About Us
“From the heart of Damascus to the tables of Europe — a journey of love, culture, and authentic Syrian flavor.”
Our Story
From Damascus to Eindhoven
Sadly, Mohamad—like many others—had to flee Syria in 2015 due to the civil war. He wandered around and ended up in a temporary asylum center in Nijmegen, where he met Anouk. Anouk studied Arabic at Radboud University. They hit it off quickly, and together they moved to Eindhoven.
Mohamad was able to get used to many things in the Netherlands, except for Dutch food. Thanks to his mother, who still lives in Damascus (and countless hours of video calling), he mastered the finer points of Syrian cuisine.
The start of a new chapter.
At the end of 2020, Mohamad and Anouk decided to start selling mezze from their home in Eindhoven. From this small kitchen, Memories of Damascus was born. Soon, the kitchen became too small. The business grew rapidly, and more space was needed. Anouk and Mohamad rented a small warehouse in Eindhoven and soon after moved Memories of Damascus to a professional production kitchen in Best.
In this 200-square-meter production kitchen, fresh mezze, meals, and Arabic sweets are made daily. All our products are 100% halal.
Catering for individuals, businesses, and government agencies (such as asylum centers).
Currently, Mohamad and Anouk, along with their dedicated team, provide catering services throughout the Netherlands. They offer
pickup and delivery for private individuals, catering for parties and events (weddings, birthdays, etc.), and catering for businesses and government agencies. Memories of Damascus also provides catering (from breakfast through dinner) for various emergency refugee shelters.
Socially responsible entrepreneurship:
The quality of the dishes and the ingredients used are always paramount for Memories of Damascus.
Furthermore, socially responsible entrepreneurship is very important to Memories of Damascus.
We highly value the diversity of our team, which consists of people from various backgrounds and nationalities. Employees or interns with challenges in the labor market are very welcome – we believe that status, language proficiency, or a physical disability shouldn’t be an obstacle to employment. For example, we offer standard (internship) placements for Kentalis students and work placements for asylum seekers in an asylum seekers’ center (AZC) awaiting their residence permit (we then apply for a work permit from the UWV).
Additional Information:
Memories of Damascus is registered with the Chamber of Commerce under number 81201974.
If you would like more information about our company or what we do, please contact us!
Also read the article that “In de buurt” wrote about us! Or the article in Jumbo Magazine about Mama Habanakeh’s falafel.
Watch the documentary about our work in the Boxtel asylum seekers’ center here .
In 2015, he left Syria due to the war and arrived in the Netherlands, where he eventually met Anouk Willemsen, who studied Arabic and Middle East Studies at the Radboud University. They bonded over their shared passion for food and culture.
Their Values & Vision
- Authenticity
- Halal & Inclusive
- Social Responsibility
Together, Mohamad and Anouk lead Memories of Damascus with heart — bringing the taste and hospitality of their heritage into every event.
Our Services
“From weddings and corporate events to community gatherings, we offer authentic Syrian catering tailored to every occasion — fresh, halal, and full of flavor.”
Corporate Events
“Elevate your business events with authentic Syrian cuisine — professional, delicious, and tailored to impress every guest.”
Wedding Meals
“Celebrate your special day with exquisite halal wedding meals — authentic Syrian flavors crafted to make every moment unforgettable.”
Catering for asylum seekers
“Sharing comfort through food — providing nutritious, halal Syrian meals that bring warmth and dignity to asylum seekers.”
