The 8 hotspots in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Although I mainly see myself as an Amsterdammer (I was officially born there — well, in a hospital — and I have been living there for over ten years now), I have lived most of my life in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. A small village (well, actually it’s not that ‘mini’ anymore) next to Amsterdam and Amstelveen. Now you might think that growing up in a village is super boring and small and everyone knows each other… And well, that last part is true, but the rest is not. I genuinely think Ouderkerk is amazing. And that’s mainly because of this: you can eat so well in Ouderkerk. And it’s so nice to be there, along the Amstel. Especially in the summer, I love to spend a day in Ouderkerk. My parents still live there, so that’s always a reason, but I happily bike that half hour (okay, to be honest, I just take the scooter) to sit on the terrace at Loetje or go eat at one of the other hotspots. Ouderkerk just has a real culinary strip, you know. Yes, we are just super hip in that farming village. And these are the places you want to go.
1. Ron Gastrobar Indonesia, Amstelzijde 51
In the past, restaurant ’t Deurtje was here and it was always a beloved spot. So when it closed, it was a bit exciting to see what would come next and whether it would be a worthy replacement. Well, that turned out great because this has become my favorite restaurant in Ouderkerk. Ron Blaauw has beautifully renovated it here, so both inside and outside it’s really nice. And the food… My god. I could eat here every day for a week and still not get tired of it.
2. Loetje, Amstelzijde 37
And the week after that, I eat at Loetje every day. I’m still not tired of it. The steak remains unmatched and has been the same for years (unlike the prices, which I feel have made a reasonable leap forward) and even though I know it’s so unhealthy, I’m totally okay with it. The fries are also so good, the mayonnaise is always slathered on, but it doesn’t matter. The carpaccio as a starter, or the shrimp croquettes, sashimi… And even trendy dishes like a poke bowl are on the menu and yes, that’s just super delicious too.
3. Jaimie van Heije, Kerkstraat 56
Unfortunately not with a view of the Amstel, but the terrace here is really nice and the food is of course mainly why you come here. Who needs a view anyway when you have such works of art on your plate? Every dish always looks so special here, and in terms of taste, everything is so well put together. It’s not very wise for my wallet to come here every week, but for a special occasion, this is my standard go-to.
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4. Brasserie Paardenburg, Amstelzijde 55
Fun fact: I started my hospitality career here at the age of fifteen. I lasted exactly two months after I let multiple champagne corks fly through the place, broke eight plates, pronounced haricots verts for a group of businessmen as ‘harrie koevers’ and dropped scalding teapots from my hands at the counter. Luckily, I later got better with those hospitality skills, but I did suffer a bit of trauma here. Recently, there’s a new owner who has initiated a good makeover, and I really think the terrace has become super beautiful. By the Amstel, very spacious and a nice addition to the culinary strip.
5. De Voetangel, Rondehoep Oost 3
As far as Ouderkerk has a center: this is quite far outside. A concept among the locals but not so well known outside. Incredibly delicious food, a very extensive menu (with a lot of vegetarian options), by the water and in the middle of the polder. Nice to stop for coffee or lunch during a bike ride (it’s about a twenty-minute bike ride from Ouderkerk), but definitely also go for an extensive dinner. Inside it’s very cozy and you see a lot of wood and the food is just really delicious. Very friendly staff too.
6. De Kruidfabriek by LUTE, De Oude Molen 5
Another spot for fine dining, just past ‘the strip’. The name says it all, it is indeed an old spice factory so I am always a fan of the setting. Super beautiful interior and the food… Well, if Peter Lute is the chef, it must be good, right? Absolutely. It’s also not very good for your wallet to come here regularly, but it’s worth every euro — you are really pampered here and you leave feeling full.
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7. Café de Vrije Handel, Dorpsstraat 7
Yes, I definitely have to mention this one. The pub where I first drank way too much (sorry mom and dad), where there’s always such a nice atmosphere and where the food is really bizarrely good for a pub. Seriously: more than once it has happened that we decided to eat here instead of at Loetje. In the evening, it’s really village coziness here, because since Ouderkerk is not exactly a metropolis, the nice people gather at one location and that’s this one. Infamous in Ouderkerk is the party week around King’s Day, so if you really want coziness (and a lot of beer), definitely come by and I hereby apologize for my drinking habits.
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8. Gusto Italia, Kerkstraat 61
For a good pizza, or if you want to lay a base before you grab those drinks in the pub mentioned above, just go two doors down: there you’ll find this pizzeria. That’s what’s so nice about Ouderkerk, everything is literally within crawling distance. Small pizzeria, very kid-friendly too and just really good pizzas from the wood oven. Takeaway is also possible by the way.
