d’Vijff Vlieghen

d’Vijff Vlieghen, also called The Five Flies, is a historic dinner restaurant in central Amsterdam spread across five connected 17th-century canal houses. It is best suited to diners who want a leisurely, special-occasion meal in an old Dutch interior rather than a quick or low-cost dinner. As of 15 August 2026, the official menu lists four-, five-, and six-course options from €55 to €77 before drinks, alongside à la carte dishes.

The setting is the main differentiator: antique Delft Blue tiles, old plans of Amsterdam, leather wall coverings, and guestbooks dating to 1946 appear across rooms with distinct layouts and histories. The kitchen focuses on seasonal regional ingredients. One practical caveat is worth knowing before you book: the restaurant’s English website and Dutch website currently disagree about Monday opening, so verify the live reservation calendar or call before setting out.

d’Vijff Vlieghen at a glance

Best for	Historic atmosphere, romantic dinners, special occasions, and private groups
Food style	Seasonal Dutch and regional ingredients, served as set menus or à la carte
Set-menu price	€55 for four courses, €67 for five courses, or €77 for six courses before drinks
Wine-pairing totals	€94, €113, or €131 for the four-, five-, or six-course menu with wine
Address	Spuistraat 294-302, 1012 VX Amsterdam
Published hours	The English site lists Monday closed and Tuesday-Sunday from 17:30; the Dutch site also lists Monday from 17:30. Closing time is not fixed.
Reservations	Recommended; use the official booking calendar for current availability
Last checked	15 August 2026

Is d’Vijff Vlieghen worth booking?

d’Vijff Vlieghen is worth considering when the room matters almost as much as the meal. The five-house layout, antique interiors, and documented history make dinner feel different from a conventional restaurant reservation. It is less suitable for diners whose main priorities are the lowest price, a fast meal, or a guaranteed modern minimalist setting.

A good fit for

• Couples planning an unhurried dinner in a historic room
• Visitors who want seasonal Dutch ingredients without limiting themselves to traditional pub dishes
• Small celebrations, family dinners, and groups that can arrange a room in advance
• Diners who value architecture, decorative arts, and restaurant history

Consider another option if

• You want a casual Dutch meal at a modest price
• You need a clearly published vegan tasting menu without contacting the restaurant first
• Step-free access is essential and you have not yet confirmed the assigned room and facilities
• You prefer contemporary design to dark wood, antiques, and closely connected historic rooms

For alternatives, compare our guides to fine-dining restaurants in Amsterdam and romantic places in Amsterdam.

Menu and current prices

The restaurant’s published menu combines fixed-course options with à la carte choices. The kitchen describes its approach as regional and seasonal, so individual dishes change. Use the figures below as a planning baseline rather than a permanent price list.

Menu	Food only	With wine	Practical fit
Four courses	€55	€94	Best when you want the set-menu format without the longest sitting
Five courses	€67	€113	The middle option for a full dinner
Six courses	€77	€131	Best for diners making the meal the main event of the evening
À la carte	Starters €17–€19; soup €14; mains €22–€39; desserts €14–€19		Useful when you do not want a fixed number of courses

At the time of verification, the à la carte menu included roasted beetroot, pike-perch, pork belly, tournedos, Jerusalem artichoke, and Dutch cheeses. A five-course menu with wine for two totals €226 before oysters, supplements, or additional drinks.

Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy requests

The current menu includes vegetable-led dishes, but the published page does not promise a complete vegan tasting menu. The restaurant asks guests to tell staff about allergies or dietary restrictions before ordering. For strict allergies, vegan requirements, or cross-contact concerns, contact the team before reserving rather than relying on the sample menu.

What to expect from the historic dining rooms

The restaurant is not one open dining hall. Its official room descriptions cover spaces with different capacities, collections, and uses. Room placement can materially change the atmosphere, so ask about preferences when booking, while recognizing that a specific room may not be guaranteed.

The Knights Room

The Knights Room has tables set with antique Delft Blue tiles from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a collection of armor connected with the Eighty Years’ War, and a view toward the open kitchen. The restaurant lists capacity for 28 guests.

The Rembrandt and Print rooms

The Rembrandt Room is used for individual à la carte reservations. Its official description highlights leather wall coverings from the 17th and 19th centuries and the guestbook collection dating to 1946. The Print Room displays Delft Blue tiles, prints of historic buildings, and old plans of Amsterdam; it accommodates up to 44 guests.

The Bridal and Mother Hendrina rooms

The Bridal Room is on the first floor, holds up to 20 guests, and is designed to resemble a 17th-century ship’s cabin. The Mother Hendrina Room is on the second floor in the oldest part of the complex, dated by the restaurant to 1627. It contains a large Delft tile collection and accommodates up to 34 guests.

These upper-floor locations are also why advance accessibility questions matter. The official website does not publish a detailed step-free access statement, so confirm the entrance route, toilets, stairs, and proposed room directly with the restaurant.

How The Five Flies began

According to the restaurant’s official history, Amsterdam-born Nicolaas Kroese bought five adjoining houses, ran an antiques business, and began serving customers drinks and small bites. That combination developed into d’Vijff Vlieghen in 1939.

Kroese promoted himself as the “King of the Five Flies” and carried a cage containing five copper flies during a publicity trip to New York. The restaurant says the cage remains on display. Its guestbooks date to 1946, and the official history names Walt Disney, Danny Kaye, Kirk Douglas, and Jayne Mansfield among the prominent visitors connected with Kroese.

The factual core is strong enough without repeating every celebrity story attached to the restaurant over time. The more useful takeaway is that the founder deliberately combined hospitality, antiques, performance, and promotion—a formula that still shapes the experience.

Planning your dinner

Address	Spuistraat 294-302, 1012 VX Amsterdam
Opening information	The English official site lists Monday closed and Tuesday-Sunday from 17:30. The Dutch version lists Monday from 17:30 as well. The restaurant says it closes when the last guest leaves, so verify the live calendar.
Reservations	Book through the official website, especially for Friday or Saturday, larger groups, or a room request.
Contact	+31 20 530 4060 or [email protected]
Public transport	Rokin metro station on line M52 and several city-centre tram stops are nearby. Check GVB or 9292 on the day of travel.
Paying for transit	Visitors can review our OVpay guide for Amsterdam public transport before traveling.
Driving	Central Amsterdam parking is limited and often costly. Q-Park Kalverstraat is one nearby garage; compare current access, height limits, and rates before driving.
Accessibility	Ask the restaurant to confirm step-free entry, accessible toilets, stair requirements, and room assignment before booking.

Allow enough time for a multi-course dinner and arrive with the correct address saved; the restaurant extends through several connected properties on Spuistraat. If you are planning the wider day, browse more places in Amsterdam before choosing your route.

Verdict: who should reserve a table?

d’Vijff Vlieghen is strongest as a combined dining-and-setting experience. Book it when you want a slow dinner, historic rooms, and a menu built around seasonal regional ingredients. Choose a casual eetcafé or simpler Dutch restaurant when price, speed, or familiar classics matter more than the surroundings.

The decision is straightforward: if the five-house interior is part of why you are going out, the restaurant merits a place on your shortlist. Check the live menu, confirm the Monday schedule, and discuss dietary or access requirements before finalizing the evening.

Frequently asked questions