Best Amsterdam Terrace List Updated

The weather in Amsterdam has been incredible for weeks now. When the weather service initially warned of a heat wave back in early June, I chuckled. But when the sun kept shining, with temperatures at unprecedented 30 degrees centigrade for weeks on end, I smiled. And while this meant less eating out, it also meant lots of time on Amsterdam’s terraces enjoying many a Weihenstephaner Weissbier or IJwit from Brouwerij ‘t IJ.

With more nice days expected to follow, I decided to update my list of Best Amsterdam Terraces and added long-time favorite Café Onder de Ooievaar as well as the new crowd pleaser Bar Brandstof. So check out Amsterdam’s best spots for a cool brew, hope for more good weather and join us for a cool brew: Best Amsterdam Terraces

erdinger at ooievaar

Amsterdam Food Festivals Summer 2010

Even though it has been raining heavily the last few days, summer is just around the corner and with it several great food festivals. To help you plan your summer in Amsterdam or a trip to our Dutch capital, I put together this list of my favorite Amsterdam food festivals.

Taste of Amsterdam – 24 to 27 June 2010

taste of amsterdam 2010Taste of Amsterdam is part of a world-wide series of food events that celebrate fine dining in major cities. The formula is to provide visitors with an opportunity to sample small portions of the signature dishes of prestigious local restaurants. Michelin star decorated Ron Blaauw and Aan de Poel will participate amongst a group of 18 restaurants. Guests will need to buy € 15 tickets to attend the events and can then taste samples from different chefs for somewhere around € 4 to 9.

www.tasteofamsterdam.com
When: 24-27 June, 12:00 to 17:00 or 18:00 to 23:00
Where: Amstelpark on Europaboulevard near RAI exhibition center.
Public transport: Take tram or metro to RAI.

Over het IJ Festival – 1 to 11 July 2010

over het ij festival amsterdam 2010The Over Het IJ Festival is a theater festival on NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North, across the water behind Central Station. There is an extensive program with a focus on performances by younger talent. There also are nice food options for in between, including caterers “One for the Road” or the pancake boat. You may also enjoy a trip to neighboring Noorderlicht Cafe, spectacularly housed in a cool glass hangar and sporting a hip vibe.

www.overhetij.nl
When: 1-11 July, exact program to be decided
Where: NDSM wharf on Neveritaweg 15 across the water from Central Station
Public transport: Take the free NSDM ferry behind Central Station.

De Parade – 6 to 22 August 2010

de parade amsterdam 2010De Parade is another theater festival with a strong food focus. The atmosphere is very much cabaret and circus, with all performances held in large tents around the main area of restaurants, bars and ticket sales. It’s a traveling festival that starts in Rotterdam mid June, moves on to The Hague and Utrecht and ends in Amsterdam from 6 to 22 August. Expect comedy, song and dance and other quirky shows such as the popular silent disco. And enjoy food and drinks from the Tacobar, wood oven pizzeria Fuoco e Desiderio or organic eatery La Rana. Tickets are € 7, excluding food, drinks and performances.

www.deparade.nl
When: 6-22 August, 15:00 to 24:00
Where: Martin Luther Kingpark on Amsteldijk between the Berlagebrug and Utrechtsbrug.
Public transport: Take tram 25 to President Kennedylaan.

Winter Parade Amsterdam

De Parade is a popular yearly theater festival with focus on food and drinks. The shows take place in tents, built around a central market square of bars and restaurants.

The main event takes place in the summer in Martin Luther King park. Since it’s so popular, the organizers have added a winter edition. Winter Parade will be held in the Westergasfabriek from December 16 to 26.

The format is slightly different in the winter due to the restricted space indoors. Instead of being able to choose your shows, you will buy one ticket for general admission and all shows of the evening. Food and drink is extra and like in the summer, there is an interesting kitchen lineup including an oyster bar, a stamppot kitchen and a slow food central.

winter parade amsterdam

Impressions of Pure Markt Amsterdam

Pure Markt in Park Frankendael is one the most fun markets in Amsterdam. Every last Sunday of the month it brings together a wide variety of local artisanal food producers to sell their produce amongst much sampling and expert talk.

Unfortunately, the Pure Markt goes into hibernation in November and you’ll have to wait until March 2010 for the next edition. Here are a few pictures from the last edition in October to keep you interested until next year.

The Glühbier caught my eye because it was so random, but I refrained from it since lots of Glühwein will be coming my way in December.

Pure Markt Amsterdam 2009 - Glühbier

The pork cut chart is by the Berkshire Butcher who makes amazing sausages.

Pure Markt Amsterdam 2009 - Berkshire Butcher

And I had tried and liked the crêpes and galettes from a real French chef and his Crêpes-Mobiel before and had to go for a galette with truffles, walnuts and gruyère.

Pure Markt Amsterdam 2009 - Galettes

Pure Markt Special 20 September

In late August, I finally made it to the Pure Markt Amsterdam in Park Fraenkendaal and had a great time. Tomorrow, there will be a special Pure Markt that brings many of the great food stalls of Pure Markt to Oosterpark for the opening of the Dutch Week of Taste.

That’s a great opportunity to try and buy the home-made sausages, Delft grapes or chocolate coated cranberries that I loved at the last Pure Markt!

Pure Market Amsterdam

Dutch Week of Taste

The national Week of Taste (Dutch) will start on Sunday 20 September. For one week, until 27 September, many restaurants, shops, producers, and others will organize food related activities all over the Netherlands.

Amsterdam is calling itself the Capital of Taste (Dutch) and will kick off the Week of Taste with the Taste Market (Dutch) in Oosterpark on Sunday 20 September.

There are a few interesting events on the agenda:

  • The market of 1001 tastes – a market with various food stalls organized on the area of the Amsterdam whole sale market on Jan van Galenstaat on Sunday 27 September.
  • The taste explosion festival – September 25 – 27 in Zaandam – a cultural culinary festival with movies, workshops, celebrity chefs and more.

For a full list of all activities, see the agenda (Dutch).

Amsterdam Capital of Taste 2009