It's 1898. The state of Iowa is just under 52 years old. Harmon Jaarsma, a Dutch immigrant and an excellent baker, opens up a brand new bakery in the small town of Pella, Iowa. You might recognize the name: Jaarsma Bakery.
Yes indeed, this Dutch bakery from two centuries past has become one of the oldest and most famous bakery restaurants in the entire Hawkeye State!
In Jaarsma Bakery's earliest days, the bakery's famous Dutch treats were baked in wood-fired brick ovens. Back then, the bakery regularly served bread, buns, cookies, and rusks.
The almond-filled Dutch Letters, which have become the most popular treat sold at Jaarsma's, were only served for Sinterklaas Day (thus the "S" shape) on and around December 6.
Jaarsma's has been serving customers at its present location on the town square of Pella, Iowa, since 1948.
Before that move, Harmon Jaarsma turned the bakery over to his son Frank, who later turned it over to his children, who turned it over to their children. Today, it's co-owned and operated by Harmon (or Harmen) Jaarsma's great, great granddaughter!
On any given day, when you walk into Jaarsma Bakery, you'll be greeted with hundreds of choices of delicious baked goods, from breads to cookies to pastries and more.
And you'll immediately recognize the Dutch influence, from the almond flavors to the candy ordered directly from Holland to the bakery assistants that are dressed in Delft blue with tell-tale Dutch aprons and hats.
For those not in the Pella area, note that many of these treats can be ordered online and shipped to your door.
Learn more about snagging some of your own Jaarsma deliciousness at the Jaarsma Bakery Facebook page or website. Or try another famous, long-standing Dutch bakery in Iowa: Casey's Bakery in Sioux Center.
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