VOC Café, Amsterdam

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The VOC-cafe is housed in the Schreierstoren, located opposite the Central Station (SE-side). The toren itself was constructed in 1487.

It's a bar in an historic setting with some backrooms and a basement for a more private get together.

This was the ideal starting point for our Feb 22 2003 VT-meeting (and a later one as well).

Favorite Dish: Just had a nice lemon tea here.

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Okay, this place isn't just historic, it's very historic!

The VOC Cafe is located in Amsterdam's oldest defense tower, the Schreierstoren, or tower of tears. It was owned by the Dutch East India Company (hence the initials). The trading company would post on a outside wall the name of any men "lost at sea"; when their wives would see their names and realize that they were suddenly impoverished widows, it was only a short stroll for them to the main prostitution center of the city where they could begin their new lives!

No weeping here today. I've read that while the exterior of the tower is more or less original, the interior is defintion "faux history." Oh well, it's still a pleasant (and non-commercial) space in the center of the city.

Peter Jan took us to this wonderful local Dutch restaurant...I can't for the life of me remember the name of this place. It was right off Dam Square, behind the Bijenkorf.

Favorite Dish: Mmmmm, the delicious apple pie!!

We had coffee before we started to explore the city.
This is the view towards the back room where we sat.