At these spots in Amsterdam, you can still find vlammetjes on the menu

The hospitality industry is finally open again, and I’ve immediately fallen back into my old, familiar—but bad—routine: snacks for dinner. Especially on Friday afternoon and/or evening. Then you’re so euphoric that the working week is over, and in this case that we can celebrate it in the hospitality industry, that I don’t want a plate of food in front of me at all.

No, I want deep-fried food. Haute friture is on the menu on Friday night. And maybe a tasty sandwich with dip. But because I’ve taken this ritual so seriously over the years, I’m tired of bitterballen and cheese sticks. So I’m very happy when places have a snack menu that’s just a little different. Like Venster 33, where they serve tatsuta—divine. But unfortunately, there’s one snack I see on menus far too rarely…

Where have all the vlammetjes gone?!

And that is, of course, the vlammetje. Such a classic deep-fried snack, yet I see it gradually disappearing. And I genuinely think that’s a shame. Sure, it may not be for everyone; it can be seriously spicy. But vlammetjes are moving with the times too, because these days vegetarian and even vegan versions are available—and I genuinely love those as well. Whenever I see them on the menu, I have to order them. Recognize yourself? Then go for drinks and snacks at one of the following hotspots in Amsterdam.

1. Café Kuyl

I discovered this place fairly recently and was pleasantly surprised. Now, I don’t often voluntarily go to Rembrandtplein, but that’s about to change; they also host a really fun burger, beer and bingo night here on the second Wednesday of every month. The entire snack menu is worth checking out (the platters are absolutely gi-normous), but they also have old-school vlammetjes on the menu, which makes me very happy.

2. Café Hoppe

I think this is a really fun and cozy pub anyway, with an old-fashioned snack menu that makes me incredibly happy. Because besides cheese sticks, they also serve little meatballs as a snack—and those just happen to be another favorite of mine. They get a 10+.

3. Café Koosje

Okay, so far there’s a pretty clear trend among the places that still sell vlammetjes: they’re all brown cafés that call themselves cafés. But hey, you won’t hear me complaining. Certainly not at Café Koosje near Plantage Middenlaan, because they have both regular vlammetjes and vegetarian vlammetjes. Extra points for you.

4. Louis Davids

Before corona, I used to come here fairly regularly. It’s a really fun and still fairly undiscovered place at the end of Rijnstraat, and incredibly cozy. Apparently, they now also have a new location near Schinkelstraat, by the way, but I haven’t been there yet. Anyway, vlammetjes are on the menu at both locations, so they’ll be seeing me again soon.

5. Café Kiebêrt

Wow, I’ve spent many a Friday and Saturday night here on the terrace. And I genuinely think I’ve actually ordered a main course here maybe twice, and I can’t remember whether I liked it or not. So it clearly didn’t make much of an impression, but the vlammetjes (which they call ‘flames’ here, love it, super international) were always on the table.

6. Café Kuijper

One of the nicest and coziest hotspots in Oost, if you ask me. Another cozy brown café where vlammetjes proudly feature on the menu. Extra points, by the way, for the portion of mini frikandelletjes that’s also on offer. Just a menu full of all the old-fashioned snacks. As it should be. You can even order a large frikandel speciaal.

7. TapZuid

I think every beer lover knows this place, on Maasstraat (I’m manifesting that I’ll buy a house here one day, so there you go: this is my future address). With Gebrouwen door Vrouwen on tap (GinWeizen), plus a portion of vlammetjes. Okay, and the flammkuchen too—because those are excellent here as well.

8. Café Thuys

Okay, but this snack menu is really great. Besides those delicious vlammetjes, they also have cheese and arugula croquettes, chicken wings, and meatballs with satay sauce and mayonnaise. Yes, sorry—but surely you’re not going to have dinner anymore if you already have all this deliciousness with your drinks?

I’m going to visit all these places again for a proper Vlammetjes On Tour evening. What I do notice is that it’s mainly brown cafés that are keeping the vlammetje alive—where are the hip places? Is the vlammetje not good enough for you? Pff.

Also read:

• You’ll want this: Lidl is launching a vlammetjes bapao from TopKing
• Be warned: these were the grossest snacks of 2020, according to Snackspert
• An ode to the Vlamtosti

Image: TapZuid