Café de Hartjes is a traditional Amsterdam brown café at Nieuwebrugsteeg 25, a short lane at the top of Warmoesstraat, a few minutes’ walk from Amsterdam Centraal. Come here for a draft beer or a jenever in a small neighborhood bar, not for cocktails or specialty coffee. It usually opens at 1 PM and stays open until 1 AM, or 3 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
Café de Hartjes at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Type | Traditional brown café (bruine kroeg) |
| Address | Nieuwebrugsteeg 25, 1012 AG Amsterdam |
| Area | Centrum, at the northern end of Warmoesstraat near De Wallen |
| Phone | +31 20 320 2420 |
| Typical hours | Mon–Thu 13:00–01:00, Fri–Sat 13:00–03:00, Sun 12:00–01:00 |
| Nearest station | Amsterdam Centraal, roughly a 5-minute walk |
| Listed amenities | Full bar, dine-in, outdoor seating, toilets, dogs allowed |
| Good for | An afternoon beer, a first or last drink near Centraal, a late nightcap |
Hours can change on holidays and during events, so call ahead if you’re planning a late visit.
What to expect inside
A brown café is the Dutch take on a neighborhood pub: a small, informal bar where regulars drop in for a drink, a snack and some conversation. The name comes from the dark wood and the walls that decades of tobacco smoke once stained. Café de Hartjes belongs to that tradition, and it takes part in Dag van de Bruine Kroeg, the annual celebration of Amsterdam’s brown cafés.
The name translates as “the little hearts.” In a 2024 profile of the café, the Amsterdam monthly Mokum Magazine ran the headline “Ze vergeten nóóit een gezicht,” which means “they never forget a face.” Regulars who return after a long gap should get the same kind of welcome.
Beer is the main draw, but the full bar also pours jenever, the malty Dutch spirit that came before gin. Brown cafés usually serve simple bar snacks such as bitterballen, which are deep-fried balls of beef ragout eaten with mustard. The menu changes, so ask at the bar what the kitchen is serving that day.
The café also hosts occasional events. In June 2025, for example, it was one of the venues for the Red Light Jazz festival, with an afternoon set from 4 PM to 6 PM. When the weather is good, the outdoor seating on the lane gives you a view of the foot traffic between Damrak and Warmoesstraat.
Opening hours and best time to visit
Most directory listings give these hours:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Thursday | 13:00–01:00 |
| Friday | 13:00–03:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00–03:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–01:00 |
At least one listing shows a 1 AM close on Fridays, so check before you count on a very late drink.
For a quieter visit, come on a weekday afternoon. Mid-afternoon, around 3 PM, is usually one of the calmer times. Saturday early evening, around 6 PM, tends to be the busiest. These patterns are rough guides, not live data. Because the café opens after lunch, it won’t work for a morning coffee.
The late weekend hours make it a handy last stop before a late train from Centraal. They’re also useful if you’re staying nearby and want one more round after the rest of the neighborhood has quietened down.
How to get to Café de Hartjes
Café de Hartjes is at Nieuwebrugsteeg 25, 1012 AG Amsterdam. Nieuwebrugsteeg is the short lane where Warmoesstraat ends, right by Amsterdam Centraal.
- From Amsterdam Centraal: leave by the main city-side exit, cross toward Damrak and look for Nieuwebrugsteeg near the northern end of Warmoesstraat. The walk takes about 5 minutes.
- From Dam Square: walk north along Warmoesstraat, which runs parallel to Damrak for about 550 meters. The café is near the far end, where Warmoesstraat meets Nieuwebrugsteeg.
- By tram or metro: Centraal is the closest stop and the main hub for trams, metro lines and the free ferries to Noord. Our Amsterdam public transport guide explains OVpay, fares and the current tram lines.
- By bike: park only in official racks or stands, and use a second chain lock. Bike theft is common in the city center.
If you’re heading straight to the station after your drink and have bags with you, see the luggage storage options near Centraal.
Tips for visiting
- Order at the bar unless staff tell you otherwise. That’s the norm in most brown cafés.
- Try jenever. Ask for a jonge (young) jenever if you want something lighter, or an oude (old) jenever for a maltier taste. Ordering a kopstootje gets you a jenever with a beer on the side.
- Pace yourself. Belgian and Dutch specialty beers are often much stronger than a standard lager.
- Arrive early for an outside seat. The outdoor seating is limited and goes first when the sun is out.
- Learn two words: “proost” (cheers) and “dank je wel” (thank you). English is widely spoken, but the effort is appreciated.
- Keep the volume down. A brown café is about gezelligheid, the Dutch idea of a cozy, sociable atmosphere. It’s not a place for rowdy groups.
- Ask before you photograph other guests. Many of the people at the bar are regulars, not fellow tourists.
- Watch your belongings. The streets around Warmoesstraat and De Wallen get crowded, especially on weekend nights.
Other brown cafés to compare
If you’re planning a brown-café crawl, Café de Hartjes is an easy first or last stop near the station. For contrast, visit Café Hoppe on Spui, which has been open since 1670. Café ‘t Smalle is a canal-side former jenever distillery in the Jordaan, and Café De Doelen is on Kloveniersburgwal. You can browse more options in our guide to Amsterdam’s historic brown cafés.
New to Dutch bar food? Our guide to Dutch delicacies in Amsterdam explains bitterballen, jenever and other things to order. For more places around the old center, see things to do in Centrum.
Frequently asked questions
Is Café de Hartjes in the Red Light District?
It’s on the edge of it. Nieuwebrugsteeg is at the northern end of Warmoesstraat, the street that borders De Wallen, but the lane itself is a few minutes from the busiest canals.
How late is Café de Hartjes open?
Most listings show 1 AM from Sunday to Thursday and 3 AM on Friday and Saturday. Call +31 20 320 2420 to confirm before a late visit.
How far is Café de Hartjes from Amsterdam Centraal?
It’s roughly a 5-minute walk. Nieuwebrugsteeg is the short lane where Warmoesstraat ends, just south of the station.
Are dogs allowed at Café de Hartjes?
The venue is listed as dog-friendly. As in most Amsterdam brown cafés, keep your dog on a lead and check with staff when it’s busy.
