.
Understanding the importance of this historical pub, we contacted, among others, the Amsterdam Museum and the City Archives. For example on how to preserve the ties and reconstruct the walls (with all the clippings and photos). Original photos and documents from the extensive personal archive of Bet and Greet van Beeren will be documented by the City Archives. The best possible place for this, to make sure everything will be preserved and kept accessible to everyone.
Besides the relatively straightforward rebuilding (more sanitary facilities, adjustments prescribed by the fire-brigade, adjustments to prevent noise nuisance, renovating the electricity, replacing the café floor) , the re-opening of Café ‚t Mandje was a fairly extensive project. The biggest job was of course the interior of the pub. Everything that was hanging, standing, and lying around had to be put back in its original place after the renovation.
Prior to the renovation the entire bar had to be taken apart and when all was done put back together in its original state .There was much to be photographed in order to document where every vase, statuette, plate, bottle, hat or shoe had been standing or hanging. Of the ceiling alone 300 photographs were taken.
Beautiful panoramic pictures of the bar’s interior, were made by Fridtjof Versnel, prior to redoing everything,. (These 360 degree pictures can be seen on this website: just click the “360”button above). will be placed on this website later on.They will also be shown in the Amsterdams City Archives and the Amsterdam Museum.
Fridtjof Versnel and Andre Witkam took technical pictures of the photowalls. The original photographs are fragile and liable to catch fire. In addition, their quality will deteriorate eventually. By making reproductions of the walls, all photographs remain preserved, so that, in case of damage, they can be replaced more easily. The original photos are kept in the City Archives and the Gay – Archives (ILHIA). The remounted photowalls are of outstanding quality: „As if you can take out the pins”, many exclaim.
The City Archives has made a selection of photographs and other interesting documents found in the café and residence.With white gloves the photos and clippings were removed from the walls. What cannot be stored in the City Archives, is kept in the family archives. The family archives contain a chronological list of photos and documents running from 1907 upto the present. A driver’s license of ‚aunt‘ Bet in the thirties, a tenancy agreement also from that time, ledgers from70-80 years ago, too much to mention. Part of the archives will go to the City Archives, and some of it will be kept at ILHIA (International Gay and Lesbian Information and Archives).
There was also the restoration of the juke-box, the wall-clock, the neon, billiard-table, stained-glass windows etc.to deal with. All historical items that determine the character of the pub .
According to Wilhelmina Billiard Factory the table is actually about 80 years old, and probably made by a local billiard factory (Oude Zijds, Warmoesstraat).Since the café is so small a special size billiard-table had to be built ( 1 by 2 meters). Wilhelmina Billiard Factory is working on the restoration of the table and is sponsoring this project largely, because in its opinion such an old billiard-table should be preserved. For many years, the table had been dismantled rather unprofessionally, on the Queens birthday, to create more space to dance. After its restoration of the billiard table this may only be done by Wilhelmina Billiard Factory!
And then: all the copper vases, copper plates, commemorative plates, souvenirs, shades, bags, shoes, stuffed lizards, iguanas, bear heads, tiger heads (yes, that was all possible in those days apparently) … Everything had to be cleaned, washed, steamed, impregnated, framed, reinforced, and put back in its original place.
And the ties: what probably started as a joke, has become a real gimmick in Café ‚t Mandje. A ceiling full of them.. They have all been cleaned and impregnated against fire and then hung back on their original place.
History
Café ‚t Mandje has been run by Bet van Beeren since 1927. She was the eldest daughter of a family of twelve children living in the Jordaan. Bet was a legendary landlady. In a leather jacket she tore through the city on her motorbike, sometimes chasing a new conquest. She came out openly for her homosexuality; as a young woman already Bet knew she fell for women. Café ‘t Mandje was one of the first bars where homosexuals did not have to hide their sexual orientation. But kissing in public was not allowed by Bet. Only on the Queen’s birthday men were allowed to dance with men, and women with women. If, in the fifties, guests showed up who couldn’t be trusted according to Bet, because they could be anti-gay, or a member of the vice-squad, Bet would light a porcelain owl behind the bar. The expression „an owl“ for heterosexual has been established since then. In ‚t Mandje everyone was welcome,whores, pimps, sailors, artists and provincials. Bet also did a lot for charity. And she had some peculiar habits: she would often cut off the tie of male visitors ,she was , alltogether, a personality, and very popular.
In 1967 Bet died . She was laid out for two days on her billiard-table. Her 21 year younger sister Greet continued the business untill heroin disrupted life on the Zeedijk. By 1982 it had become impossible to run a bar on the Zeedijk: heroin had taken possession of everyday life. Since that time, the café was closed. Greet remained living above the café and saw to it that the bar was dusted, aired and vacuum-cleaned regularly.You could peek through the windows and look at the interior as if it were a beautiful museum piece.
Amsterdam Museum
In the Amsterdam Museum a part of the interior of the café has been reconstructed, where the sturdy Bet van Beeren stood behind the bar, when she hadn’t taken off on her motor-cycle to chase girls. Also the cut-off ties on the ceiling, collages of photographs, little notes and business cards that were left by visitors. Visitors can listen to the stories of Bet’s sister Greet on a monitor that hangs above the bar. This room is a mixture of fiction and reality. The bar stools are the original ones from the pub, the bar is still a replica (the original bar was put on museum storage, waiting for rearrangement of the exhibition) ,built by the technical department of the AHM and the paintings are photographical duplicates of the original portraits of Bet and Greet , printed on canvas. The old National till is also in museum storage. The Amsterdam Museum was also closely involved in the conservation, restoration and redesigning of the café. On the ceiling hung a brass beerpump that was used a long time ago: that also goes to the Museum.
Gay Games 1998
In 1998, during the Gay Games, Greet opened the café for one week as a tribute to her legendary sister Bet. In these times of agression against homosexuals, it is important that Café ‘t Mandje is in business again.
The Canon of Amsterdam
Café ‚t Mandje is one of the 50 “windows” of the Canon of Amsterdam. The café, and in particular Bet van Beeren, has thereby become the symbol of tolerance in Amsterdam throughout the centuries. A better tribute could not be … ….
Re-opened. How are we doing?
Café ’t Mandje – Bet van Beeren
1927-2012
85 years
Fun and respect: we don’t know any better.
Next year Café ’t Mandje will celebrate its 85th anniversary. April 29th it was already three years since the re-opening our famous little bar.
It’s great to get all those warm reactions from visitors. People are glad the bar was re-openened and are impressed by its history. Our clientèle are a mix of regulars, tourists and visitors from all walks of life and from all over the world. We enjoy music, we have a vast collection of Dutch and international evergreens and golden oldies. We sing and we dance. And just like in the old days everybody’s welcome.
The bar was started in 1927 by Bet van Beeren, lesbian and not shy about it. This made the bar an important symbol in the history of homosexuality. The little bar is one of the ‘’windows” of the Canon of Amsterdam as symbol of tolerance in Amsterdam over the ages. A replica of the bar can be admired at the AmsterdamMuseum. After being closed for 26 years, the interior being kept and preserved by Bet’s youngest sister Greet, the bar was re-openend in 2008 by the niece of Bet and Greet: Diana van Laar.
Café ‚t Mandje – Bet van Beeren is only a small bar and our voice may be tiny, we still believe it to be important for us to let the world know our views and position on matters concerning LGHBT matters.
The history of our café and of Bet van Beeren demand our statement. And it’s not just history causing this, we ourselves have strong views on what’s right and wrong in the world and we voice our opinion by organising events. In the past 3 years, i.e. during GayPride & Pink Christmas, we drew attention to aging gays made to retreat back into the closet when they move into a retirement home, we had our much talked about Gay Decoy Election (stereotypes?), we considered how to make Amsterdam Gay Capital again, etc. Last Pink Christmas organized the Pink Christmas Visibly Pink Princess Election. Lesbiennes are still being discriminated and are less visible than the male homo community. We also think and talk about and publicly discuss STD/HIV. A very serious problem, not just affecting the homo community.
We are involved in various network concerning homo businesses and related matters.
This all may sound a bit boring, but those of you who come in and have drink will find out that “boring”does not apply to Café ’t Mandje.
Check out our programm on www.cafetmandje.nl/events, follow us on Twitter @tmandje, on Facebook, Google+, Foursquare, Feest.je and of course on Grloco, subscribe to our (irregular) newsletter or just come in for a drink.
You’re welcome!
Foundation Friends of Café ‚t Mandje-Bet van Beeren.
Bet van Beeren was not only known because of her gay sexuality. She had a strong sense of justice, accepted no distinction between people and contributed to the welfare of the elderly and children in the neighborhood. Tante Bet did a lot for charity and that is a tradition that should be honored. Foundation Friends of Café ‚t Mandje – Bet van Beeren keeps this tradition alive.The Foundation commits itself, by raising funds, to make sure that the restoration, preservation and maintenance of the characteristic elements of the café,( such as billiards, the jukebox, photo walls, the neon ) will be maintained . The Foundation also supports social initiatives and activities in the field of awareness, acceptance, integration, and education concerning gay issues.
Place Categories: Cafés







