nrc.nl
Cafe Closures Highlight Challenges for Small Dutch Towns
Eight of twenty-two cafes in Oudenbosch, Netherlands, closed in the past year due to rising prices, staff shortages, and changing consumer preferences, impacting local businesses like the Paardenstal cafe, which hosts a billiards club and faces an uncertain future.
- What factors are causing the closure of cafes in Oudenbosch and similar small towns in the Netherlands?
- In Oudenbosch, Netherlands, 8 of 22 cafes closed last year, leaving fewer options for local residents and impacting establishments like the Paardenstal cafe, which hosts a billiards club. Rising prices and staff shortages contribute to this decline, affecting smaller towns more severely than larger cities.
- What strategies could cafes in Oudenbosch employ to improve their chances of survival given the current economic and social trends?
- The future of traditional cafes in smaller Dutch towns like Oudenbosch appears uncertain. Unless innovative approaches, such as diversifying offerings or increasing engagement with the community (e.g., pub quizzes), are adopted, further closures are likely, potentially leading to a loss of community gathering spaces. The success of newer establishments depends heavily on local connections and community involvement.
- How does the experience of the Paardenstal cafe and its billiards club illustrate the challenges facing smaller cafes in the region?
- The closure of cafes in Oudenbosch reflects a broader trend in the Netherlands, particularly in smaller towns, where rising costs, staff shortages, and changing consumer preferences challenge the viability of traditional pubs. The Paardenstal cafe, while currently hosting a billiards club, faces an uncertain future as its owner plans to retire and the premises are up for sale.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames the decline of pubs in Oudenbosch with a focus on the challenges and concerns of the existing pub owners and long-time patrons. This approach elicits empathy for their plight but may unintentionally downplay or overshadow other contributing factors, such as changes in consumer habits or broader economic trends. The headline (if there was one) would likely emphasize the closure of local pubs, reinforcing this framing.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, with some descriptive phrases such as "prices are rising through the roof". While this phrase conveys the message effectively, a more neutral phrasing such as "prices are significantly increasing" could have been used. The use of words like "hipper" to describe preferred establishments subtly favors a particular type of café. Overall, however, the language is largely unbiased.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the decline of traditional pubs in Oudenbosch and the challenges faced by café owners. While it mentions the rising costs and the difficulty of finding staff, it doesn't delve into broader economic factors affecting the region or potential government policies that might impact the viability of small businesses in rural areas. The perspectives of younger generations and their preferences are mentioned briefly, but lack in-depth exploration. The article also omits data on the overall health of the restaurant industry in Oudenbosch, which might contrast with the decline in cafes.
False Dichotomy
The article implicitly presents a false dichotomy between traditional pubs and modern, trendy establishments. It suggests that the only way for pubs to survive is to adapt to the preferences of younger generations seeking hipper concepts or to offer additional services like food. This simplifies the complex factors contributing to the decline of pubs and ignores the potential appeal of traditional pubs to a certain segment of the population.
Gender Bias
The article features a relatively balanced representation of genders among the interviewed individuals (men and women are quoted). However, there's a potential for implicit bias in focusing on personal details like the ages of the individuals involved in the biljart club. While it's not overtly negative, the inclusion of these details for some and not others could be perceived as subtly gendered if a pattern of highlighting age is seen more prominently for women, for instance. Further analysis would be needed to confirm this.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the decline in the number of cafes in Oudenbosch and the surrounding areas, leading to job losses and economic hardship for those in the hospitality industry. Rising costs, staff shortages, and changing consumer preferences are cited as contributing factors. This negatively impacts decent work and economic growth in the local community.