While Dutchies may start the day with havermout (oatmeal), hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) on buttered toast, or ontbijtkoeken (a gingerbread-like cake), Amsterdam offers many options for hearty breakfast fare. Numerous restaurants offer all-day brunch menus. Some take reservations, others have a first-come, first-served policy that can entail a wait if you arrive on a weekend at a popular time.

On most menus, you’ll find the usual suspects: eggs served poached, scrambled, fried and Benedict-style, with smoked salmon, bacon or sausage. Many include American pancakes—thicker and fluffier than pannekoken, their Dutch counterparts, which are typically eaten for lunch or dinner in the Netherlands.

As brunch has gained popularity in Amsterdam, some restaurants are taking a global approach with culinary classics like American chicken and waffles, Israeli Shakshuka and Mexican Huevos Rancheros. Alas, like many restaurants in the Dutch capital, brunch venues tend to be small, with dubious acoustics and mediocre service. So adjust your expectations, add a few Bloody Marys and Mimosas to the mix, and you have a recipe for an gezellig experience.

Little Collins: Brunch with an Aussie Twist

One of Amsterdam’s most popular brunch spots takes its name from Melbourne’s upscale Little Collins Street. But you don’t need a trip to Australia to enjoy its cuisine; at Little Collins, one look at the menu might make you feel like you’re Down Under. From kimchi-gruyere scramble to fava bean hummus and black bean mole with feta and corn salsa, you’ll find dishes offered nowhere else in Amsterdam. Take your chances on seating as the restaurant serves walk-ins only.

For less adventurous eaters, Little Collins offers classic breakfast dishes like Peach Brioche Toast with lemon curd and Apple Crumble Porridge topped with rhubarb compote.

Bakers & Roasters: New Zealand Meets Brazil

One of the first venues to take brunch seriously in Amsterdam has a backstory as sweet as its cakes: after falling for each other on a night out in West Hollywood, CA, a Kiwi lad and a Brazilian boy conceived a restaurant that would blend their culinary cultures. The result is a New Zealand-style café serving classic brunch fare with spicy Central and South American accents.

Two B&R locations — in De Pijp and on Kadijksplein in Centrum — are open seven days a week from 8:30am. Neither takes reservations, so arrive before noon if you expect to get a seat without a wait, especially on weekends. On sunny days, the restaurant on Kadijksplein is especially popular, with its large terrace, perfect for soaking up Amsterdam’s rare sun over a “Kiwi Brekkie” or stack of pancakes.

Both venues offer seasonal menus, with traditional egg dishes alongside unexpected creations like Navajo Eggs, served with pulled pork, avocado, mango salsa and chipotle cream. Granola and fruit bowls, salads, sandwiches, and an array of cakes baked on-site round out the food selections. A cocktail menu includes boozy milkshakes and a caipirinha made with passion fruit puree.

Staring at Jacob: A Big Apple Brunch

Taking its cues from the Big Apple, this New York-style brunch bar in Amsterdam’s Oud-West serves brunch fare in portions more typically found on the other side of the pond. Open daily except Wednesdays from 9:30am-4pm, the canal-side venue is popular with locals, who come for hearty comfort food. Staring at Jacob takes reservations and you’ll be wise to make one if you aim to get a seat without a wait.

The stars of the show include the Rosco, an unlikely combination of fried chicken, buttermilk waffles and scrambled eggs. For a healthier option, try the Mighty Vegan, mound of tofu scrambled with portobello mushrooms. If you’re wondering about this café’s curious name, check out its address for a clue.

Dignita: Eat Well, Do Good

Inventive brunch dishes are just part of the story at Dignita Hoftuin in Amsterdam Zuid and Dignita Vondelpark in the Museum District. Both are part of a social enterprise backed by the Dignita Foundation that helps vulnerable individuals find a new lease on life through job training and work experience. 

Through programs ranging from kitchen techniques to barista courses, nail styling and administration, trainees can pursue paid employment in the Netherlands or their country of origin. All profits from both restaurants are used for the training programs.

Greenwoods Singel: Quintessentially British

Since 1988, Greenwoods has been serving hearty brunch and lunch fare on a pretty canal in the Jordaan, not far from the Anne Frank House and Dam Square. Start your day as the Brits do, with a Full English Breakfast guaranteed to satisfy all but the most voracious appetites. 

If the weather is nice, try to grab a seat on the small outside terrace, where you can watch the world roll by. The restaurant does not take reservations but welcomes guests to sign up at the door when they pass by.

The Breakfast Club: Breakfast All Day, Everyday

With locations throughout Amsterdam, The Breakfast Club has your cravings for eggs, pancakes, cereals and sandwiches covered. Open daily from 8am, all locations offer all-day “City Breakfasts” from around the world: Mexican Huevos Rancheros, a full English fry-up, and an all-American stack of buttermilk pancakes slathered with berries and honeycomb butter.

Meat-eaters can tuck into the Breakfast Burger topped with bacon, cheese, pickles and a fried egg, or the Breakfast Club Sandwich with pulled chicken and bacon. Other typical lunch fare includes grilled cheese sandwiches, avocado toast, and fish tacos.

Miss G’s Brunch Boat: A Boozy Brunch

Combine brunch with a canal cruise on Miss G’s Brunch Boat, a heated craft with a retractable roof that sails every weekend, rain or shine. The 90-minute adventures have no fixed route, so you’ll never know what you’ll see as the boat “goes with the flow” along Amsterdam’s canals and the IJ. Opt for a bottomless brunch to keep the drinks flowing or a regular ticket to enjoy a brunch dish paired with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink.

Florya: Off-the-Beaten-Path Turkish Delight

Located about 20 minutes west of Amsterdam’s historic center by tram, Florya’s sleek glass exterior casts shimmering reflections over a quiet canal in Amsterdam’s multicultural Bos en Lommer District.

For less than €20, fill your plate with soups, salads, cheeses, traditional Turkish grill and pan dishes, and desserts. And don’t be shy – no one cares if you visit the buffet multiple times over two hours. You may not recognize all the dishes, but you’re bound to find something you like. 

There’s a spacious terrace for outdoor dining and a lounge warmed by a fireplace. Wherever you sit, the views are spectacular and the ambiance is serene. The breakfast buffet is served daily from 8am-2pm; Sundays until 3pm.  

Hungry Yet?

With so many options for a satisfying brunch in Amsterdam, the yolks on you if you settle for coffee and a croissant to fueI up for the day. Instead, grab a friend and linger over your favorite egg dish, pancakes, or an international breakfast classic at any of the city’s brunch venues.