On Thursday 27th of April the restaurant is closed because of Kingsday.

The sun is shining, but unfortunately our terrace is not summer ready yet!
When we open the big doors to the terrace it gets very cold inside, so we carefully choose the days we open the terrace.
You can always call on the day itself to check if outside is open.
Reservations for the terrace are not possible, but we do have a lot of tables.


We are very happy with all the guests who visit us so enthusiastically. It is very busy, and that is why our kitchen will close at 22:00 in the near future. You can order desserts until 23:00. Hopefully our cooks won’t be making those crazy long shifts anymore. The kitchen is also closed between 15:00 and 17:00 so that the chefs have time to prepare for the evening. We hope you understand these changes!

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in our restaurant. They should be under the table to prevent tripping.
If the dog is too big to lie under the table, we will give you a spot where there is no through walking route.

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MENU

Click on the links above to view the menus.

Open all week from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM. On Friday and Saturday until 1:00 AM. Kitchen open 11:30 AM until 10:30 PM. Fridays and Saturdays until 11:30 PM.

 

RESERVATIONS

Café-Restaurant Amsterdam Watertorenplein 6 1051 PA Amsterdam 003120-68 22 666/667 info@cradam.nl KvK Nr Amsterdam 33282427

Open: every day from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM, Fridays and Saturdays until 1:00 AM.

Kitchen open: every day from 11:30 AM until 10:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays until 11:30 PM.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION

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HISTORY

1897: A new century was beckoning, an industrial revolution was rageing, factories were shooting up everywhere. In Amsterdam the first brick was layed for the Pumping Station. Ever since 1851, the Dune-water company had provided the people of Amsterdam with fresh drinking water from the dunes at Vogelenzang. Through 23 kilometers of cast iron piping, it was pumped into the city where it could be bought outside the Willemspoort at one cent per bucket. Forseeing an imminent increase in water- consumption (in which case the capacity of Vogelenzang would prove insufficient), manager J. van Hasselt had plans drawn up for a new pumping station in Amsterdam. In 1897, construction was started, and as early as 1900, the Pumping Station Haarlemmerweg went into operation.

Behind the main building there were four underground reservoirs, each holding about 10,000 cubic metres of dune water. This water could be forced into the city through huge pipes in the cellar and the old watertower by four pumps in the engine room (now the restaurant). Initially these pumps were steam-powered, the boiler being housed in the octagonal building in front of the station, but in 1940, the Pumping Station went electric. Pumps now ran on electricity, supplied by the powercompany. Two large diesel engines replaced the old steam turbines, but were only used in case of serious or prolonged power failure.

The spectacular engine room was renowned and people from everywhere came to see it. In 1941, a technical magazine spoke of “a well filled, symmetrical engine room that made a grand impression on the visitor and could be considered to be a jewel for the city of Amsterdam.” The Pumping Station was kept operational until 1996, when City Water Works moved to a new location just down the road on the Van Slingelandtstraat. This new station has its waterreservoirs above ground, but retains a more or less similar set-up: five (instead of four) pumps and two electric motors. The impressive white watertower was built in 1960 and is still in use. However, and contrary to popular believe, not to retain waterpressure (this is done by the pumps). Instead, this tweny meters high water-column serves as buffer (in case of pressure shocks) and water reserve.

In the eighties, when it became trendy to convert vacated and restored ninteenth century industrial buildings into museums, theaters, restaurants, studios, offices and appartments, Westerpark City Council decided that a restored Pumping Station was to become the heart of a new car-free eco-area built in the former watercompany grounds. And so, on december 20th, 1996, café-restaurant Amsterdam, situated in the old engine room, opened its doors to the public. The remaining space has been conferted into offices and a gym. When the new occupants moved in, they encountered an engine room so well-maintanied by its former employees that not even the fish decoration over the waterfountain needed repainting. Although old control panels and three pumps did have to make way for a kitchen, bars, tables and chairs, everything else was left intact. Of the two majestic diesel engines, one found a new home at the Energeticamuseum. (Sorry to tell you the museum closed in 2007, lack of money.) Its companion still stands where it has for the past sixty-odd years, waiting to be admired in all its glory by those who visit café-restaurant Amsterdam. Lighting is provided by twentytwo original floodlights from Amsterdam’s two legendary soccerstadiums: the old Ajax-stadium and the Olympic Stadium.

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CONTACT

Café-Restaurant Amsterdam Watertorenplein 6 1051 PA Amsterdam 020-6822 666 Instagram

OPEN

Every day from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM, Fridays and Saturdays until 1:00 AM.

Kitchen open: every day from 11:30 AM until 10:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays until 11:30 PM.

HOW TO GET THERE

Public transport: bus 21, bus 748 (night bus) and tram 5 stop very nearby (100 meters). Travel directions: click here.

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