It will be the exact replica of the venue that Tai’s family opened in the 1960s in Utrecht
TAI DI CADORE. International recognition for the De Lorenzo family, owner of the oldest Italian ice cream shop in the Netherlands, the Venezia. Originally from Tai di Cadore, the De Lorenzo family exported the ancient art of ice cream to Holland around 1930.
An artisan activity that has entered the history of the Netherlands by right, so much so as to “earn” a place at the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, the famous open-air museum in Arnhem where, starting from 11 June, the De Lorenzo family will inaugurate a store on the Zaanse Plein, strongly desired by the Dutch institutions as a sign of recognition and gratitude. It will not be just a commercial activity but, above all, a cultural reference: the history of the Venice ice cream parlor, which is based in Utrecht, will make a fine show. The Venezia ice cream parlor in the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum will be the exact replica of the Venezia ice cream parlor in Utrecht in the 1960s.
The original interior layout thus becomes part of the museum’s collection, consisting of 1794 different objects: from wooden spatulas to silver ice cream cups from the 1930s; from the original counter to the characteristic neon lighting. Not just ice cream, therefore: at the turn of the 60s and 70s, the lighting chosen by Venice was considered hypermodern for the times. Then the mirrors and Italian music: elements that made Venice one of the most characteristic and visited meeting places in Utrecht.
In 1992 the founder of the ice cream parlor, Guido De Lorenzo, was knighted in the order of Oranje Nassau and in 2000 he placed third in the special ranking “Utrecht inhabitant of the century”. To celebrate the inauguration of the Venice inside the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, a festive program has been set up that will go on until Sunday 13.
“We are proud that the original installation of the Venezia has been included in the collection of the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum and will be kept in this way for future reference”, commented Carlo De Lorenzo with a touch of pride, “the layout of the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum follows exactly what in the the sixties characterized the center of Utrecht. For me it is a step back in time, to when during the school holidays I worked in the ice cream parlor with my father Guido and my brother Italo. The interior has been perfectly reconstructed, from the iconic counter to the tiles that covered the floor ».
The “made in Cadore” artisanal ice cream proposed by Venice in Arnheim will see Massimo De Lorenzo, son of Carlo and grandson of Guido, at the forefront, today the reference of the third generation of the family.
«At the Venezia which is located in the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum we will produce ice cream exclusively in the seven flavors in vogue in the 1960s and still very popular in the Netherlands today: vanilla, strawberry, lemon, chocolate, coffee, Malaga and hazelnut».
The setting up of the Venice ice cream parlor in the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the friends of the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum. The Nederlands open airtmuseum it has an average of 500,000 visitors a year.