{"id":4145,"date":"2016-04-21T10:13:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-21T09:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/04\/21\/in-de-smitse-viert-porseleinen-jubileum\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:14","slug":"in-de-smitse-viert-porseleinen-jubileum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/04\/21\/in-de-smitse-viert-porseleinen-jubileum\/","title":{"rendered":"In de Smitse celebrates twentieth anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Het huidige bestuur bij het caf\u00e9<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

On Thursday, campus pub\u00a0In de Smitse\u00a0<\/em>will be celebrating its twentieth birthday. To mark the occasion, it is holding a themed Pirate Party. A look back at twenty years of Smitse.<\/p>\n

The Smitse opened in Delft in the 1970s as an informal place to have a beer. In 1996, the pub\u00a0moved to the FG building on the EUR campus.<\/p>\n

Matthijs Wouterse was in the first board after the Smitse moved to its current location in T building in 2005.\u00a0\u201cImmediately after my second lecture at university, I heard that there was a pub there. I went and had a beer and saw a notice on the wall advertising for bartenders. Barman Otto persuaded me to try my hand behind the bar. Later I joined the board.\u201d In 2008, the pub was expanded. Wouterse: \u201cOur turnover soared after the refurbishment because we could accommodate so many more people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goodwill factor<\/h3>

Today, 25 bar volunteers, headed by a four-person board, run the caf\u00e9. The success of the Smitse is really down to those volunteers, says Christiaan van der Vaart, president in 2010 and 2011. \u201cThere\u2019s a great goodwill factor. A lot of time goes into running a company. The bartenders are all volunteers. People see that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact that the Smitse doesn\u2019t play safe also plays a role in that goodwill factor. \u201cWe wanted to create a traditional pub with lots of specialty beers in the sterile T building.\u201d And we succeeded, feels Van der Vaart: \u201cWhen you turn left after going down the escalator, you soon leave your classes far behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

'Your own pub'<\/h3>

A notable feature of the Smitse is the family atmosphere among the volunteers. Van der Vaart still talks in the we<\/em> form when he tells a story about the Smitse. What makes the Smitse so special, he feels, is that \u201cthere is no other student association which has its own company. The best thing after a busy evening was when all the guests had gone home and we\u2019d cleaned up and were able to enjoy a beer together. You have your own pub, it\u2019s your business, together with the bartenders and the board. That\u2019s a real life experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sulky<\/h3>

Lilian Broekman, the current president, remembers the constitution drinks. \u201cAt one point, someone began to spray champagne and everyone was able to escape except for me, because I\u2019d had far too much to drink. I got soaked. They took a photo of me looking very sulky \u2013 it\u2019s still in the office today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van der Vaart also has happy memories of his time running the Smitse. \u201cI can still remember people having to wait ages for the toilets on busy Thursday evenings and eventually resorting to using the washbasins instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wouterse: \u201cI\u2019d better not give away all the details. But the post exam drinks led to hilarious scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

The famous office photo<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Many changes<\/h3>

There will be many changes at the Smitse in the coming academic year. For example, there will now be five instead of four people on the board. \u201cAll the staff work here part time. We can\u2019t ask too much of them. With five managers, we can always ensure that one of us is around every evening,\u201d says Broekman.<\/p>\n

In September, the Smitse will also be moving from the Mandeville building (T) to Hatta building (U). The pub will be bigger, have a sun-facing terrace and perhaps longer opening hours too.<\/p>\n

Van der Vaart was a \u201chuge supporter\u201d of the move. \u201cWe must keep developing. In the past, the Smitse was still a sort of RSM pub, but not any more. When we move, we will be in a more central position on campus. That\u2019s ideal for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pirate Party<\/h3>

But first there\u2019s the Pirate Party on Thursday. It promises to be huge. Broekman: \u201cThe pub doesn\u2019t have a reputation for being super student, so that\u2019s why we\u2019ve never properly celebrated an anniversary before.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday 25 April, there are also Board Drinks, when anyone interested in joining the Board at the Smitse are welcome to come along.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The current board at the Smitse. From left to right: Lilian Broekman, Maarten van Snek, Maret Stuij and Ilhami Eren<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Read more about the Smitse<\/h2>