Bij de Fortwachter in Rijnhuizen

Our wedding at De Fortwachter was unfortunately a disappointing experience, despite the beautiful location. Although De Fortwachter is not an official wedding venue, it regularly hosts events and activities. For this reason, we expected that arrangements, safety, and organization would be taken seriously. We had been in close contact by email and in person for over a year beforehand. Agreements were made verbally and documented. However, two weeks before the wedding, we were informed that our regular contact person was no longer working. As a result, we had to make an emergency appointment at very short notice, previous agreements were called into question, additional costs were incurred, and it turned out that the venue was not exclusively ours. De Fortwachter made no concessions in this regard. Furthermore, we had explicitly warned in advance about potholes and holes in the ground and requested that they be filled to prevent accidents. During her first dance, my mother twisted her ankle; it swelled immediately, and she was unable to walk. Several guests also reported injuries from these potholes. The Fort Watcher later admitted to having placed wood chips, but neither we nor any other guests witnessed this, and it's not visible on the video footage. We found the comment that guests shouldn't have worn stilettos highly inappropriate—my mother wore flats and complained for over two and a half months. An apology was never offered. On the day itself, the planning didn't go as planned: a course of the dinner was skipped, and the marshmallows for the campfire weren't set up. According to the event manager, this was "accidentally missed." Finally, it turned out the adjacent restaurant was also hosting a wedding. Loud music was played there during our ceremony, which seriously disrupted our time. The Fort Watcher indicated a lack of communication between the two. Afterward, communication was also difficult. The invoice contained errors, which we had to identify ourselves. Furthermore, we had indicated in advance that we would be going on our honeymoon immediately after the wedding and would pay the invoice afterward. Despite this, we received two payment requests by email during our twelve-day honeymoon. It's a real shame, because De Fortwachter is a beautiful venue with a lot of potential. Unfortunately, poor organization, communication, and lack of responsibility caused a lot of stress in the lead-up to the wedding.

A quick drink with croquettes and spring rolls. Far too small to enter with a wheelchair, and then there were the undercooked spring rolls and cold croquettes. Too bad, but last time.

Let's start on a positive note. The location is nice, but I only recommend it for coffee and a treat. I definitely don't recommend it for a party, especially not a wedding. Relaxing your way to the big day isn't going to happen here. Prices aren't being honored, everything is being changed two days in advance, and a new floor plan has to be submitted. The outdoor area was supposed to be prepared for dancing, but it was just potholes, resulting in three sprained ankles and a torn tendon. The bill is incorrect, and there are items listed that weren't served. The service is truly subpar. In short, think twice before planning a party here!

Beautiful place with both indoor and outdoor seating. Quiet yet cozy atmosphere. Delicious food and friendly service. See you soon :)

A really lovely, hidden spot nestled in the greenery. Small-scale and never overcrowded. Playground equipment for the little ones, trees to protect them from the sun, a vegetable garden, and plenty of nice seating inside. I would definitely celebrate a birthday or something here. Highly recommended!

This is a lovely place. You're in a Waterline fort, so on a kind of (peninsula) island. We attended a Spanish open-air concert here, and it was very beautiful.

What a lovely place! We had a B&B and the service was excellent! We had a great meal, delicious beers, chips, and packed lunches (especially the cookies we received). The food was also delicious! The hostess is very friendly and does a fantastic job!

A lovely spot to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Nice atmosphere, reasonable prices, and friendly (young) staff. The staff could have popped in a bit more often for drinks; even though there were only three tables, I had to go to the bar twice to order something. Otherwise, a great spot.

A restaurant every neighborhood deserves. They offer a lot of extras, great staff, and a beautiful location. I wish there were more restaurants like this in Nieuwegein. Update a year later: the staff tries their best but seems to change too often, which seems to lead to a lack of experience, and many orders (and not just ours) are wrong: the wrong coffee, cold croquettes, no cutlery, the wrong table... and all in just half an hour. Such a shame. If you can ignore the minor flaws, it's still a wonderful place.

Very nice location and friendly service! A surprising place where you wouldn't expect any food or drink. Well worth a visit.

I went there for the second time on Sunday afternoon, August 3rd. The location is great, but the service was absolutely terrible. We were seated at a table covered in dirty dishes from previous guests. No initiative was taken to remove them. You order at a counter. You end up waiting for over 10 minutes, even if the people in front of you only ordered drinks. I ordered coffee, a coke, and two soups, and today I ordered a gaspachio. After 30 minutes, still no soup. I simply forgot! I asked for a refund, which I did, but no apology was forthcoming. All in all, a disappointing experience. Tips: try to motivate the staff more and speed up the process of serving soft drinks. Just bottles or cans, not empty soda from a large bottle. This place has so much more potential. But even though I live nearby, I won't be going back anytime soon.

Fantastic place. Vegetarian delights, excellent cuisine! Margriet, in particular, makes the most delicious creations! A wonderful place for children to play and explore.

Beautiful place! The eternal wait while no one else was there was rewarded with a delicious toasted sandwich and pancake. You forget about the price because you pay at the beginning.

Fantastic food, but the service could be better. It's not all running smoothly. The lady behind the drinks counter is incredibly enthusiastic, which is great to see. There were only eight tables full, but the two waitstaff had their hands full, especially because things weren't going so smoothly. Honestly, I think the price is a bit low. Considering the amount we received, I think they're selling themselves short. We had the tasting menu. Highly recommended. Tip for the owner: - Serve bottled soft drinks. This is much faster than serving from individual bottles. - When customers sit on the terrace, come over with a menu and cutlery pouches; you'll save yourself some walking. - The waiters' walking pace could be a bit faster. - Offer drinks more often; this increases your sales. Bottom of the glass in sight? Offer a new one immediately.

What a lovely place to hang out with children. They play nicely, mums and/or dads enjoy a nice cake with coffee. Ideal and nice atmosphere!

Hi! Everything was delicious, the place is super nice, but the staff was not that fast. Some seemed new or just overwhelmed, we were there during the Pentecost market so quite a busy event but we had to wait a long time before we could order. I changed the review from 3 to 4 stars because we had a party here before and then everything was really fantastic and that should of course also count.

I loved this place so much until one older waitress ask me to leave because I was sitting more than 1 hour. It was one of my favorite place to come and to have coffee. now it is all gone unfortunately,shame that I faced this kind of behaviour

Lovely outdoor area in Nieuwegein. Beautiful terrace on a beautiful fortress island with lots of shade, enough to play with for the kids and delicious and good food. Perfect place for a cup of coffee, a drink or a nice lunch.

Had a lovely lunch at De Fortwachter, after a walk with the dog. Beautiful spot in Nieuwegein, I immediately got a holiday feeling. The atmosphere is very nice, friendly service and inside it is so cosy and homely. With birdsong as background music. What more could you want. See you soon!

It is always great food and drinks here. The staff is very friendly and it is a great place to sit outside in nature. Also nice how they organize so many events such as the Christmas market and the dinners in the summer months.

Lovely to be able to eat outside. Vegetarian small menu. Beautiful surroundings

Nice place, in the middle of nature. Enjoy the greenery and the birds. Just a nice place to refuel and be outside.

Does anyone know till what time are they open?

Very nice place for a sandwich or a drink!

Super nice place and the food is good. However, today we were not treated in a customer-friendly manner. The lady working seemed not in a good mood and said out loud “I have to clean up your mess”.

Too bad, I've always been very enthusiastic about this and I still am. But the lady who was working here today was not friendly at all and responded to the point of being rude. Not really a calling card for your business.

Great for toddlers and young kids

Rudely treated. If you don't feel like it, don't work here 30-3-25. Too bad because normally a nice place. That's why 3 stars.

Very nice place for a cup of coffee, lunch, drinks or overnight stay! Lovely outside.

Delicious organic lunch at Fort Jutphaas, Bij de Fortwachter

Top here. Good coffee, tasty cakes. Nice after a walk around the fort. Regular activities. Take a moment to relax before you cross the bridge. Take a moment and sit and enjoy your surroundings. More and more people are discovering this location, so there can sometimes be a queue at the counter due to its success.

Lovely place for a coffee stop. Cozy furnishings and a friendly young team. Very atmospheric.

A really nice host and delicious food with plenty of Vega options! In addition, it has a cozy, cozy atmosphere.

Cozy place to enjoy something tasty. Great coffee, pastries and small bites!

Fantastic place! 😉 Recommended with the kids! 🥰

Definitely the best cafe in the Netherlands

During our fishing session we had a cup of coffee and apple pie, such a nice short break.

Had a delicious beer. Really worth it.

What a wonderful zen place! Not in a rush, not constantly asking if you want to order more, very hospitable and cozy, and a delicious menu. A high living room, and own garden content 😇

Went past this special location during a cycling tour. Small inside but spacious outside with nice weather like today. Nice special things. Today we chose wraps with beetroot and veggie croquettes with Kombucha. Never had it before but tasted good! Nice staff, nice location, highly recommended.

Very nice place. The menu is completely vegetarian. You shouldn't be in a hurry 😄

The boy was very friendly, came over for a chat and helped us a lot. It took a little longer, but he informed us nicely. When we finished eating, I took our plates and cutlery to the cart. I was told off by a lady that I had not put the cutlery in the cutlery tray (there was more cutlery not in the cutlery tray) and she made the comment "now I have to do it"! It was my first time here and I can't know everything. But apparently this lady just wasn't having her day. Can happen. Why else would you snub a customer?

Unexpectedly beautiful spot in Nieuwegein. Recommended!!

Nice place, tasty sandwiches (Vega)

Unique place near a beautiful Fort of the Waterline in Jutphaas / Nieuwegein. Small-scale, accessible cafe garden with local products and homemade delicacies. Friendly staff...nice location. Live music from local musicians on Sunday afternoon. Go and enjoy it!

Very nice 'alternative' location. Beautiful, natural and historic place, super friendly staff. Simple but great card.

You can bring your own food, they have their own which is simple but good! Perfect place to bring the kids and/or meet with friends to share drinks and create some.memories. My kids love it, and so has everyone else that I've brought here. Absolute gem of a place.

First we had a nice walk in the area around the fort and to our surprise there were also stalls with products that people had sometimes made themselves. We also had something to drink there. It was really fun.

Cozy place to meet for work meetings or just nice with friends or alone, delicious coffee and tea and the pastries or cookies are also delicious. And very friendly hospitable and attentive staff. And the location is special at all times, outside and inside. On the fort grounds

Sit down for a snack and a drink. And sometimes live music too!

What a fantastic place for a B&B and what a fantastic place to stay. Spacious, super cozy and in a historic green oasis. Very nice hostesses too. And then those owls in the evening; We think it's excellent at the Fortwachter!

According to the website they are open on Sundays until 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, when we wanted to have a cup of coffee and something to eat here more than half an hour before closing time, that was not possible. The coffee machine had already been cleaned. It might be a good idea to adjust the opening hours on the website? A pleasant location.

Proud of this beautiful place with nice professional people in Nieuwegein. Greetings from Switzerland. 🙏

Lovely place to drink coffee, beautiful place for a walk.

Everything is really expensive. Even though place is nice I think prices should be lowered. I've been told coffee is not good and it's 5euros. I don't think that is acceptable. This place have a lot of potential and that needs to be taken into consideration!!

Relaxed place to hang out and have a cup of coffee. Or eat a delicious sandwich with a cup of soup. And they have delicious ice creams on a stick. That too. And tasty non-alcoholic beers.

Had a lovely few Nieuwegeins beers, top location, highly recommended. I think we will come here more often!

Cozy place to have a drink and a meal. Delicious food on the menu. We took the combination menu with 2 people. A little bit of everything. We don't live nearby, otherwise we would come back. 😀

Just a very nice place for young and old.

Warme chocolademelk tijdens mini kerstmarkt

Prima plek om even bij te komen en bij te tanken met koffie ☕ thee en vele lekkere dingen want er is een kleine kaart. Ook ligt het prachtig naast het fort en de vele oude opslag bunkers. Zeer de moeite waard!!

Heerlijk geslapen in de Instagram-waardige B&B van Bij de Fortwachter. Aanrader!

Leuke plek, buiten gezeten op terras. Prima latte gedronken met appeltaart. Wel moeilijk te bereiken met de auto.

Genoten van een fijne lunch met collega. Met weer superlekker broodjes en dito sfeer. Dus, tot de volgende keer!!

Kleinschalig, knus en gezellig. Voelt alsof je bij vrienden in de tuin zit. Lekker hapjes en drankjes, redelijk geprijsd.

Ontzettend leuk en sfeervol plekje, zowel buiten als binnen. Hele vriendelijke mensen en een hele ongedwongen sfeer. Super dat er met kinderen rekening wordt gehouden bij de opties op de lunchkaart. Pannenkoekjes met veel soorten fruit en wat slagroom, één van de beste en leukste "kindermenu's" die ik ben tegengekomen. Pareltje dit.

Wat een prachtige plek. Supergoed verzorgde borrelplank met een drankje erbij.

Om een minuut voor sluitingstijd aankomen en gewoon nog lekker kunnen genieten op het terras...

Lekker plekje met veel ruimte en spelplezier voor de kleintjes

goede lunchkaart en lekkere drankjes (waaronder biertjes, wijn en cocktails!)

Lekker geluncht bij de fortwachter in de schaduw onder een boom is het goed uit te houden

Leuke plek voor een eenvoudige lunch of een drankje, heerlijk terras

Pareltje in Nieuwegein. Eindelijk eens een leuk, hip, vega(n) tentje. Super locatie en warm en gastvrij personeel. Een aanrader

Wat een heerlijke plek, beetje verstopt wellicht nog, maar kom hem ontdekken! Goede en lieve service, mooie aandacht. Top

Wij aten een ecologisch ijsje in de zon.

Lekker in de natuur, rust, gezelligheid, een hapje en een drankje en dit keer speelde er buiten een bandj e met relaxte jazzmuziek. Heel sfeervol. Absolute aanrader!

Superfijne plek voor een drankje en borrelhapje! Kinderen kunnen zich ook prima vermaken

Heel erg gezellig ,en leuk voor de kids

Heel erg leuk en gezellig ouderwets

Vergadering gehad, was fantastisch verzorgd! Lekker eten, vriendelijke en behulpzame dames, en t is heeel knus. Ga zeker nog eens terug!

Heel leuk plekje, zeker voor ouders met kleine kinderen.

Fijne plek en lieve mensen Opnieuw geweest met ouderengroep. Vonden het ook een hele leuke plek.

Leuke en gezellige plek om op het terras in de voorjaarszon een kleine pauze te houden tijdens een wandeling. Heel geschikt voor kinderen, door de vele activiteiten die er te doen zijn.

Prachtige plek zowel binnen als buiten. Binnen prettige rustige sfeer, goede muziekkeuze en mooi ingericht. Soep van de dag was een soort van kikkererwten en linzen soep. Die was gevaarlijk pittig maar zeer smaakvol. Voor de banaan karamel yoghurt pindakaas smoothie bleek de pindakaas op en heb ik een experiment met tahine aangedurft. Dat was geen geweldig succes maar wel het proberen waard. Goede bediening. Bij goed weer heel veel ruimte buiten.

Leuk dagje voor ons allemaal, we hebben vogels gespot en lekker gewandeld, ook de kinderen vonden het super.

Onverwachts leuke stek.koffie was zalig en creatief ingericht

Heerlijke koffie. De tafeltjes buiten deden verlangen naar de zomer, dan komen we terug.