Mini movie about Boi Boi

These have been tough years for us, and for the hospitality industry in general. Everyone who ran a restaurant before COVID often still struggles with what the government decided back then. The restaurants that started afterward do not have this burden, and hopefully never will.

Boi Boi went from 3 locations to 1 location in a short time. Our only remaining little restaurant is what used to be our takeaway location, and we quickly converted that into a full-fledged restaurant in the summer of 2023. Sometimes you have to make choices in life, and this seemed like the best option. We are super happy with this, by the way, and have learned that “less is more” can also apply to a business. The advantage is that we fill up quickly.

We had to let go of our location at number 12 because we had fallen through the floor in 2023 and the foundation needed to be repaired. Unfortunately, that never happened. And our restaurant in Zuid on Heemstedestraat was faced with a “street renovation” in 2020, shortly before COVID broke out. And to top it all off, we never received another permit from the Municipality of Amsterdam. After about 3 years, we gave up the fight in December 2024. Thanks to Ombudsman Munish Ramlal, an investigation was launched into how on earth this was possible, and we recently learned that there was no reason for it. But the damage remains. We are now waiting and hoping that Amsterdam will do justice to its claim as a social and kind city and help us properly. We are writing this because there was a lot of speculation, which isn’t exactly good for your reputation. But now that the Ombudsman’s report has been discussed with the municipality in April 2026, we dare to lift a corner of the veil.

Perhaps because so much was happening, people saw that Kay and I worked hard, but sometimes couldn’t completely hide our setbacks. Just like in Laura Esquivel’s book Red Roses and Tortillas, however, that doesn’t have to be a disadvantage, because when the cook sheds tears into a dish, the taste gets even better ;-). One person who was inspired by our vibe, and particularly the story of Kay—who came from Laos to the Netherlands, rides his cargo bike through the Dappermarkt every day, and then cooks up a storm at Boi Boi—is Max van Nievelt.

We have a rough idea of ​​what some guests do to make a living. For most, we haven’t the faintest clue. You are always welcome to tell us; it certainly interests us. It often comes up in conversation on quieter days. Max turned out to be a documentary filmmaker and cameraman who wanted to create a project for himself, focusing on Kay from Laos and Boi Boi. He is a regular guest, so we placed our trust in him.

From the end of December 2024, he has followed Kay in particular, but also PeeWee the dog, Toe, and Richard. Moreover, on December 30, 2024, we received a sudden surge of power from Liander, causing all our sockets to be filled with 440 volts. That is why you see a few refrigerators standing on our small terrace at the beginning of the documentary. In other words, we show everything as realistically as possible to give an idea of ​​how a small boutique restaurant fills its days. Without glitz and glamour, but with lots of heart and soul.

The final filming took place in 2026, primarily sound recordings. After that, Max edited everything, and last April 2026, the mini-film premiered in the presence of the Ambassador of Laos and his staff. You can view the result below; we hope you get a good idea of ​​how the flavors reach your plate 😉

About Max van Nievelt

Max van Nievelt, director, editor, and cameraman. Master of Arts, graduated from the University of Amsterdam. Worked at Talpa, KRO-NCRV, Stokvis Content, and has also been making corporate films and documentaries himself for several years. His work is characterized by authentic imagery and real stories. He effortlessly puts people at ease, thereby bringing out their true nature. Nothing is staged, more of a fly-on-the-wall approach—that is what he prefers to do. And music plays a very essential role. Thanks to his years of experience in music, what he does now is the perfect combination of story, visuals, and sound. This leaves you wanting more!