02 Oct Culinary expedition – Amsterdam on your plate
A culinary bird’s eye view of the city
This year, Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary – a milestone that calls for special moments, beautiful memories and of course… good food. Because if there is anything in which Amsterdam excels, it is in its rich and diverse culinary tradition. From centuries-old markets to iconic cafés, from historic recipes to modern flavours: the capital is a true melting pot of flavours and stories.
Amsterdam’s culinary heritage
Did you know that Amsterdam has played a central role in the culinary history of the Netherlands for centuries? Consider the international influences that entered the city through the VOC, the development of markets like the Albert Cuyp, or the centuries-old beer tradition that was once visible in almost every district of the city. You can still taste these flavours of the past – if you know where to look. At Eat2Gather, we love diving into that past. Not just to learn from it, but mostly to revive it in unique experiences that bring people together.
From gin, Jewish cuisine to croquette out of the wall
Amsterdam has always embraced flavours from all over the world. In the 17th century, for instance, jenever was exported far beyond the city, and the city was famous for its liqueur distilleries. Old brands like Wynand Fockink and A. van Wees distillery De Ooievaar still produce according to traditional recipes, keeping them alive. Jewish cuisine also left its mark. For example, chicken livers with fried onion. A classic! You have to search a bit, but you can still find them on the menu at some Amsterdam establishments. And how about the snack bar culture? FEBO, which takes its name from Ferdinand Bolstraat, became famous with its vending machine, its grillburger and kroket. Snacking thus acquired a unique, almost cultural status in Amsterdam.
From market to steak Amsterdam style
A visit to the city is not complete without a stop at one of its many markets. The Albert Cuyp market, established in 1905, is still a bustling place where smells and tastes from all corners of the world come together. From herring to baklava, and from Surinamese roti to Vietnamese spring rolls, this market is Amsterdam. Eating a steak while out for dinner was already happening in abundance in Amsterdam at the beginning of the last century. Classic Amsterdam steak restaurants are also part of the city. Think of places like Loetje and Piet de Leeuw, where people go for a good steak “jus” with bread. The city also had its own culinary guru: Johannes van Dam, the influential restaurant critic of Het Parool, who for years put Amsterdam’s food culture on the map with his sharp pen and deep knowledge. His work reminded us that good food is also history. Which is now continued in all its glory with the “Tasting Works” in Het Parool by culinary reviewer Mara Grimm. But culinary history is also kept alive behind closed doors. In monumental buildings, former warehouses or old cafés, there are still echoes of conversations at long tables and fragrant meals that connected generations.
Eat2Gather in the heart of history
Eat2Gather is proud to be located in such a place full of stories: a beautiful national monument in the heart of Amsterdam. In this building, where history and hospitality come together, we organise dinners, meetings and walks that do justice to the city’s culinary past.
We believe that food is more than taste alone. It is memory, encounter and connection. And where better than in a city that has been bringing people and flavours together for 750 years?
Want to enjoy?
Whether you stroll along old cafés and liqueur distilleries, hop on a canal boat with a plate full of stories or join us for a private dinner in our monumental building: Eat2Gather gives you a taste of Amsterdam, in colours and aromas, literally and figuratively.