Café Berkhout is a traditional Amsterdam brown café on the corner of Ferdinand Bolstraat and Stadhouderskade in De Pijp, directly across the water from the Heineken Experience. It opens in the morning (roughly 9–10 a.m.), closes at 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and runs until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is a walk-in place: order bitterballen and a beer, sit on the corner terrace if the sun is out, and use it as the stop after the brewery tour rather than before.
| Address | Stadhouderskade 77, 1072 AE Amsterdam (Oude Pijp) |
|---|---|
| Type | Bruin café / café-restaurant — Dutch, European, pub |
| Hours | Daily from morning; closes 1:00 Sun–Thu, 3:00 Fri–Sat |
| Meals served | Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks |
| Nearest transit | Tram 24 and 16 (Marie Heinekenplein); metro 52 (De Pijp) |
| Reservations | Walk-in is normal; call ahead for groups |
| Payment | Cards and contactless; the Netherlands is card-first |
| Website | cafeberkhout.nl |
What Café Berkhout actually is
Café Berkhout is a bruin café — Dutch for “brown café,” named for the dark wood and tobacco-stained walls of the neighbourhood pubs that have anchored Amsterdam social life for over a century. It occupies a corner building where Ferdinand Bolstraat meets Stadhouderskade, facing the former Heineken brewery on the opposite bank of the Singelgracht.
Two things follow from that geography. First, the café gets steady traffic from brewery visitors, so it is not an undiscovered local secret — it is one of the better-known brown cafés in the city and it is comfortable with an international crowd. Second, the corner position gives it a genuinely good terrace, with afternoon light and a view down two busy streets rather than into a courtyard.
Inside, the format is familiar and unpretentious: dark wood, a long bar, tables close together, and a noise level that stays conversational rather than club-like. It serves food from breakfast through dinner, which matters in a neighbourhood where many bars do not open until late afternoon.
Who should stop here — and who should skip it
Good fit
- Anyone finishing the Heineken Experience who wants a proper glass and a snack without walking further.
- Groups of four to eight who do not want to plan ahead — the room absorbs larger tables better than most De Pijp bars.
- Early risers who want breakfast or coffee in De Pijp before the neighbourhood wakes up.
- Travellers with kids in tow during daylight hours, when it functions more as a café than a bar.
- Anyone wanting a first, low-stakes introduction to Dutch café culture and bar snacks.
Poor fit
- Anyone hunting a craft-beer tasting list — this is a mainstream tap house, not a specialist bar.
- Diners looking for ambitious Dutch cooking; De Pijp has far better kitchens a few streets south.
- Vegans, who will find the menu thin beyond a few sides and salads.
- Anyone wanting a quiet weekend evening — Friday and Saturday nights are loud and full.
- Drivers. On-street parking here is expensive and scarce.
What to order
The menu is Dutch café standards executed competently: sandwiches on soft or sourdough rolls, soups, salads, burgers, and a fried-snack section. Prices sit in the normal Amsterdam café band rather than the tourist-premium band, and portions are generous rather than delicate.
- Bitterballen. The default order. Deep-fried balls of slow-cooked beef ragout, crisp outside and molten inside, served with mustard. Six or eight to a plate, meant to be shared.
- Tosti or a broodje. A grilled ham-and-cheese tosti or a filled roll is the standard cheap Dutch lunch and the fastest thing to arrive.
- A pilsner from the tap. Ask for “een biertje” and you will get a small glass with a finger of foam on top — that head is intentional and correct, not a short pour.
- Kaassoufflé or kroketten if you want the vegetarian-friendly fried option alongside the beef version.
- The specials board. Daily dishes are often chalked up rather than printed, so glance at the board before committing to the menu.
One practical note on drinking: standard Dutch pilsner is around 5% ABV, but many Belgian and Dutch specialty beers on Amsterdam taps run 7–9%. If the bartender recommends something in a tulip glass rather than a straight one, expect it to be stronger than a pint at home.
Opening hours and the best time to go
Published hours vary slightly between listings, so confirm on the café’s own site or a live map before a long trip. The pattern is consistent across sources: a morning opening and a late close, with weekends running two hours later.
| Day | Hours | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Thursday | Morning – 01:00 | Calm mornings, busy 17:00–20:00, easing after 22:00 |
| Friday | Morning – 03:00 | Full from early evening; terrace claimed by 17:00 in good weather |
| Saturday | Morning – 03:00 | Busiest day; expect to wait for an outdoor table |
| Sunday | Morning – 01:00 | Slow, sociable, good for a long lunch |
The best window is late afternoon on a weekday
Between roughly 15:00 and 17:00 on a Tuesday through Thursday you get the terrace without competition, staff who have time to talk, and the low western light that makes the corner worth sitting on. This is also when a table is available without waiting, which matters because the café takes walk-ins rather than managing a queue.
Avoid the 30 minutes immediately after each Heineken Experience tour block ends, when a wave of visitors crosses the bridge at once. If you are pairing the two, book an earlier brewery slot and arrive here before the late-afternoon surge.
How to get to Stadhouderskade 77
- Tram (easiest). Tram 24 runs from Centraal Station to Marie Heinekenplein, one short block from the café. Tram 16 also serves the square. Total journey from Centraal is roughly 12–15 minutes.
- Metro. Line 52 (the Noord/Zuidlijn) stops at De Pijp station on Ferdinand Bolstraat. Walk north for about five minutes to reach Stadhouderskade.
- Walking. From Rembrandtplein or the Amstel it is a 20–30 minute walk south; head down Utrechtsestraat and continue to the Singelgracht, then turn right along Stadhouderskade.
- Cycling. A 15–20 minute ride from the centre. There is bike parking along Stadhouderskade, but it fills quickly in the evening.
- Night transport. Regular trams stop around 00:30. Check the GVB app for current night-bus routes along Stadhouderskade before a 3 a.m. exit on a weekend.
- From the Heineken Experience. Cross the Singelgracht at Ferdinand Bolstraat — under two minutes on foot.
Do not drive. Stadhouderskade is a busy arterial road with paid on-street parking at central-Amsterdam rates and almost no turnover. Use a P+R site on the ring road and finish the trip by metro or tram, which is cheaper and faster than circling for a space.
Practical tips that actually change your visit
- Bring a card, not cash. The Netherlands is a card-and-contactless country and some venues have stopped taking notes entirely. Carry a debit or credit card with contactless enabled; treat cash as the backup, not the plan.
- Tipping is rounding, not a percentage. Service is included in the listed price. Rounding up or leaving a euro or two per person for good table service is normal; 10–20% is not expected.
- Order at the table, but flag the bar when it is busy. Dutch service is direct and unhurried — making eye contact and asking clearly is polite, not rude.
- Two Dutch words are enough. “Proost” (cheers) and “dank je wel” (thank you). Staff speak fluent English; the effort still lands well.
- Use the toilet before you leave. Free public toilets are genuinely scarce in central Amsterdam and many cafés charge non-customers.
- Terraces close before the bar does. Amsterdam noise rules mean outdoor seating is cleared well before the interior closing time, so a 3 a.m. Friday close does not mean 3 a.m. on the terrace.
- Call ahead for six or more. Walk-ins are the norm for pairs, but the café does take table bookings and a group without one may be split across tables.
- Ask about matches. Screens go on for significant Ajax, Eredivisie, and national-team fixtures, which changes the atmosphere completely — great if you want it, worth avoiding if you do not.
How it compares to nearby alternatives
| You want | Go here instead | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A beer and snacks within two minutes of the brewery | Café Berkhout | Closest traditional café with a real terrace and all-day food |
| A wide craft-beer list | A specialist tap room in De Pijp or the Eastern Docklands | Berkhout runs mainstream taps |
| Dinner worth planning around | The Frans Halsstraat and Eerste van der Helststraat restaurant strip | Five minutes south, far more range |
| Market food and cheap eats | Albert Cuypmarkt | Stroopwafels and herring stalls, daytime only |
| A quiet canal-side drink | Smaller cafés along the Ruysdaelkade | Less brewery footfall |
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Café Berkhout?
At Stadhouderskade 77, 1072 AE Amsterdam, on the corner of Ferdinand Bolstraat in the Oude Pijp district, directly across the Singelgracht from the Heineken Experience.
What time does Café Berkhout open and close?
It opens in the morning, with listings showing between 9:00 and 10:00, and closes at 1:00 Sunday through Thursday and 3:00 on Friday and Saturday. Confirm on the café’s own website before travelling, as published hours vary between directories.
Do I need a reservation?
No. Walk-ins are normal for small groups. Parties of six or more should call ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Which tram goes to Café Berkhout?
Tram 24 from Centraal Station stops at Marie Heinekenplein, a block away. Tram 16 also serves the square, and metro line 52 stops at De Pijp station about five minutes’ walk south.
Is Café Berkhout suitable for children?
During daytime and early-evening hours it functions as a café and families are welcome. Later in the evening, and especially on weekends, it becomes a busy bar and is less suitable.
Can I pay by card?
Yes. Cards and contactless payment are standard across the Netherlands and are the expected payment method here. Cash is worth carrying only as a backup.
