De Ceuvel (For Generator Hostels)

De Ceuvel

You’re on a trip. A new place, a new city. Sitting on a bench you create your plan of action while watching locals passing by. Some friends back home told you about a couple hotspots. It turns out, that at the end of the street there is a bar they recommended, and there is even a park 200 meters away where a lot of tourists seem to go.

It feels safe, because everybody recommends it, but at the same time adventurous since you haven’t been there before. As a backpacker, I recognize this feeling.

But as a resident of Amsterdam, I would recommend to the same backpacker: avoid that crowded square or that too expensive restaurant where they sell ‘local’ food. From a resident point of view, I challenge you to look beyond the cliché type historical places and coffee shops. Dare to go out of the city centre to explore the many other beautiful, and sometimes hidden, places Amsterdam has to offer. Can you imagine the astonished faces when you tell your friends you have not been to the red lights district or the Anne Frank Museum?  It’s as if you were telling them you’ve been to Rome without eating pizza.  No, this time you will tell them something maybe no other backpacker knew about. You my friend, on the other hand, will get a taste of the real Amsterdam.

Of course, it might be hard to just go into a random direction when you don’t know a city that well. It takes some courage. As a matter of fact, you could end up walking in circles in a suburb, or in the worst case, doing the one thing you planned on not doing - following the crowd to the local attractions. So, I’ll give you a good tip off by telling you about one of my favourite spots in Amsterdam, from a local to a traveller…

De Ceuvel. De Ceuvel is not located in the city centre but the travel time is definitely worth it. If you take the ferry from the central station of Amsterdam, you’ll get there in 15 minutes. On your way there, you will first encounter a few sketchy garages.  But, at the end of the street; the worn wooden sign will warmly welcome you in.  De Ceuvel has different areas within and one is a café built out of 80 year old wooden beams coming from the original Amsterdam harbour!

On another note, the Dutch don’t only ride bikes because we like it, we also like trying to slow down the disastrous effects of global warming.  Café de Ceuvel believes in the same ideology and attempts to be a sustainable café which makes sustainability accessible in a creative way.  The first time I came to this completely unique place, I was immediately in love with it.  They use food from leftovers from the local markets and from their own gardens to make a delicious meal.  An employee told me they like to make sure that every plate with food, and every drink that they serve, makes a positive impact somewhere else.  Even though sometimes it can be quite busy during the summer, the ambiance is relaxed and even makes one a bit nostalgic.  It reminds me of playing in the dirt and building huts when I was younger.  I promise that you won’t be bored even if you spend your whole day at De Ceuvel. 

Walk around and you’ll feel like you are on a little adventure, seeing all of the old boats and gardens surrounding the area.  They offer different workshops, varying from dancing to brewing your own beer.  And for the people who are not that interested in sustainability; the Ceuvel hosts awesome parties (on boats!!). So next time, when you are in Amsterdam, come and check out this utopian wonderland hidden in the north of the city, and you’ll know for sure - you’ve had an authentic taste of Amsterdam.