Meet Arjan

Will you also shop and enjoy locally in Delft this season? In our beautiful city, you can shop with personal attention, unique products and expert advice from many entrepreneurs. We would like to introduce you to some of Delft's local entrepreneurs. Arjan Steendam is the proud entrepreneur of Steendam Herenmode and he is happy to tell you more about his company and why you should buy local in Delft!

Why did you start your own business in Delft?
Steendam Herenmode is a family business, so I didn’t set it up myself – my grandfather did. He originally started Steendam Herenmode in Rotterdam in 1938, but then the bombing took place and my grandfather fled to Delft. He then restarted the business here. We actually started out in a very small shop at the time, which is still part of this building today. Over the years, the business has expanded steadily. This rear section, for example, was added in 1990, when my father was still the owner.

What do you like best about being a local entrepreneur in the city of Delft?
As a local entrepreneur, you can really make a difference. For me, entrepreneurship doesn’t stop at my own front door – we all play a part in keeping the city vibrant. The whole mix of shops, restaurants and other businesses in the city has to be just right. We want the city to function well, and if you have an opinion on that, then you have to do something about it yourself. So I think it’s really important to take the initiative myself to develop things in the city together, and I believe that you move faster on your own but go further together. I feel very much at home in the city. Delft feels like a close-knit village, where communication is direct and everyone knows each other. We collaborate a lot and support one another as entrepreneurs.

How do you collaborate with other local businesses in Delft?
I try to do so as much as possible. That’s also part of my role as chair of the Inner City Administrative Consultative Committee. And I think there’s still plenty of room for improvement. That’s something I’ll be focusing on in my role on the committee over the coming year, to improve collaboration between businesses. I enjoy working with my colleagues, and it works well – that’s one of the great things about Delft; it goes smoothly and is easy. I find that most others are quite approachable. And there’s always room for improvement. I believe that, as business owners, we must all work together to ensure that customers come here, and if they can’t find what they’re looking for at my business, I’d rather they went to a colleague here in Delft than to another town.

If you could share one message with the residents and visitors of Delft about local shopping, what would you say to them?
Many people in Delft sometimes forget just how beautiful our city is. So do take a moment to realise what an incredibly lovely city for shopping we have. I always hear from visitors from outside the city that Delft is so welcoming and friendly. And we’re used to nothing less; for us, it’s all just normal. But as a resident of Delft, try looking at the city from a different angle for a change. I always say: look up at the historic façades or take a boat trip along the canals. Delft has so much to offer, and if you look at it from a different perspective for a moment, you’ll see its beauty again. Let’s continue to enjoy everything our local businesses have to offer together. By shopping locally, you’re not only supporting local businesses but also helping to preserve our city life.

Which other local businesses in Delft should residents and visitors definitely pop into?
Well, we actually have so many. Blousem, of course, is a must. One place I really like, for example – and which you can find in Delft but not in other cities – is a savoury tart shop called Les Gateaux. What other city has a little shop selling nothing but savoury tarts? This shop is still unknown to many people. We also have the Stadskaarsenmakerij Delft , which I think is really lovely too. We’ve also got some absolutely brilliant restaurants and cafés. If you really want to eat well here, head to Kruydt on the Paardenmarkt or enjoy a nice beer at Café de Wijnhaven or the Delfts Brouwhuis. We really do have so much to offer in Delft.