about us
OUR MISSION
Since 1975 when John Dys, our founder, opened the first De Dutch Pannekoek House in Vancouver, British Columbia, we have strived to uphold quality of food and service in a unique environment.
Over the years, we have evolved and continue to do so with our many signature menu items and our distinctive décor that has helped us create our own identity. Folks from outside the company recognized our achievements and asked to join us as a franchisee. Each new member of our franchise family brings with them their own special characteristics which enhance the individual attention expected at a neighbourhood restaurant.
As we grow and become a part of more and more neighbourhoods we never forget that our success has been built one customer at a time.
Our Mission Statement is: “We earn tomorrow’s guests today.” We invite you to join us for a meal experience that we believe is simply de licious and simply de best! And, we invite you to let us know how we are doing so that we can ensure that every experience at De Dutch is always simply de licious and simply de best!
Bill Waring
President
OUR HISTORY
Like many great stories throughout history, ours starts with a mistake. The year was 1955 and John Dys was living in the Netherlands. At some point John had a great idea. Join the army. And like most men with great ideas, this one didn’t work. Shortly after joining, John wanted “out.” Luckily the Dutch army provided three convenient options: die, retire, or leave the country. Option three seemed nice. So he packed his bags and left for Canada.
While checking out Vancouver, John was in a bad car accident. Not only that, he ran out of money waiting for his settlement. He had no choice but to scour the classifieds looking for work. That’s when he found, “Young man wanted to learn the restaurant business.” Barely having money for food, this seemed like a good opportunity.
After learning a few things, John opened his own place in 1970. He called it the “Frying Dutchman” and his hamburger sales became famous for predicting elections. He called them “Hamburger Polls.”
On a trip home to the Netherlands, his father took him to a traditional Dutch restaurant where pannekoeken are served for lunch and dinner. Not breakfast. John decided then and there he would bring the pannekoek back to Canada. And so, the first “Original Dutch Pannekoek House” opened July of 1975 on the corner of Knight Street and 25th Avenue in Vancouver.
By the time the third one opened on Main Street and Terminal, John had created a unique breakfast restaurant with an emphasis on quality food. People couldn’t pronounce the “P Word,” but they sure loved to eat it. Right around this time John met Bill Waring. Soon after meeting, Bill bought a Frying Dutchman franchise in 1979.
But things didn’t always go so smoothly. The 80’s brought a bad recession with a simultaneous increase in competition. Both the Frying Dutchman and the Original Dutch Pannekoek House survived. But after things got better, John and Bill focused on the more successful business. The Original Dutch Pannekoek House. Although today, you probably know it as “De Dutch.”
With 13 restaurants, the pannekoek’s future looks bright. Sadly, John passed in April of 2020, Bill remains president a position he has held since the 1980s.
And to think, this whole thing started with a young man joining the army.
