Grand Ducal couple surprise patrons at social restaurant

On Thursday lunchtime, the Stëmm vun der Strooss restaurant in Hollerich, Luxembourg City, was serving half-chicken and chips, with a choice of ketchup or mayonnaise, followed by a slice of cake. The fact that Grand Duke Henri was serving behind the counter came as a surprise to most of the recipients.

The grand duke and duchess were there to officially open the Stëmm vun der Strooss extension and the royal visit was met with enthusiasm by the guests of the social restaurant – and requests for selfies.

Demand for Stëmm’s services has been rising for years. Compared to 2023, 23% more meals were served last year. Demand is so high that the queue outside the door becomes unmanageably long on many days.

More and more minors

“The greatest demand is for a quiet place where you can relax. Because life on the street is exhausting,” said Alexandra Oxacelay, head of Stëmm vun der Strooss.

It is precisely this need that the extension meets. In 160 square metres, the Stëmm’s clients can rest on cushions, have their hair cut, do paperwork and even seek medical help for themselves or their pets. The extra space relieves pressure on the restaurant and allows additional meals to be served.

In 2024, 796 meals were served on average by the charity per day, 478 of them in the capital. Since 2014, the number of meals served has risen by 214%. More and more ‘working poor’ (people who have jobs but do not have enough money to live comfortably) are coming to Stëmm. The main nationalities represented are Portuguese, followed by Luxembourgers and, in third place since the start of the war, Ukrainians. 78% of patrons are men and their average age is 41.

Of particular concern is the fact that more and more minors, accompanied or unaccompanied, are seeking help from Stëmm. In 2024, 993 people between the ages of 18 and 25 visited, and 479 under-18s.

“A gift from heaven”

In November 2023, a “gift from heaven” arrived, as Alexandra Oxacelay describes the donation from the Reuter family. They own the building that now houses the extension and are making it available to Stëmm free of charge for the next ten years. “It’s for a good cause. We don’t think the people who need it are supported enough,” said daughter of the family Christiane Reuter.

A shop was originally supposed to be built in this part of the building but, thanks to renovation work totalling €320,000, which was financed entirely through donations, the extension now has space to help 90 vulnerable people.

(This article was first published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by Alex Stevensson.)