Mariska Schaefer was surprised by friends, family and neighbourhood children at the 25th anniversary of the Old Hollandsch Candy Store in Amsterdam’s Jordaan. The celebration included banners, balloons, a barrel organ, champagne, gifts and children’s drawings.

Schaefer, who opened the shop in 2001, said she had focused on personal contact rather than mass business. She said children also learn about behaviour, arithmetic and handling their own money in the shop.