Breakfast

“I almost don’t dare to say it but I have breakfast with a sugarfree Red Bull and a sandwich with filet Americain at Broodje Mokum on the Rozengracht. I’m a size 36 though, and I really eat healthily, but this habit is really hard to break. Besides, I also get a spinach shake at Doctor Blend on the Herenstraat every morning. Incredibly healthy, right!”

Lunch

“Oh, there are so many great places to have lunch at in the city, and seen that I’m often really busy, I also have no difficulty eating a sandwich as I bike. Afterwards, I’ll visit the Laatste Kruimel on the Langebrugsteeg. You can get a delicious sandwich for 3 euros. I like normal prices and nothing over-the-top.

If I want to sit somewhere, I like to go for lunch at Jacques Jour in North. Jessica Lek in the kitchen who makes the most delicious things: smoked trout with beet salad or steak tartare. It’s also a great place to go to on a Sunday.”

Dinner

“My greatest problem is that I’ve got too many favourites. For my job I like to try out new restaurants, but I really like to frequent the Koevoet on the Lindenstraat. It’s also a great last minute restaurant. You can easily still go there at around 9 o’clock in the evening. They’ve got an Italian kitchen and I often take the coquilles and a good glass of wine.

You’ve got to go to Bar Brouw on the Ten Katestraat when you feel like a good piece of meat and a beer. No bullshit, just good food. I’ve got to admit that I always order a glass of wine, but I really like the beer culture. The bartenders are real guys, there’s nothing fancy about it. Which I really like. Besides, it’s very affordable. I’m quite carnivorous so you can make me really happy with a hamburger from the Biertuin. Those are fantastic. They’ve also got really good sandwiches with sausages from Brandt & Levie. You can also order quite the assortment in burgers and sausages. Divine, but you’ve got to be really hungry.”

Where do you go on a sunny day?

“Rainarai at the Westerpark. Their Algarve kitchen is delicious, and, perhaps foolish of me to mention it here, but their terrace hasn’t been discovered yet. There’s always a spot left and there’s sun all day long. La Vallade is also a great place. Like you’re on a holiday. Go there when you’re hungry because you’ll eat whatever they’re offering, which is quite a lot. This is my favourite spot, especially on summery days.

 Date

“I’m married, but when a girlfriend has a date I usually recommend a pub. Somewhere busy but where you can still hear each other. For example at Cafe Louis on the Singel or Bar Mick on the Spaarndammerstraat. I like Lion Noir for a business meeting or in order to have a quiet cup of coffee.”

Spending the night in your own city 

“Estherea is a very old-fashioned hotel right in the centre of town. You’ve got rooms complete with floral wallpaper that matches with the bed cover and towels. I like prissiness, though with a good clean and price quality ratio. You’ll pay 80 euros a night. Stout&co is a luxurious bed and breakfast on the Hoogte Kadijk with five rooms. The building used to be a brewery and is run by two very sympathetic men. All the rooms are just right, are clean, and every corner has been designed. A lot of great tips await you and you can order food all day long. All the ingredients come from the Landmarkt. Now that I’m talking about it, I really feel like spending the night there.”

Feel like more hotspots? Check Maartje’s site, www.bartsboekje.com.