Free live music on the Grote Markt since 1988
Free live music on the Grote Markt since 1988
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Café on the Grote Markt that has been a free live music stage since 1988, open until 01:30 from Thursday to Saturday.
De Zwarte Ruiter calls itself the beating heart of the Grote Markt, and it has been a music stage since 1988. The bands lean to rock, and entry is always free. Upcoming nights in October 2026 start between 21:00 and 22:00. By day it is a café with a terrace on the square and a kitchen that serves until 22:00.
It opens every day at 11:00 and closes at 01:00, or 01:30 from Thursday to Saturday. It is the obvious first stop on the square, and the best value. Not for you if you want a quiet table: when a band plays, it is loud.
Walk-in café; gigs are always free, so arrive before the band to get near the stage.
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Outdoor and smoking
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