Netherlands Restaurant Tips by vtveen Top 5 Page for this destination

Groningen - Smeerlings Theehuys: so quiet and peaceful ...

This ‘tearoom’ is located in Smeerling, a settlement existing of eight impressive Saxion farmhouses. Together they do have the status of a protected area. In a barn of one of the farmhouses (dating from 1842) has been made a huge glass construction for the tearoom.
But we preferred to sit outside on the terrace with views of the landscape of the ‘Ruiten A’, a small river which meanders through the area.

The Theehuys offers of course tea, but also coffee, other drinks and a (simple) lunch.
It is also starting point for two walks and a biketour around Smeerling.

Favorite Dish: The quietness and peacefulness of this place was just amazing.
And the coffee and cake were very good.

Address: Smeerling 15, Smeerling

Directions: Directions:
Smeerling is signposted along the road between Onstwedde and Vlagtwedde (province of Groningen). See www.viamichelin.com

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Other

Gelderland - Terwolde: Theehuis en Rozentuin ‘De Stamroos’

On one of our bike trips around our hometown Apeldoorn we came across this tearoom, which we never had heard about. Owners told us they just started their ‘business’ a year ago.

They are open from April until October and perhaps the best time for a visit is a nice summer day as we had. It is so lovely sitting in the garden in the shadow of a fruit tree just drinking your tea (or coffee) and enjoying the quietness of this spot. ‘De Stamroos’ is servicing tea, coffee, soft drinks, cakes and pies - highly recommend having a home made apple crumble pie- and ice cream. By appointment it is also possible to have a high tea.

The garden has a huge variety of roses with a (frog) pond in the middle; nice to walk around.
If you want to start your own rose garden, you can buy roses in pots.

If the weather isn’t that good visitors find a seat inside in a tasteful converted shed. It has a wood stove and a shop whit ‘rose related’ gifts.

Opening hours
From April 1th to October 1th on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10.30 am - 6.00 pm.
Or by appointment with at least 6 persons.

Address: Molenweg 29, Terwolde

Directions: In Terwolde follow the signs to Welsum; just outside the village you will see ‘De Stamroos’

Other Contact: http://destamroos.blogspot.com/

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.theehuisdestamroos.nl

North Holland, Schagen - De Posthoorn: dining at the main square

Schagen has a remarkable number of restaurants and it was quite difficult for us to decide wher to have our diner the second day of our short visit. Although not our first choice (which was Grand Café 1741, closed for a private function) we ended up in Restaurant De Posthoorn, almost next to our hotel Igesz.

De Posthoorn is located in one of the older buildings of the city along the main square; it is family owned since 1912. We were seated by the friendly staff in the conservatory with great views of the Markt.

Being so close to the North Sea we opted for one of the fish dishes of the menu: fillet of cod with a very tasteful mustard sauce. The fish was served with various potatoes and vegetables. We finished our diner with a (strong) cappuccino, still overlooking the main square and enjoying the coming and going locals.

De Posthoorn offers good honest food for an affordable price (our main course was just € 16.50 pp).

Address: Markt 20, Schagen, North Holland

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the center of the town on the main square, opposite the impressive church.

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Limburg - Vijlen: A gen Kirk, good and honest food

A gen Kirk calls itself ‘wandel en fiets café’ (bike and hike café) and indeed when staying in the B&B or sitting on the lovely terrace, we did see a lot of bikers and hikers. Having a break, drinking a coffee or beer or having a home made apple pie, lunch or snack.

But A gen Kirk also has also a diner menu, although the choice isn’t too extensive it has something for everybody from local to more general dishes. During our stay in the B&B the weather was so nice and we enjoyed the afternoon sun on the terrace. So we decided having diner at A gen Kirk.
And to be honest: it was marvellous !! We had four different dishes: salmon, vegetarian pasta, natural steak and ‘coq au vin’ and they all were tasteful and very well cooked by Daniël, one of the owners. As dessert we had (both times) an excellent crème brulée.

(More info/pics about Vijlen)

Favorite Dish: Good and honest food for very affordable prices.
We paid for our main course (2009) between € 10,- en € 13,50.

Address: Vijlenerberg 115 , Vijlen, Netherlands

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Vijlen: just a couple of km's from the main road between Maastricht and Vaals (signposted) in the southern part of the province of Limburg.

Other Contact: info@agenkirk.nl

Phone: 043-3061963

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.agenkirk.nl

Gelderland - Empe (Klein Amsterdam): Coffee & Teahouse ‘De Hommel’

This coffee and teahouse is located in the middle of the rural area between Apeldoorn, Zutphen and Brummen. This almost idyllic location makes it a wonderful place for a break during a bicycle or car trip in this beautiful landscape.

Of course you can get a good cup of coffee (coffee comes from the famous Dutch coffee roaster De Pelikaan) or tea, but the menu also has a number of lunch dishes. It is also possible to book a high tea.

If the weather cooperates a little bit, you are good in the garden or one of the other shady spots. During one of our visit we had a view of a stork’s nest in one of the nearby meadows.

De Hommel also has a small shop with local products.
Opening hours: March till October - 10.00 till 19.00 hours.

Favorite Dish: They serve a damned good coffee and apple cake in a quiet and peaceful setting.

Address: Hommelstraat 3, Empe

Comparison: about average

Directions: Just outside the settlement Klein Amsterdam - follow the 'Diederikweg' and 'Weg over het Hondsveld' for a couple of hundred metres - and you will see De Hommel.
Their website has a map.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Coffeehouse

Website: http://www.koffiehommel.nl

Zuid-Holland - Sassenheim: Eetcafé De Voogd

After our bike trip through the Bulb and Dune Region we had dinner in ‘Eetcafé De Voogd’ in Sassenheim; one of these ‘bulb villages’ in the area. An ‘eetcafé’ can be described as a kind of pub serving meals, nothing fancy, but simple, honest and affordable.

So are the meals: we had a fantastic fried salmon with a very tasteful sauce, French fries and a huge mixed salad. For dessert our choice was a ‘crème brulée’ of green apples and sugar and we finished our meal with a real Italian (Illy) cappuccino.

De Voogd also has a sidewalk café for a coffee/tea or lunch; as we had earlier that day during our bike trip.

Favorite Dish: Great food, friendly young staff and very affordable.

Address: Hoofdstraat 267b, Sassenheim

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: In the centre of Sasssenheim.

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.eetcafedevoogd.nl

Noord-Brabant - Woudrichem: Restaurant De Gevangenpoort

The old medieval fortified town of Woudrichem has just one remaining gate between the town and the river Merwede. This gate is called ‘Gevangenpoort’ (Prisoner’s gate) and till the end of the 19th century prisoners lived only with water and bread. You still can find the names of the prisoners carved into some wooden panels. There is a good view through the remaining prison windows on the houses of Woudrichem.

Nowadays the ‘Gevangenpoort’ houses an attractive restaurant; the main room has only eight tables. Although they showed us an extensive menu, we took the salmon. Just because of the history of the salmon fishery of Woudrichem (even if ‘ours’ were from Norway).

The food and wine were good, although rather expensive. Perhaps we were in a (too) big hurry to enjoy our diner.

Favorite Dish: The historical building/setting of this restaurant with a very attractive dining room; knowing it has been a prison many years ago.

Address: Kerkstraat 3, Woudrichem

Comparison: more expensive than average

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.degevangenpoort.nl

Noord-Brabant - Deurne: Grand Café Beekman & Beekman

The café/restaurant is located in one of the oldest and prominent buildings of the town. It is supposed there was already an inn established around the year 1600. Nowadays it has changed its name into ‘Grand Café Beekman & Beekman’, named after a book of a rather famous Dutch writer, who lived in Deurne.

During our visit to Deurne we had a cappuccino on the terrace of this café, overlooking the tree lined market square. We were impressed by the atmosphere inside the building and decided to have diner as well.
And we were not disappointed: the food was tasteful, honest and simple (it is just a ‘pub serving meals’). We had a homemade tomato soup and a salmon filet. But the menu offers a lot off meat and fish dishes as well as typical local dishes.

Simply: good value for the money.

Favorite Dish: The location: if having a drink or diner on the terrace (with heating) you are sitting in the centre of Deurne overlooking the market square and the interior of the café is just amazingly attractive.

!! Be aware not having your dinner too late on Friday and Saturday evenings, because the café changes into a kind of disco with lights and loud music. Not really pleasant during a dinner !!

Address: Markt 8, Deurne

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the center of Deurne.

Phone: 0493 - 35 44 18

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.beekmanbeekman.nl

Gelderland - Hoog Soeren: Pannenkoeken-Restaurant Berg en Dal

In the middle of the tiny village of Hoog Soeren, located 5 km’s west of Apeldoorn surrounded by vast forests, is a small and cosy restaurant. According to its name it is serving a wide range of pancakes, on the menu are more than 120 different kinds of this typical Dutch food.

In case you don’t like pancakes (which I can not imagine) you can get a lot of other dishes, among them some specialities from the Veluwe.

Favorite Dish: 'Of course' our nDutch speciality: one of the pancakes.
Good value for your money

Address: Hoog Soeren 30, Hoog Soeren (Apeldoorn)

Directions: If travelling by car see for directions: www.viamichelin.com
Also accessible by bike from Apeldoorn; follow signs for 'Hoog Soeren'.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.restaurantbergendal.nl

Flevoland - Het Wapen van Ens: Diner with a view

'Het Wapen van Ens' is situated in the Noordoostpolder and we had a diner after we finished an auto tour along the tulip fields in this Dutch polder. And it was just nice to have a table at the window with a view on the tulip fields on the other side of the road. (The other time of the year you will have a great view on the polder landscape.)

It is a typical local resaturant with good and fair food.

Favorite Dish: We did take the menu of the month.

Address: Baan 1a, Ens, Noordoostpolder

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: along the highway N50 between Kampen en Emmeloord

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.hetwapenvanens.nl