De Koffieschenkerij is a small speciality-coffee café in the former sacristy of the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest building, at Oudekerksplein 27 in De Wallen. It’s open every day from 09:00 to 18:00, takes walk-ins only, and has a garden terrace right beside the church.
De Koffieschenkerij at a glance
| Address | Oudekerksplein 27, 1012 GX Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 09:00–18:00 |
| Reservations | Walk-in only; not suitable for groups of 8 or more |
| What’s on the menu | Speciality coffee, tea, other hot and cold drinks, cake and a light lunch |
| Dietary options | Vegan and gluten-free cake options; plant-based milks for coffee |
| Outdoor seating | Garden terrace in the church courtyard |
| Oude Kerk ticket | 10% off drinks with a valid Oude Kerk admission ticket |
| Website | koffieschenkerij.com |
Hours and policies taken from the café and the Oude Kerk. Check the café’s website before a special trip, especially on public holidays.
A café in a 1517 sacristy
De Koffieschenkerij is an easy café to miss if you don’t know where to look. It’s built against the Oude Kerk, the church consecrated in 1306 that still counts as the city’s oldest building, and it sits inside the old sacristy, which dates from 1517. The setting has plenty of character without feeling like a museum.
Owners Job Oosting and Anne Rijks opened the café in 2013. They worked with the Stichting Oude Kerk, the foundation that looks after the church, to turn the sacristy into a café. The room has had a few updates since the 16th century, but the exposed brick and wooden beams remain. Add a mix of vintage furniture and quirky decorations and the space feels lived-in and welcoming. For somewhere quieter, take the stairs up to the small attic room.
You’ll catch the smell of fresh coffee and cake as soon as you walk in. It’s a comforting place to take a break from the busy streets outside, and the old details give it a look you won’t find in many Amsterdam cafés.
Coffee, cake and a light lunch
De Koffieschenkerij sticks to the simple things: a good cup of coffee and something sweet to go with it. Their coffee is among the better cups I’ve had around town, rich and smooth without being overdone. Whether you want a latte or an espresso, you’ll find a solid option, along with tea and other hot and cold drinks.
The cakes are the other big draw. The Dutch apple pie is a popular choice, with a buttery crust and just the right balance of sweet and tart. The chocolate cake is rich and moist, so a small slice might be plenty. I may have tried more than my fair share, all in the name of research, of course.
If you’re hungry, there’s also a light lunch, such as sandwiches and a soup of the day. The café usually has vegan and gluten-free cake options, and you can get plant-based milk in your coffee.
The garden terrace and interior
The atmosphere is a big part of the appeal. Inside it feels cosy and intimate, and the staff are friendly and know their coffee. Space is limited, though, so on a busy afternoon you may have to wait for a table.
On a sunny day, head for the garden terrace in the shadow of the Oude Kerk. The café’s city garden is planted with roses, grapes, quinces and hundreds of tulips, which makes it a quiet pause in one of Amsterdam’s busiest neighbourhoods.
Visitors have reported free Wi-Fi, which is handy for checking messages over coffee. With so few seats, though, this is a better place for a break than for a long laptop session.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit depends on what kind of break you’re after.
If you’re up early, come around opening time at 09:00. Morning light comes through the old windows, the room is calmer, and you’ll have the widest choice of cake. It’s also a good way to start before the Oude Kerk itself opens.
In my experience, the café is busiest between about noon and 2 PM, especially at weekends. Go mid-afternoon if you want a slower coffee-and-cake break with a friend or a book. Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends, particularly during the June–August tourist season.
Each season has its own appeal. Spring is the time for the garden, when the tulips are out. Summer is for an iced drink on the terrace. In autumn and winter, the warm interior is a welcome break from the cold and the wind off the canals.
My favourite time to visit is the run-up to the holidays, when the dark afternoons make the warm, low-lit sacristy feel especially inviting.
How to get there
De Koffieschenkerij is in Amsterdam’s old centre, attached to the Oude Kerk on Oudekerksplein. The church stands in the oldest part of the city, in the Red Light District (De Wallen). By day, the narrow streets and historic buildings around it make for an interesting walk.
On foot: From Amsterdam Centraal Station, it’s roughly a 10-minute walk. Head south along Damrak, then turn left into the old lanes towards Warmoesstraat and follow the church’s tall spire to Oudekerksplein.
By public transport: Metro lines 51, 53 and 54 stop at Nieuwmarkt, a short walk from the church. Trams 4, 14 and 24 stop at Dam. Trams 2, 12, 13 and 17 stop at Nieuwezijds Kolk.
By bike: There are plenty of rental shops in the city centre. Take it slowly on the narrow streets around the Oude Kerk, where there are lots of pedestrians.
If you’re using Google Maps or another navigation app, search for “Oudekerksplein 27” rather than the café’s name, which doesn’t always show up correctly. The entrance is easy to walk past, so look for the gate to the garden beside the church, the small sign and the light in the windows. Don’t confuse it with the church entrance at Oudekerksplein 23.
The streets around the Oude Kerk can feel like a maze on your first visit. Locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. And if you take a wrong turn, you might stumble across another corner of Amsterdam worth exploring.
Tips for visiting
A few tips can make your visit go more smoothly. Some of these I learned the hard way, so you won’t have to.
- Pair it with the church. Visiting the Oude Kerk? Keep your admission ticket, because it gets you 10% off drinks at the café.
- Keep groups small. The café doesn’t take reservations and isn’t set up for groups of 8 or more. Larger groups should split up or plan somewhere else.
- Grab the terrace when you can. On a nice day, the garden seats go first. Sipping coffee in the shadow of the Oude Kerk is hard to beat.
- Ask the baristas. When you’re choosing a drink, ask for a recommendation. They know their coffee and are happy to help you find a new favourite.
- Plan for an early close. The café closes at 18:00, so it’s a daytime stop rather than an evening one.
Want to go on a coffee crawl? Browse our specialty coffee and roasters list, try Back to Black on Weteringstraat, or see the full best cafés in Amsterdam list.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an Oude Kerk ticket to visit De Koffieschenkerij?
No. The café has its own address at Oudekerksplein 27 and welcomes walk-in guests. With a valid Oude Kerk admission ticket, you get 10% off drinks.
Can you book a table at De Koffieschenkerij?
No. De Koffieschenkerij is walk-in only and doesn’t take reservations. The café also says it isn’t suitable for groups of 8 or more.
Does De Koffieschenkerij have vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes. The café usually has vegan and gluten-free cakes, and it offers plant-based milks for coffee. The selection changes, so ask at the counter.
