I think I might have nipped in for a beer once, but that was years ago. I've walked past it a lot recently and noticed adverts for Jopen beer. Definitely a step up from what they used to sell, which I think was mostly Heineken stuff. Though a glance at the beer list suggests there's still some sort of Heineken tie, what with both Amstel and Affligem present.
But the improved beer list wasn't really what prompted me to stop by. It was the trees. We've been having some unseasonably warm, sunny days (you don't expect that during a Dutch summer) and Schinkelhaven has a lovely terrace where you can sit in the shade of mature trees. Not something that's very common in Amsterdam. It reminded me a bit of Franconia. Well, other than the bike motorway along one side and the main road along another.
I arranged to meet Mike there for a Saturday afternoon beer or two. We got a table outside so all was good. And some beers, obviously. One word of warning. This is one of a growing number of places that doesn't accept cash. It's the same at brewpub chain Troost. No biggie for me, but could be tricky for some foreigners, if you don't have the right type of card.
The prices aren't that scary for current Amsterdam - around €4.50 for a glass or bottle of the posher beers. Which tells you just how ridiculous the prices here have become.
Schinkelhaven is located right at the back end of Vondel Park. Making a nice little outing if you've taken your life into your hands and rented a bike. Every time I go into town I see tourists teetering uncertainly on bikes, seemingly unaware of the dangers of cycling in the city centre. Especially if you've fuck all clue about the rules and road markings. I dread to thing how many tourists have horrible accidents on bikes. Dolores won't cycle in the centre: "Far too dangerous, Ronald." At least if you ride through the park there aren't any cars.
Café Schinkelhaven
Amstelveenseweg 126
Tel: +31 20 6719509
email: info@cafeschinkelhaven.nl
www.cafeschinkelhaven.nl
Sun - Thur 11:00 - 01:00
Fri - Sat 11:00 - 03:00
Draught beers:
Amstel Pils
Edelweiss
Vedett IPA
Brugse Zot Blond
Affligem Dubbel
Ij Zatte
La Trappe Isid'or
a Jopen beer
20 bottled beers
I have cycled in places far less friendly to cycles than amsterdam
ReplyDeleteBut its safer to hop on a tram/metro after a few too many drinkies...
Is the no cash due to counterfeit bills? Maybe the EU should update their notes to something a little more progressive/less copyable.
But then I went to Brouwerij de Prael and they didn't want anything other than cash...
The no-cash policy has nothing to do with the currency. Rather, the absence of cash is a powerful deterrent to burglaries. It is also that over 53 percent of transactions nationally are now done via a card rather than cash. That percentage is growing rapidly.
ReplyDelete