{
  "id": 156767,
  "title": "Travel guide in the government quarter: Toko and Co.: The Hague is top address for Indonesian cuisine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/reistafel-im-regierungsviertel-toko-und-co-den-haag-ist-topadresse",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-05T02:06:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/dienstleister/reistafel-im-regierungsviertel-toko-und-co-den-haag-ist-topadresse-fuer-indonesische-kueche/100245081.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In the heart of The Hague, a city known for its vibrant main square, visitors find themselves transported to a different world. The small snack restaurant \"Kopi Kopi\" offers an exotic taste of Indonesia, with a mission to share a piece of Indonesia. The owners, Debby Elias and Allan, believe they can experience a part of Indonesia through their dishes made from halal ingredients, avoiding pork and alcoholic beverages. Indonesian cuisine, with its halal restrictions, was introduced by Debby and Allan, both of whom have Indonesian roots. Their parents emigrated to the Netherlands after World War II, during a time when the Dutch Queen Juliana signed the formal transfer of sovereignty, marking the birth of the independent Republic of Indonesia.\n\nThe history of the Dutch Indies, now known as Indonesia, dates back to 1799 when the Dutch gained control over the archipelago, which had been under Dutch rule for around 350 years. The Netherlands had thrived on the trade of spices, tea, coffee, sugar, and minerals from their colony. The powerful Dutch East India Company (VOC) played a major role in establishing this trade. In the 17th century, the Netherlands experienced a golden age, with grand houses in The Hague and Amsterdam's canals, along with famous artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer. After 1949, the landscape changed drastically, and the Dutch faced a choice: stay in Indonesia or return to the Netherlands. Many remained, bringing Indonesian culinary traditions with them, enriching the Dutch cuisine. By the early 1950s, numerous Indonesian food stalls, or Tokos, had emerged in The Hague, with estimates suggesting there are now over 60 across the city.\n\nThe culinary offerings in The Hague are not limited to Indo-Dutch heritage; they are also shaped by Indonesian immigrants themselves. Some Tokos operate alongside food stores, offering take-away meals or shared tables for on-site dining. \"Toko Frederik,\" located in Frederikstraat, is an example of such a restaurant, providing budget-friendly meals for employees from the nearby government building of the Province of South Holland. Many of these Tokos cater to a lower price range than upscale restaurants in The Hague, which are often labeled as expensive, except for pancake houses. \"De Poentjak,\" considered one of the oldest Indonesian restaurants in The Hague, opened 45 years ago and is still run by Christian and Dian Tombal, sons of the original founders Winatuva and Benjamin Tombal. Their dish of choice, the Indonesian Reistrant, combines various meats, vegetables, and rice on one plate, with diners dipping a spoon of rice into the mixture. The restaurant features an open kitchen, allowing guests to watch the chefs prepare the different components. The stories of the Indonesian returnees are told through multimedia presentations in the Haagse Museum Sophiahof, which opened in June 2019. The museum also aims to apologize for the Netherlands' colonial past, a process that has only recently gained momentum. Meanwhile, the \"Moesson\" medium continues to facilitate intercultural exchange and preserve history.",
  "summary": "Tongseng Kambing instead of fries - in the government capital, more than 60 restaurants offer dishes whose culinary roots date back to the colonial era. Often cheap, always delicious.",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Kopi Kopi\" restaurant in The Hague serves Indonesian cuisine with halal ingredients.",
    "Owners Debby Elias and Allan have Indonesian roots from parents who emigrated post World War II.",
    "Over 60 Indonesian food stalls, or Tokos, exist in The Hague, enriching local culinary scene."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The proliferation of Indonesian eateries in The Hague, including Tokos and restaurants like Kopi Kopi, cements the city's status as a top address for Indonesian cuisine, reflecting its complex colonial and migratory history.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}