Chez van Rijn

Parisian bistro swagger in art-nouveau De Kroon, the rare Rembrandtplein table locals actually book.

Rembrandtplein has spent decades perfecting the art of separating tourists from their money, which makes Chez van Rijn feel almost subversive. The Poppes family, square fixtures since the nineties, gutted their old Kitchen & Bar Van Rijn and reopened it in February 2026 inside De Kroon, the monumental corner built for Wilhelmina's coronation, now all crystal chandeliers, fringed lamps, tapestry walls and oxblood banquettes. The kitchen plays the French bistro standards straight: oysters at 4.50, oeuf mayonnaise at 5.50, chicken liver pate, escargots, moules frites in beurre blanc, and the signature steak frites with entrecote and house sauce at 24.50. Holtkamp supplies the croquettes, which in Amsterdam is a statement of intent. The stated mission is giving the square back to Amsterdammers, and the room is doing its part: DJs on Friday and Saturday, someone at the grand piano on Sundays, kitchen running from lunch through late. Early reviews land on warm service and honest cooking rather than fireworks, which is precisely the assignment. It is not the best French food in the city; it is easily the best reason to be on Rembrandtplein after dark.

Go Sunday for the grand piano, or early on Friday before the DJ takes over; the 5.50 oeuf mayonnaise is the smartest opener on the square.

Photo: Chez van Rijn

Photo: Chez van Rijn