Pandan is part of my heritage

My name is Marc Pieplenbosch, and at 55, I’m the co-founder of Bandoeng’22. I live and work just outside Rotterdam in the village of Berkel en Rodenrijs. Born in Delft, I’m a third-generation Indo-Dutch, part of the Indo community living in the Netherlands.

The liqueurs
In 2013, I launched Sayah Spekkoek Liqueur, inspired by my Indo grandmother’s recipe. The liqueur captures the flavor of spekkoek, a popular cake in the Netherlands with origins in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). It’s my first product that blends entrepreneurship with my heritage, and it’s sold across the Netherlands.

In 2019, we introduced Bandoeng’22, which I consider the “big brother” to Sayah. While Sayah Spekkoek Liqueur is best enjoyed after meals with coffee and perhaps a slice of spekkoek, Bandoeng’22 is crafted primarily for cocktails. While Sayah remains a Dutch product, Bandoeng’22 was created with international ambitions. It’s my second venture that allows me to celebrate my roots through business.

Being Indo means I have both Dutch and Indonesian ancestry, with family history on Sumatra, Java, and other islands of the former Dutch East Indies. After Indonesia gained independence, my family had to relocate to the Netherlands, where Indo culture was passed down to me.

Pandan culture
A central part of this culture is the culinary tradition, especially the Indo kitchen, known for its rich use of herbs and spices. Pandan leaves, often referred to as “Asian vanilla,” play a key role. In Indo cooking, pandan leaves are commonly added when rice is steamed, and grandmothers and mothers use them to make essences and syrups, crafting everything from green cakes to desserts and beverages. Pandan has always been a part of my life.

I still have relatives living in Indonesia. Some of my uncles and aunts retired to Bali and Java, and I’ve visited them several times. During my visits, I saw pandan everywhere, used both in cooking and religious offerings.

The city of Bandung, on the island of Java, holds a special place in my heart. My grandmother often reminisced about her younger days as a socialite there, sharing stories of cocktail and jazz parties, the glamorous jet set, and the beautiful Art Deco buildings, as well as the surrounding rice paddies and pandan fields.

My life’s purpose is to bring joy to people through our spirits, inspired by my Dutch Indonesian heritage.