Terrashoppen in Amsterdam in de zomer
When the sun is shining it is really popular among the Dutch to pick up their cycle and go to the parks or go to have a drink on Amsterdam’s many terraces; rooftop, canal, waterside, historical or just a terrace by a restaurant who put some chairs outside for the summer. So when traveling to Amsterdam, between all the activities and attractions, to get a little extra piece of the lifestyle in the city, you definitely need to stop by a terrace – that’s what I did!
1.Pllek – an amazing place to end a tour around the Noord
This popular restaurant really ticks off quite a few boxes on my list of what makes a good place to spend a sunny summer day: spacious (seats by the beach, terrace, two floors inside!), great service (the waiter recommended me a beer and I must say it actually might be my favorite beer of all time now) and views (what could be better than having a drink by the water and watching the sunset). There are tons of things I could tell about this place but last but definitely not least the overall atmosphere was extraordinary; groups having drinks, couples eating dinner and also people alone just enjoying the day.
Address: Tt. Neveritaweg 59
Opening times: Sun – Thu; 9.30am – 01am, Fri – Sat; 9.30am – 3am
Busiest times: 7pm – 9.30pm
2. Hannekes Boom – just around the corner from central station
Like Pllek, Hannekes Boom also has a pretty nice view over the water. You can arrive easily from central station by bike or walking or alternatively with your boat! When arriving to the place, it felt kind of a brief getaway from the packed streets of Amsterdam. Instead of the rushing people, you would be spotting the slowly passing boats. Even though there wasn’t any place to sit at the tables when I was there, you could just find your seat by the water and enjoy the view while having a taste of beer for example from the local brewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ.
Address: Dijksgeracht 4
Opening times: Mon – Thu; 10am – 01am, Fri – Sun; 10am – 3am
Busiest times: 5pm – 9pm
3. Café Zurich – exploring the West
By cycling only 13 minutes from Teleport, you’ll find Café Zurich! The terrace looks really inviting from outside – like a secret garden in the middle of Mercatoplein. While the terrace isn’t the biggest on this list, it didn’t seem as busy as some of the other bars in centrum. The stylish and fresh decoration of the place gives a cozy touch to it and at the same time the atmosphere is less touristic than some other places. Either having lunch, dinner, a draft beer or a gin tonic, you will definitely get enough sunshine here!
Address: Mercatoplein 2b
Opening times: Mon – Thu; 9am – 01am, Fri – Sun; 9am – 3am
Busiest times: 6pm – 8pm
4. Haven van Texel – canal view with the taste of an island
I was walking in the city and came across this spot. What could be better than having a drink or lunch and enjoying the Amsterdam’s architecture and the canals? The view is stunning from this place and even better, they offer a taste of beers from the island Texel, which is located 100km to the north from Amsterdam. Various of these beers from Texel have actually won national prizes! Overall Haven van Texel is a pleasant and convenient place to stop by between all the hectic sightseeing in Amsterdam.
Address: Sint Olofssteeg 11
Opening times: Mon – Thu; 4pm – 00, Fri – Sun; 2pm – 01pm
Busiest times: 7pm – 9pm
5. Schreierstoren – “From here women waved goodbye for the husbands who went overseas”
A friend of mine recommended this hidden gem in the heart of Amsterdam. It can’t be found on the most popular “best terraces in Amsterdam” – lists, what makes it interesting place to visit. Schreierstoren has a significant role in Amsterdam’s history – it is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam and was once part of a medieval wall around Amsterdam. You can certainly feel the medieval atmosphere throughout the premises and you can have a beer at the same spot where the women waved to their husbands when they were going to the war.
Address: Prins Hendrikkade
Opening times: Mon-Thu; 10am – 01am, Fri-Sun; 10am – 03am
Busiest times: 6pm – 9pm
So where are they located?
To make your life a little easier I made a small map for you of Amsterdam with the terraces of this article. Just look up the number of your favorite terrace and you know how to get there!
So in conclusion Amsterdam has something to offer for everyone: good beer by the water at Pllek, boat spotting in Hannekes Boom, relaxed atmosphere away from the busy centrum in Café Zurich, canal views with special beers at Haven van Texel and a bit of Dutch history in Schreierstoren.
Besides these examples, there a lot of other places to choose from as well like: Nemo, A’dam Tower, Lion Noir… When walking on the streets of Amsterdam, you’ll see that almost every restaurant has built a terrace for the summer – just pick the one you like and have a taste of Dutch summer![:]
This post is also available in: Engels
