Municipal red tape cuts through Pizzapunt’s plans

It was a striking sight at the new Fieten Olie petrol station in Rolde, located on the industrial estate near the N33 and Marwijksoord: a modern vending machine housed in a compact container, offering fresh pizza at any time of day. But anyone hoping for a quick bite at the pump will be disappointed. The Pizzapunt unit is being removed today—before it ever opened.

Although the concept attracted considerable interest, the municipality of Aa en Hunze has refused to issue a permit. The Pizzapunt machine has mistakenly been classified as a hospitality business, and such businesses are not permitted at this location. As a result, the plans for Rolde have come to a premature end.

According to the team behind Pizzapunt, local enthusiasm was high. “We received lots of messages from people eager for us to open,” they said. However, the machine remained closed while awaiting municipal approval—which ultimately never came.

Pizzapunt aims to offer hot pizza and chilled drinks around the clock, without relying on staff or opening hours. The vending units are equipped with security cameras and designed for locations where traditional food service is limited. In Rolde, however, that wasn’t enough to get the project off the ground.

The Pizzapunt, housed in a mobile container, is now en route to Gorredijk, where the company hopes to open instead. Other operational locations can be found on pizzapunt.nl.