Amstelhaven: the Large Deck Terrace out over the Amstel

Amstelhaven sits on the Amstel by the Mauritskade, where the river is wide and open just before it reaches the ring. Its terrace is the point: a large deck built out over the water, among the biggest in the city that actually sits on the river rather than beside it. From the tables the view runs straight down the Amstel, and rowing boats, sloops and the occasional larger vessel pass close by through the afternoon.

It is a relaxed bar-restaurant rather than a formal one, serving sandwiches, salads and pub fare with vegan options, and it is built around the terrace and the weather. It is also one of the most boat-friendly places on this list: there is room to moor along the deck, so you can tie up and step straight to a table, or in some cases order and eat on the boat itself.

Where it is on the Amstel

The stretch of the Amstel by the Mauritskade is one of the widest and most open in the city, which is why the terrace works: there is room for the deck to reach out and still leave the river clear. It is a short way east of the centre, close to the ring but with the open feel of the river rather than the narrow central canals. It shares the Amstel with Cafe Hesp a little downstream, and both feature in the waterside cafes and bars roundup.

Getting there, by boat or on foot

On foot or by tram it is an easy trip out from the centre to the Mauritskade. By boat it is one of the better places to aim for: the Amstel here is wide and calmer than the busy central canals, and there is space to moor at the deck. Even so, the good spots go early on warm days, so have a fallback in mind. The guide to getting around Amsterdam by boat covers the run up the Amstel, and the boating rules and etiquette cover mooring and the alcohol limits for whoever is at the tiller.

What to expect on the deck

Expect a big, easygoing terrace built for sunny days, with a straightforward menu and a bar, and a crowd that spreads out along the deck over the water. It leans hard on the weather, so opening can vary with the season and the forecast, and in high summer the terrace fills fast. There are quieter evenings with open-mic and music, too. Because it depends so much on the weather and the season, it is worth checking ahead before making a special trip rather than counting on it being open.

Amstelhaven and the canal events

The Amstel is one of the classic stretches for watching the canal events, wide, open and lined with quays, and Amstelhaven sits right on it. For the Canal Parade especially, the river is a traditional part of the picture, and a deck out over the water is about as good a vantage point as a terrace gets, though it will be busy and the best spots go well ahead. The guide on where to watch the Canal Parade covers the river stretches, and the events map and calendar shows the wider calendar.

The Amstel as a route

Part of what makes Amstelhaven worth the short trip is the river it sits on. The Amstel is the old waterway the city grew along, wider and more open than the ring of central canals, and the run up to the terrace is one of the better short boat trips in Amsterdam. Heading in toward the centre, the river narrows and passes some of the best-known bridges in the city before it feeds into the canal ring; heading the other way it opens out toward the greener edges of town. That makes the terrace a natural stop on a day on the water rather than just a destination in itself: an hour on the deck, then on up or down the river. For anyone hiring a boat, it is an easy landmark to aim for, and the wide water here is far less nerve-wracking for a first outing than the tight central canals. The guide to renting a boat covers where to start, and the wide Amstel is a good place to find your feet at the tiller. Even without a boat, the walk or ride out along the river is a pleasant way to reach the terrace.