Alexandra and Rolf bake Dutch mini pancakes in Hjo harbor

During a journey through Scandinavia, Alexandra and Rolf from the Netherlands realized they were ready to make a big change. They wanted a quieter life with less stress and more nature. So they moved to Moholm in Töreboda municipality and these days they run a retro coffee trailer in Hjo harbor.

Poffertjes are small, fluffy pastries reminiscent of a mixture of pancakes and bread, but much tastier. They are common in the Netherlands, and eaten on festive occasions and at markets and fairgrounds. Now Alexandra and Rolf aim to make their favorite pastries part of Swedish fika culture.

“I don't think Swedes understand just how special their fika culture is. Taking a break together for a coffee and a bite of something to eat is simply the tops!  We have nothing like it in the Netherlands; at work you take your coffee in front of the computer. The only thing missing from a typical Swedish fika is… poffertjes,” exclaims Alexandra.

This summer, you’ll be able to visit the couple’s coffee trailer at the harbor in Hjo. The harbor has a swimming pool, places to eat and a beautiful city park that can boast both mini golf and tennis courts. And now there’s even Dutch fika pastry.

In addition to poffertjes, which you can enjoy with various toppings, other Dutch delicacies are available at the trailer. All served with coffee or other beverages, naturally.

Silence – a new experience

How come a couple from the Netherlands chose to set up a coffee trailer in Skaraborg? It all began in 2021 when Alexandra and Rolf sold their house and set off on a long journey through Scandinavia. In Sweden, they got to experience silence for the first time and they realized they were ready for a new phase in their lives. In a little wood house with a big yard and mother nature as their nearest neighbor.

There are 18 million inhabitants in the Netherlands, on an area that’s not even twice the size of Västra Götaland. And what the couple was looking at was something completely different.

“There’s so much more nature and space in Sweden! There’s a great deal of stress in Holland as there are so many people everywhere. For the first time in our lives, we can experience silence. We feel so blessed to be part of this. We’re both over fifty but we feel like children again,” says Rolf.

In 2022, the couple bought the little house they had dreamed of. And since May 2024 they live full-time outside Moholm, in Töreboda municipality.

And not only do the couple have a new country, they’ve also completely changed their careers. In the Netherlands, Alexandra was a consultant for government agencies and municipalities while Rolf was a self-employed designer. As a job, baking is completely new to them, even though they both have business experience.

“We don’t have to work as much as we did before, and now we get to do something we think is fun,” says Alexandra.

“I already feel like an enthusiastic pancake baker. I intend to share my joy with everyone,” exclaims Rolf.