How Morebeer powers through 9,000 transactions every month

Peter van der Arend is not your typical hospitality entrepreneur. He is one of the few beerologists in the Netherlands, was named the most outstanding entrepreneur in Amsterdam, and runs three beer cafés: Proeflokaal Arendsnest, BeerTemple, and Mikkeller at Morebeer. Under the Morebeer banner, Peter’s businesses handle between 6,000 and 9,000 transactions each month. He found his ideal payment solution with myPOS.

From banking to beer

After a career in banking and a stint as a representative at Jopen Bier, Peter opened his first beer café on Amsterdam’s Herengracht in 2000.

“I was one of the first to serve only Dutch specialty beers. At that time, the craft beer culture was not as developed as it is today and was mainly focused on Belgian brews. I wanted to put Dutch beer culture on the map with Proeflokaal Arendsnest. That turned out to be a real success.”

myPOS just around the corner

In the years that followed, Peter made a lasting impact on Amsterdam’s hospitality industry, opening several beer bars and organizing beer tours. When he needed an extra payment terminal for a festival in 2018, he turned to myPOS. Not coincidentally, the myPOS store was conveniently located just opposite his home.

“I walked in, explained what I needed, and it was arranged in no time. We went for the simplest model, which was the myPOS Mini at the time.”

A pioneer in debit cards

Just as Peter pioneered Dutch specialty beer, he was also one of the first hospitality entrepreneurs to switch completely to debit card payments.

“The hospitality industry was always a bit slow to adopt debit cards, but during COVID, things changed rapidly. Less physical contact was the motto at the time, so debit cards quickly took over.” After the first lockdown, Peter made the full switch to debit cards. “That’s the only good thing the pandemic brought us,” Peter says with a smile.

A flexible subscription, without the hassle

A few years later, around 2021, Peter was looking for a new payment solution for his hospitality businesses.

“I was no longer satisfied with the service of my previous provider and wanted more flexibility. In peak season, we process 9,000 transactions; in quieter months, about 6,000. You want everything to run smoothly, with rates that match your volume.” myPOS worked closely with Peter and offered a tailored solution for the entire Morebeer group, including a flexible pricing model and competitive rates.

“About 40% of our payments come from foreign credit cards because we get a lot of tourists in our cafés. The great thing about myPOS is that you can change your subscription every month and are not tied to anything. They understand exactly what entrepreneurs need: no strings attached and a lot of flexibility.”

myPOS Ultra: The preferred choice

Peter now uses eight myPOS payment terminals across his business. Over the years, he has tried out all the models, most recently the myPOS Ultra.

“We started with the myPOS Mini, then the myPOS Carbon. The Carbon is much faster, dust-, shock-, and water-resistant, and has a built-in receipt printer. When the newest payment terminal, the myPOS Ultra, was launched this year, we participated in the pilot. I had my staff do the test, and they unanimously chose the myPOS Ultra. It’s even faster, and the battery lasts a lot longer: ideal with so many individual payments and a high throughput. We have now replaced most devices with the myPOS Ultra.”

Personal contact is worth its weight in gold

Peter places great importance on personal contact with myPOS. “The team at the myPOS store in Amsterdam is fantastic. They are always friendly and helpful. It’s nice that I can just walk in. As an entrepreneur, for example, I didn’t have the peace of mind to install the new Ultras myself, even though it’s actually very simple. It’s great to get help immediately. They know me, think along with me, and are there for me when I need them. When I mentioned that I was participating in a triathlon for KiKa, I even spontaneously received a donation from the team. That says everything about our relationship.”

Don’t be blinded by debit card rates

What tip does Peter have for other hospitality entrepreneurs looking for the best payment solution? Take a good look at which subscription model is most advantageous for your situation, based on the number of transactions and the transaction value. Don’t just stare at the rates for debit cards; also consider the rates for credit cards, especially if you receive a lot of international guests.”