Originally, La Place used to be part of the Vroom & Dreesman (V&D) department store which went bankrupt and permanently closed its doors in 2016.

The La Place brand was bought out by the Jumbo supermarket group. The Kalverstraat La Place restaurant location had been closed down but was re-opened in 2019 following a major refurbishment.

La Place in Amsterdam straddles a modern wing on the Kalverstraat shopping street and a monumental building on the Rokin side. A small alleyway running alongside links the 2 streets.

The main entrance is on the Kalverstraat side and the food counters run throughout the ground floor. Grab a tray and take your pick.

La Place has a good range of fresh food available with plenty of veggie/vegan choices. Sandwiches are generally baguette and focaccia rolls with a variety fillings such as cream cheese, tuna salad, ham, roasted veg and smoked salmon.

There is a pick & mix salad bar and fruit salad bar with prices based on one of 3 bowl sizes.

If you are looking for hot food there are soups, pizza and a more substantial meat/fish grill section where the food is cooked in front of you. La Place also serves some very good chips as well.

La Place is known for its fruit juices and smoothies but it also offers hot drinks, cakes/tarts, soft drinks, wines and beer.

Sandwiches are priced around the €7 mark, mains tend to be in the €10 to €20 range depending on your choice.

After paying head upstairs where you will find plenty of seating – some under the glass atrium roof with lots of natural light. Or try to grab one of the popular window seats on either side of the building.

We have always recommended La Place Kalverstraat as an eating option for visitors, given its central location and good value self-service concept. With plenty of space it can take larger group sizes.

Prices have crept up over the years so it is not the bargain it was. If you come early on a weekday it should not be too busy – but it remains quite a popular lunch stop at the weekends for locals and visitors.

You will find a paid toilet facility in the basement at the Rokin side.

La Place Kalverstraat Amsterdam Essential Info

Last update 20 February 2025, we first published a review of La Place Kalverstraat in 2008.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post La Place Restaurant Amsterdam Kalverstraat appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

This is a long-standing guide to buying organic food and products in Amsterdam – we’ve been buying bio/organic in the Netherlands for over 20 years.

We will overview certification and logos, organic veg boxes, natural health-food stores and farmer’s markets in Amsterdam.

Organic Logos/Certification

When buying organic food products you should look for either the green EU farming organic logo or the Dutch EKO symbol.

The EU organic label is granted by inspection-certification body Skal Biocontrole which is roughly equivalent to the Soil Association in the UK.

The EKO certification requires higher standards than the European mark and guarantees organic products of Dutch origin. EKO products are GMO-free and the use of pesticides and fertilisers are prohibited.

For bio-dynamic products there is the orange demeter symbol which has even higher standards than the organic marks and has a particular emphasis on maintaining soil fertility, biodiversity and animal welfare.

Natural food stores in the Netherlands stock a wide range of organic food and non-food products.

You can find fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and dairy, fair trade coffee and teas, breads, pastas and grains, gluten-free products, sweet items and drinks. They also sell household and personal care products as well.

Firstly, let’s take a look at organic fruit and veggie boxes which can be ordered on a weekly basis.

Organic Veggie Boxes in Amsterdam and Netherlands

Odin

There is a national scheme for regular organic (fruit and veg) packages run by an organisation called Odin. You have the choice of the following weekly bag (tas) packages:

Kleine groentetas – small vegetable pack (€10.00)
Grote groentetas – large vegetable pack (€14.00)
Kleine fruittas – small fruit pack (€10.00)*
Kleine groente- en fruittas – small combi fruit and veg pack (€10.00)
Grote groente- en fruittas – large combi fruit and veg pack (€18.50)*

*also available to buy separately on a one-time basis.

The fruit and veg is sourced either locally or for more variety from the Mediterranean – mainly Italy and Spain – which is transported by road and not by air. A newsletter sheet is provided every week which includes information on the source of the produce plus some recipe ideas.

The package can be ordered from any participating health food shop. You pick up the package weekly on a specific day and you always have to pay a week in advance. It is possible to skip weeks if you are away on holiday.

Pop into your local health store to order an Odin package or check Odin’s website (Dutch) – click “afhaalpunten” to find participating stores and pick-up days.

Odin also has a number of its own branded health stores (see further below).

Vitatas (Ekoplaza)

Vitatas is a more recent bio fruit and veg scheme which is run by Udea BV, the organic wholesaler and franchise company behind the organic supermarket chain Ekoplaza (also see below).

Vitatas offers the following fruit/veggie bag options:

Groentetas 2-persoons – Veg bag for 2 people (€9.00)
Fruittas 2-persoons – Fruit bag for 2 people (€9.00)
Groente- en fruittas 1-persoons – Fruit and veg bag for 1 person (€9.00)
Groente- en fruittas 2-persoons – Fruit and veg bag for 2 people (€13.95)
Groentetas 4-persoons – Veg bag for 4 people (€11.95)

Likewise, the produce is either locally-sourced or comes from the Mediterranean region. You can see bag contents for the coming week online at the Vitatas website (Dutch) along with recipe ideas.

The bag can be picked up from one of 300 collection points around the country including all Ekoplaza stores plus other organic outlets. You always pay for a week in advance.

If you live in the Netherlands then either of these schemes should be considered – you will be supporting sustainable producers and smaller local shops – as well as eating healthy, quality organic produce on a seasonal basis.

We have tried both schemes and our current preference is for the Vitatas, which seems to give slightly better value.

It is also possible to buy all the bags on a one-off rather than regular basis.

Farmer’s Markets in Amsterdam

There are a few weekly organic farmer’s markets (boerenmarkt) held in Amsterdam which have a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.

Biologische Noordermarkt Amsterdam – This was the first farmer’s market in Amsterdam (established in 1987) and has around 30 stalls of independent traders. You can find a good range of products including fruit and veg, bread, cheese, meat and seafood, herbs, honey, flowers and other products.

Located in the Jordaan area, it runs every Saturday from 09:00 to 16:00.

Boerenmarkt Haarlemmerplein – This is an organic market running on Haarlemmerplein square every Wednesday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Zuidermrkt – This is a weekly co-operative market on Saturdays (09:30-17:00) in the small square on Jacob Obrechtstraat and Johannes Verhulststraat close to the Concertgebouw on Museumplein. You can find a good variety of products – fruit/veg, breads, cheeses, meats, nuts, cakes/pastries – much of which is sustainable and/or organic.

Established in 2011, it hosts over 20 market stalls.

There is also a monthly market events in the Amsterdam area which specialise in organic, local, seasonal and artisanal food and drink.

De Pure Markt takes place on a Sunday at 3 locations every month (except Jan/Feb) in the south of Amsterdam – At Amstelpark, Amsterdamse Bos and Park Frankendael. Opening hours are 11:00 to 18:00. Some stalls sell organic produce.

Sunday Market is a monthly market event at Westergas which has some organic food stalls – including an organic chips (fries) truck.

See our What’s On in Amsterdam monthly section for specific dates.

Natural Health Food Stores (natuur winkels) in Amsterdam

Odin

Odin has around 42 organic food stores throughout Netherlands. The staff are friendly and they usually have good offers running on a weekly basis.

Note, that Odin offers a subscription membership scheme so you will see dual pricing in the stores – a cheaper  member’s price and the standard price.

There are 7 Odin stores in the Amsterdam area – all offer the Odin packages:

Odin in Amsterdam

Ceintuurbaan 218-220 (De Pijp/Zuid)
Bilderdijkstraat 64 (West)
Oostelijke Handelskade 1051 (Zeeburg)
Bos en Lommerweg 261-265 (Bos en Lommer)
Czaar Peterstraat 2C (East Amsterdam)
Joris Ivensplein 56-58 (IJburg)
Docklandsweg 23 (Noord)

Ekoplaza

This is a chain of organic supermarkets which has 10 locations in Amsterdam. These large stores have a comprehensive assortment of organic products including fruit/veg, meats, bread, grains, drinks and also supplements and cosmetics.

You can find good value items on sale weekly with offers running Wednesday to Tuesday.

Ekoplaza offers the weekly Vitatas organic bag, available for pick-up as mentioned.

Ekoplaza in Amsterdam

Waterlooplein 131 (Rembrandt House/Waterlooplein)
Haarlemmerdijk 164 (near Westerpark)
Elandsgracht 118 (Jordaan)
Weteringschans 133-137 (Weteringsplein/Museumplein)
1e Van Swindenstraat 30-32 (Oost)
J.P. Heijestraat 105-111 (off Kinkerstraat)
Scheldestraat 53 (Rivierenbuurt)
Marathonweg 18-24 (near Olympic Stadium)
A.J. Ernststraat 665 (Buitenveldert)
Buikslotermeerplein 257 ('Does Reform en Natuurvoeding' in Amsterdam Noord)

Ekoplaza Food Marqt

Marqt was a high-end supermarket which was taken over by Ekoplaza parent company Udea. There are 7 locations in Amsterdam now under the ‘Ekoplaza Food Marqt’ branding:

Ekoplaza Foodmarqt in Amsterdam

Beethovenstraat 75
Bilderdijkstraat 108
Ceintuurbaan 402
Haarlemmerstraat 165
Hoofddorpweg 2
Olympiaplein 160
Oostelijke Handelskade 1055

The stores are generally open daily with good opening hours. Please note – Marqt only accepts card payments. Regrettably, they never have accepted cash –  part of the ever-creeping movement towards a cashless society!

Other Organic Stores in Amsterdam

Delicious Food is a small family-owned bio store at Westerstraat 24H in the Jordaan district, first established in 2003. It offers a variety of organic food plus gluten-free items and homemade spreads and cakes. It also reduces plastic waste by selling over 200 items loosely.

Open 09:00-18:00 (Mon-Sat), closed Sundays.

Little Plant Pantry is a plant-based wholefoods store with a focus on minimal waste. It offers sustainable products, organic where possible and has a plastic-free approach to packaging. It works with with local artisan food producers and also sells freshly-made meals and drinks at its food counter. Located at Bosboom Toussaintstraat 45H (off Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat).

Open 11:00-19:00 Tue-Sat, 11:00-18:00 (Sunday), closed Mon-Tue.

Good Food For You is an up-market health food store in Amsterdam located at Cornelis Schuytstraat 26-28 (off De Lairessestraat in Museum Quarter). It has a wide assortment of organic and sustainable products including bread from the Vlaamsch Broodhuys.

Open 07:00-20:00 (Mon-Fri), 07:00-19:00 (Saturday), 08:00-19:00 (Sunday). Card only.

Ecologische Slagerij Siem van der Gragt is an organic butcher’s shop in Amsterdam at Elandsgracht 116a which has been selling good quality meat products since 1978.

Open 10:00-18:00 (Monday), 09:00-18:00 (Tue-Fri), 08:00-17:00 (Saturday), closed Sundays.

Simon Lévelt is a specialist shop selling its own branded organic teas and coffee. Established in 1826 it offers 150 different types of tea and 25 coffee varieties.

It has 6 locations in Amsterdam:

Simon Lévelt stores in Amsterdam

Ferdinand Bolstraat 154 (De Pijp)
Prinsengracht 180 (centre)
Stationsplein 39F (Amsterdam Central Station)
Kinkerstraat 109 (Oud-West)
Jodenbreestraat 20 (near Rembrandt house)
Waldenlaan 4 (Oost)

Major supermarkets in Amsterdam (such as Albert Heijn and Jumbo) also sell a reasonable range of organic products.

This article was originally published in 2010. Last updated 4 February 2025.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Organic Food Shopping in Amsterdam (Essential Guide) appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

Luminair is located on the 11th floor of the Amsterdam’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Central. As the name suggests, the hotel is found adjacent to Amsterdam Central station.

Luminair opened in summer 2023 and replaced the former Skylounge bar which had been a feature of the hotel since it opened back in 2011.

With a height of 43m, the Amsterdam DoubleTree Hilton hotel has quite a striking angular design with grey brick cladding and large glass windows. It has a prominent location on Oosterdok, the Eastern dock development in central Amsterdam.

Luminair is accessible by lift from the Doubletree Hilton hotel lobby area.

On entering you will find a long, narrow lounge space with tables next to floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There is a tea/coffee bar station in the middle and a circular island bar with stool seating at the end.

There are some nice designer touches such as the cloud-like ceiling drapes and at night the space is beautifully lit.

There is a large wooden-decked roof terrace which is open in spring/summer (it was closed when we took the photos on our last visit in late winter).

The eastern part of the space which was curtained off is now called Eclipse and is open for private hire for events up to 125 people. It has a small outdoor balcony terrace space as well.

This is what the terrace looks like in the summer:

Luminair Amsterdam Views

From the lounge you get fantastic sweeping views of Amsterdam towards the south side. Directly in front can be seen the domed St Nicolaaskerk church just across the water and the Oudekerk church tower a bit further beyond.

Looking south you can catch sight of the Zuiderkerk tower, the Rijksmuseum twin towers and Amsterdam Zuid business district in the far distance.

Looking west you will see Stationsplein at Amsterdam Central where the trams depart and in the distance the large office buildings of Amsterdam Sloterdijk.

There are also views to the north overlooking the train tracks of Amsterdam Central station, the IJ river and buildings at Amsterdam North including the white EyeFilm Museum and A’DAM Toren.

Luminair Amsterdam Menu

Luminair has a very extensive drinks menu including 8 signature cocktails ‘inspired by different gradients and intensities of visible light and warmth’.

The food menu features an array of international inspired bar-bites and a special Sunday brunch menu. You can check the full menu here

Whether you are here on business, visiting Amsterdam as a tourist or living locally, we would highly recommend a visit to Luminair. With its the ambience and fabulous views over the day and night, it is the best rooftop bar in Amsterdam.

If you wish to stay at the 4-star Doubletree Hilton Amsterdam Central then you can book a room here

Luminair Amsterdam Essential Info

Luminair Amsterdam Opening Hours Open to the public daily: 11:00-00:00 (Sun-Tue), 11:00-01:00 (Wed), 11:00-02:00 (Thu),11:00-03:00 (Fri-Sat).
Luminair Amsterdam Location Luminair is located on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Central. It is accessible by lift from the hotel lobby, press for floor 11 marked Luminair-Eclipse. From the south (city) side of Amsterdam Central station look east and you can see the large grey Doubletree hotel building. Walk in an easterly direction on Stationsplein beyond the A side trams, cross the bridge and continue to the south-eastern side of the building where you will find the hotel entrance and lobby. The 400m walk should take around 5 mins. For those coming by car there is the nearby Parking Centrum Oosterdok which offers reasonable advance parking rates.
Luminair Amsterdam Address / Contact Luminair, DoubleTree by Hilton, Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK Amsterdam T: +31(0)20 530 0875, reservations@luminairamsterdam.com

Last update 20 January 2025, originally published in 2013.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Luminair Amsterdam – Panoramic Rooftop Bar appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

You can reach the café (3rd floor) from inside the shopping centre by special glass lift (elevator) or stairs. At around 30m high, it offers a good panorama of central Amsterdam.

Blue Amsterdam has a stylish interior with floor-to-ceiling glass windows giving 360° panoramic views of the surrounding area including the nearby Amsterdam Flower Market.

You will also see glimpses of some of Amsterdam’s main buildings including Rijksmuseum, Royal Palace and Westerkerk.

Blue is open for late breakfast, lunch and early dinner. It has a decent menu selling a wide variety of food/drinks at reasonable prices. This includes a good range of sandwiches (MAMA organic bread), soups, salads and burgers.

The drinks menu includes hot/cold beverages and alcoholic drinks.

Blue Amsterdam is a great spot to have lunch and enjoy the view. It has become quite a popular spot, so get there just before lunchtime to secure a good table. Or make a reservation online in advance.

Of similar interest, Luminair is a high-end rooftop bar in Amsterdam.

Blue Amsterdam Essential Info

Last update 25 September 2024, originally published in 2010.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Blue Amsterdam – Café with Panorama appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.