The painter was still outside. Inside, the cash registers were ready. That was enough for Program, a new coffeeshop on Nieuwe Markt 4 in Deventer, to open on Monday, October 26. The building used to house Café Glas in Lood. Now it has a rather different purpose, even if a few finishing jobs remain. The owners are calling this a soft opening. They plan to celebrate properly in early November.
This is mainly a takeaway coffeeshop, rather than somewhere to spend half your afternoon. Customers are directed towards the counter, although the venue also has room for a drink or a snack, according to local reporting. There's a host at the entrance during business hours. The owners have written to nearby residents and invited them to come and meet the team. When a new cannabis shop opens on your doorstep, getting to know the people running it seems like a decent start.
Program didn't exactly arrive overnight. A permit became available after coffeeshop Bull’s closed, and the new operators won a lottery in early 2025. Then came objections, official procedures and a long renovation. The city published the final operating permit in June 2026. This week, customers finally got through the door. Somebody can finish the paintwork while Deventer gets used to its newest coffeeshop.
