Today we’re featuring one of our newest makers who came to Texas by way of The Netherlands! Chantal is the founder of Stroop Club and she’s brought Holland’s famous stroopwafels right here to Texas! We can’t wait to share her sweet story and sweet treats with you!
Hi Chantal! Thanks for sharing your story with us today. Can you tell everyone a little about yourself?
HI! I’m Chantal, I’m from The Netherlands and moved from Rotterdam to Texas at the end of 2015. Scuba Diving is my passion, baking and cooking a life necessity and I truly learned how to sit still and do nothing in the past year 😉 I’ve worked in HR and recruitment forever before our US adventure and now I somehow turned out to be the Stroopwafel Queen with Stroop Club.
Stroopwafel Queen! What a great title! Who inspires you?
In a broader sense with someone I don’t know personally, it’s Frida Kahlo: Her strength, perseverance, resilience, and creativity were outstanding. I’m one of the lucky persons having my own Frida alive: Sacha Dekker, look her up! She used to be my mentor in a previous job. After surgery left her full left body side paralysed, her motto has been ‘There’s always a way.’ We should all adopt this one. Doctors said she could never walk again, she proved everyone wrong. But in the meantime, she keeps inspiring others, teaches them resilience and continues to empower others. She’s a true inspiration.
What an inspiring mentor! Everyone should be so lucky to know someone like Sacha! Tell us about Stroop Club! What do you make and how long have you been doing it?
Stroop Club is a stroopwafel company I started when I moved to Texas. I came here with a suitcase and the stroopwafel iron. We figured it was a fun way of getting to know people, find our way through this new society, and make friends.
We wanted to make the name inclusive, fun and with a possibility to really have people feel involved. Stroop means syrup or caramel in Dutch, the club part is the fun part. We hope it sticks! We do have memberships now as well, but haven’t found another way yet to incorporate the club part. Stroopwafels are basically our national cookie in Holland. Crunchy, double-layered cookies with caramel in the center, yumm! We started making them with a better planet in mind. With omni-degradable packaging, recycled carton boxes, no dairy used etc…
We love that you’ve brought a little bit of Holland to share with us in Texas! We bet you’ve had no problem making friends! What is your favorite part of your job?
Constantly learning and meeting new people! A big part of my job now is networking, constantly finding new ways to improve our recipe, to add new flavors, to improve materials and supply chain for a lower carbon footprint and I meet such great and amazing and inspiring people along the way. Most people I meet are on the same quests, trying to improve the world a little bit in their own way, it restores my faith in humanity compared to current behavior in politics and corporates.
What a beautiful way to make the world a better place and find people doing the same! Why did you get involved with MMC?
Because I loved the idea of again meeting more people on their quest too. Especially women, in a community, with such creativity and ideals, I loved the idea so much!! Couldn’t figure out a reason not to join, lol.
We’re so glad you’re part of our community! If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
I’ve always wanted to have an invisible warmth/friendliness that makes people feel good, happy and smiling instantly when I would walk by. It would be secret, but would make people happy instantly! I might have found a way with my new company, keep posted on that one 😉
Oh wow! That’s a superpower we all need! Your stroopwafels are sure to make people smile and feel good, so we think you’ve achieved your goal! We are so glad to have you as part of the Mosaic Makers Collective community!
Want to learn more about our makers or shop Stroop Club? Check out these additional resources:
- Visit our shop in the Bishop Arts District
- Shop Stroop Club online
- Meet more of our Mosaic Makers on the Blog