A brief history of Coffee within the Netherlands
Among the primary coffee-trading countries, it’s not surprising the Dutch were free of some of the usual conflict and turmoil surrounding coffee consumption. They began drinking it within the 16th century by the time the first cafes were opened within the 1660′s, there is “hardly a house of standing where coffee is not drunk every morning” The Dutch loved coffee so much that even the servants became accustomed to it.
The cafes also had their very own style. They were opulently decorated, with dark paneled walls and stunlying bright copper pots and utensils. Naturally, they attracted business owners, merchants, and government administrators which is probably why these were always in the financial districts. In other Dutch cities cafes put together in elaborate gardens, allowing cafe patrons to enjoy their favorite drink underneath the shade of the tree. Obviously, these gardens were especially popular early in the year once the flowers and foliage lit the gardens with color and fragrance.
Contrarily, while Scandanavia holds the current record for coffee consumption, the Finns were slow to consider the drink. Like the majority of other Countries in europe, coffee was delivered to Scandanavia in the 1680′s, however it was slow going after that. In fact, in 1746, a royal edict was issued against both tea and coffee. 10 years later it had been made completely illegal. The ban was eventually repealed, but there were severe taxes imposed on those who refused to follow along with the order. It had not been until almost 70 years later, in the 1820′s once the government threw in the towel. Unlike other Countries in europe, cafes never caught on in Scandanavia. The few cafes that did exist were Spartan and stripped from the elegance and luxury that adorned other European coffee shops. Proably due to the anti-coffee laws, for the Finns, coffee drinking was a private affair reserved for elaborate private parties.