{"id":4880,"date":"2016-02-26T14:15:16","date_gmt":"2016-02-26T13:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=47088"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:17","slug":"thoms-inspiring-and-industrial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/02\/26\/thoms-inspiring-and-industrial\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoms: Inspiring and industrial"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSanne van der Most<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Occasionally, there\u2019ll be a bar that fosters brilliance \u2013 a breeding ground for start-ups. Thoms<\/em>, which recently set up on Meent, could well become one of those establishments.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSanne van der Most<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Which is a nice thought. Because we all know the success stories. How three students \u2013 nursing a few beers \u2013 came up with the idea for a multimillion-dollar business in De Dijk<\/em>, which they named Coolblue. Or how former RSC President Vincent Karremans had a brainwave in caf\u00e9 Timmer<\/em>, and started Magnet.me, the LinkedIn killer from the Maas City.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s encouraging when the first thing we see upon arriving at Thoms<\/em> is a bunch of bright minds huddled around a laptop. They\u2019re sitting in a circle, discussing some sketches and drawings. Are we witnessing the birth of a million-dollar idea? One half of the company is lolling on a couch; the rest has pulled up the \u2013 somewhat impractical \u2013 chairs. The gentlemen, all in their late twenties, are fortifying themselves with authentic \u2018Olde Rotterdam\u2019 beer.<\/p>\n

the view can be admired<\/h3>
\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSanne van der Most<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Thoms<\/em> is nothing if not inspiring. Take the location: a great spot on Meent, and thanks to the large windows the view can be admired from every seat in the house. It\u2019s set up in the Timmerhuis, Rotterdam\u2019s hipster hub du jour<\/em>. And then the deco: you can definitely discern an \u2013 as they say \u2013 industrial flavour. Lots of steel and wood. The finish is good too: rows of wine bottles along the walls.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re less enthusiastic about the service: even full-on eye contact sometimes can\u2019t get one of the ladies to pass by our table. And you can wave like the Queen on her Jubilee, but it\u2019s difficult to even get noticed by the staff.<\/p>\n

piercings rather than dimples<\/h3>
\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSanne van der Most<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Most of the guests look like they\u2019ve already been running that successful start-up for years. The men wear designer scarves; the women sport piercings rather than dimples in their cheeks. They drink beer or wine and nibble from a platter with Mediterranean titbits. Thoms <\/em>calls it a \u2018Generous Bread Platter\u2019; your humble reviewer mainly makes out cheese and sausage.<\/p>\n

But we can\u2019t deny it\u2019s delicious. They\u2019re not skimpy with the servings, you get bread for free and it tastes great. Mainly interested in a drink? Then you can check out the bar\u2019s underground section. Underground? Indeed: it\u2019s below ground. Every Saturday, Thoms<\/em> rolls out a dance floor in the basement. During the week, families with small children are sequestered here so that everyone can eat in peace.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0Incidentally, the prices aren\u2019t very studenty, except when you order a glass of \u2018Adam\u2019s ale\u2019. They don\u2019t charge for tap water. Apart from that, things will work out we suppose \u2013 provided we get that million-dollar idea, of course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>

Meer kroegrecensies van Eric<\/h2>