Sam Gooris has to say goodbye: ‘What should I do now?’

Time came to an end for singer Sam Gooris on Thursday night. He finally visited his local cafe Den Tramhalt in Mariaburg, which will close its doors permanently this weekend. For Sam, who has been a regular customer for years, saying goodbye means more than just a cafe disappearing.

“Den Tramhalt has been my favorite pub for years,” says Sam in Het Nieuwsblad with a tall billiards table and such? Nothing has changed here since the day I walked in. Even the Christmas lights are still there.

For Sam, Den Tramhalt was not just a place to paint, but a permanent place in his busy life. “We were just talking about it: we don’t know where to go next. This was our place.”

Farewell to Kitty and Swan

According to Sam, an important part of Den Tramhalt’s charm was the warm welcome from owners Kitty and Swa, who had been running the cafe since 2007. “Kitty is a great lady. Once, when she was attacked, she simply shouted, “You fool, get out of here!” That totally defines her. She’s an icon, just like this cafe.”

A piece of history is disappearing

The cafe, which has been there since 1899, is much more than a pub; it is a piece of Mariaburg history. This makes it harder for Sam to say goodbye. “This was a real brown cafe, a place where everyone knows each other. It is a shame that this is disappearing. Here you could be yourself.”

Although Sam regrets giving up his weekly visits to Den Tramhalt, he looks back on the memories with gratitude. “The billiard nights, the camaraderie, the atmosphere… they will never take that away from me. But it will be hard to find a new place to match this.”