Travel & Hotspots

VAN WOUSTRAAT: HIP AND HAPPENING

By Marion Pauw

Now that the rental prices in the center have completely skyrocketed, you need to be in the less obvious neighborhoods for cool eateries and shops that do NOT belong to a chain. Even the Nine Streets are no longer what they used to be now that all the international fashion brands have settled there (although for some people that is actually a plus). Young entrepreneurs looking for something new are now moving to the neighborhoods where there used to be little to experience. On the west side, you have Jan Evertsenstraat and De Hallen where it’s happening. And on the east side, you have Van Woustraat.

Yes, we already knew that you can have a great time in the Pijp. But Van Wou always remained a somewhat shady street where, besides a few shawarma tents and a laundromat, there wasn't much to do. For the past two or three years, that has changed. One fun little spot after another is popping up. And since I live just around the corner and am a fan, I’m sharing my list of the coolest shops, restaurants, and beauty bars (because those are there too) on Van Wou.

I can't remember the last time I walked into a snack bar. Okay, only for a pack of gum. Unless it's SNCKBR: one of the healthiest snack bars in Amsterdam. You can order healthy frikadel (I still need to try this), spelt pita bread, and low-fat pizza. On weekends, it's open until 3:00 AM. The interior looks nothing like a normal snack bar with fluorescent lights, but rather like a super cool lunchroom. Great for a small bite before you head to the movies or a birthday party, for example.

Fries, pizzas, and burgers: all your guilty pleasures, but healthy. Your fries are made from sweet potatoes and your burger is on a spelt bun. At SNCKBR, you also sit in a very cozy atmosphere and they serve delicious cocktails with your pita chicken shawarma. Recently, there’s a second location on Kinkerstraat, another neighborhood to keep an eye on.

Taco Cartel

Ooooh, I get so happy from this place. First of all, I love Mexican food, and secondly, I would describe the decor of this place as funky industrial, which I also really love.

Flipped

Of course, you can also find a burger bar on Van Woustraat, which, it must be said, has amazing burgers. The meat comes from Lindenhoff, where the cows roam freely, and the salads and sauces are made fresh every morning. In the summer, you can sit here wonderfully on the terrace. But yes, that doesn’t help you right now.

Yes, we already knew that you can have a great time in the Pijp.

Mrs. Highbrow

How cool is it that we have a place in Amsterdam that is completely specialized in eyebrows? These people know and can do EVERYTHING with eyebrows. Waxing, tweezing, threading, tinting, and even tattooing. And it’s also just a very nice place where you are treated like a princess.

Hutspot

Once started as a pop-up store in Utrechtsestraat. Now it’s a mini department store at various locations in the city, including Van Woustraat. Here you’ll find those quirky niche brands, ranging from the trendy watches of the Dutch brand Renard to the soaps from Damn Good Soap and the clothing from Jutka & Riska. And because shopping makes you hungry and thirsty, you can also have lunch in the lunchroom and enjoy drinks (and spot handsome men) at Bar Hutspot.

The Turk

Another top place where you can eat and take home amazing Turkish snacks and sandwiches. And what’s also nice: it’s run by a real Turk. And not a bunch of advertising guys who came up with a concept (although there’s nothing wrong with that).

The City Canteen

For less than ten euros, you can eat what’s on the menu here. You have a choice of three freshly prepared dishes every day: fish, vegetarian, or meat. An ideal spot for when you don’t feel like cooking, or if you just don’t want to spend too much on dinner before going to the movies or something.

Rain Couture

If it’s going to rain so often, then you might as well get a really good raincoat. At Rain Couture, you’ll find a whole bunch of them. Also good for rainwear: the Amsterdam brand weltershelter.com!

Betsy Palmer

I’m not as obsessed with shoes as most women. To be honest, I get tired just looking at high heels. But for Betsy Palmer, I might make an exception. A fantastic selection of the more original brands.