Miranda van Es opens LOUD at the Posthoornstraat in Rotterdam at the end of the month. Her friend Lilian helps. 'Just a nice casual night out.' © AD, Sanne Donders.

Rotterdam
Light beers and liqueurs: the new bar-café LOUD on the Posthoornstraat in Rotterdam is completely aimed at women. 'With men there, the atmosphere immediately changes. We don't want to discriminate. But a group of noisy men is not the intention.'

Men are allowed to enter, but they must behave, says initiator Miranda van Es (32) with a wink. Together with her life partner Lilian van Dam, she has worked in the hospitality industry in recent years and will now open her own business at the end of December: the first cafe for ladies in Rotterdam. It will be a place where straight, bisexual and lesbian women will feel welcome.

Van Es, who officially owns it together with her father, was surprised that Rotterdam does not yet have a café exclusively for women. 'You have enough shops for mixed crowds and cafes for men,' says the businesswoman. "But there isn't a bar for ladies."

to flirt
Flirting with a guy a little bit can be fun. Yet the duo is convinced that there is a need for a cafe without gentlemen. 'Many women, especially heterosexuals, want to go out without being approached by men. In our environment, many women responded positively to this concept. Just having a nice casual night out with women,' explains Van Dam.

'Think of groups of friends chatting and drinking wine. With men there, the atmosphere is different.' Men who come in with their girlfriend or wife are also very welcome, they emphasize. 'We don't want to discriminate. But a group of noisy men is not the intention.'

To give the cafe a feminine touch, the logo is bright pink. The range of drinks is also tailored to the ladies drinker. 'We don't serve heavy but easily drinkable beers such as Hoegaarden, rosé beer, corona and kriek,' says Van Es. 'There will also be a wide choice of wines and liqueurs that women like, such as Baileys.' The menu includes bar snacks and lunch is served in the afternoon.

The store has thirty seats and about seventy standing places. For now, Van Es and Van Dam run LOUD together. 'If it gets really busy, we can always hire people. In any case, there is enough interest.'