October 19, 2022, by Maartje

10 x Eating mussels in Amsterdam (and a little beyond)

October 19, 2022, by Maartje

10 x Eating mussels in Amsterdam (and a little beyond)

And... Mussel season is ON! For a while now, in fact, because although in the Netherlands it is usually said that you 'Mussels eat when the R is in the month', the mussel season starts in August, especially if the weather is (has been) warm. And lord knows May you wake us up for a full pan of good mussels. Have a beer or wine on the side and it's party time. Make it yourself? Good idea: check the recipe for the tastiest home version below. And furthermore, just join one of these: Eating mussels 10 times in Amsterdam (and a little further afield).

Tasting room A. van Wees, Amsterdam center

Aaah, we are a bit like Proeflokaal A van Wees, the classic Amsterdam café in the heart of the city, in the Jordaan, around the corner from the 9 streets. You can say Van Wees. You've cycled past it a billion times and the next time you stop. Promise. At the tasting room - which stands for tasting equally authentic Amsterdam liqueurs and jenever - you can also drink a very nice beer (or wine) and eat the tastiest mussels (prepared in Spanish style). Place the pan in the middle and share. Served with fries, bread with herb butter and homemade sauces.

Mussel & Gin, Westerpark

Duh. In the Westerpark. Party. Always.

The Swan

Eating mussels always feels a bit different oldskool and man oh man we love it oldskool. So we also go to an old-school and oh so atmospheric restaurant. We prefer to say that we are regulars at 't Zwaantje in the Amsterdam Jordaan. That is not true, we taste too much in the city for that. But we want to and we like to go there! Especially in the small hours, chatting and babbling, but also for a pan of mussels the old-fashioned café does it more than prrrrima. In the Nine Streets, mind you, nice and central. If you are looking for us… 't Zwaantje

Fishing

At it different from any other fish restaurant Pesca on the Rozengracht you first order what you want to eat at the fish market, then you sit down at the table. We ate really delicious mussels, the recipe of which can be found at the bottom of this article. You can read more about Pesca here: Pesca Amsterdam

The Seafood Bar

A little 'duh' is also in order here. Although the restaurant has now almost become a mini-chain with three locations in Amsterdam (just like 'commercial', not a dirty word at all, if done well and that is absolutely the case at The Seafood Bar). The Seafood Bar is owned by a fishmonger called De Visscher, and the head sommelier chose to put Ruinart champagne by the glass on the menu, for a very reasonable price. And he saw that it was good. The Seafood Bar

Pont 13, Houthavens

Popular on summer days (one of the best spots in the city, for years) but you should also head towards Pont 13 on the remote (but increasingly less remote thanks to the booming Houthavens) Haparadam cycling in bad weather, when it is cozy inside. By the way, you will also find Remeiland restaurant (unjustly underrated) across the street. The mussels used to be standard on the menu at Pont 13, but nowadays they depend on purchasing and the season, so they were not available for a while: our apologies! But hey, it's still crazy. Read more: 13 bridge

Fishbar MONK, Haarlem

It takes you fifteen minutes to travel from Amsterdam, but then you also have something: Fishbar MONK on the Spaarne in Haarlem is and remains a gem. You can also go that way for mussels.

CLUB Zand, Castricum

We will come again, with our love for Club Zand in Castricum. However, we enjoyed the mussels here this summer, so we would be crazy not to mention them, wouldn't we? Moreover, Club Zand is open all year round, so even if it rains you can still enjoy the sun over your pan!

Bistro Beret on the Amstel

Mussels and cockles at their very best in Amsterdam “whenever you feel like it. You can almost taste the wonderful taste of the sea in your mouth,” writes Bistro Baret on its website. Admittedly: Bistro Baret is such a place in the shelter that you often forget, but where it is very nice, good and always hospitable and cozy.

Here the mussels undergo special preparation, so that they taste even better. Prepared in a classic way or with a touch of extra from international cuisine. There is plenty to choose from when you come and eat mussels with us in Amsterdam. As a starter or as a main course. We like.

Zeeland mussels

Ok, okay… You actually have to go to Zeeland for the best mussels in the country. A selection of our favorites in that province? Voila:

Yerseke
Lesson on Dutch mussels: mussels originally come from Yerseke. You will find the only mussel auction in the world and wherever you go in the village, there is good mussel food everywhere. Where? Bee the corner in the center of Yerseke for example, at The Oystery, at 't Kaaigat where you have a beautiful view over the Oosterschelde, which also applies to the Viskêête. Oh, and also The Scheldt is highly recommended, and Oyster pit 14, above the oyster pits of Yerseke.

Philippine
It may not mean anything to 'Dutch', the town of Philippine in Zeeland. But Zeelanders, and Belgians, know that you have to go here for the best mussels from Yerseke. To restaurant Auberge des Moules to be precise. And previously to the Au Port restaurant, which was a regular occurrence for a long time. But that last restaurant is no more, unfortunately. Good news though: a few days ago it was announced that a luxury hotel will be built on the site of Au Port (there aren't that many in Zeeland yet, so that's something to celebrate), run by the people of Auberge des Moules. No mussels on the agenda, but an oyster and seafood bar. Everything should be ready in the summer of 2018.

Westkapelle
If possible, rent a house on Nollenstrand. From there you can walk straight into Vlissingen where you arrive The Fisherman's Harbor spicy mussels or cooked mussels with garlic, Zeeland bacon and crème fraîche. Although you can also linger at the bottom of the dike, especially at the Zeeuws Mosselhuis. What's in a name. A beautiful location where, surprise, the tastiest wines are also served. Zeeland Mussel House

Domburg
A favorite of many and a classic in the province is De Visbar in Domburg. And that is not without reason. Start your evening with bubbles and oysters from the 'front garden' and let the waiter bring you a tasting. Visbar Domburg

Blankenberge
Just cross the border and you are in Blankenberge. Once there you have to go to De Oesterput: mussel experts agree that this is one of the best mussel addresses on the Belgian coast. In the Oesterput you sit at long tables, housed in the warehouse of a former seafood wholesaler. The Oyster Pit

Recipes: Mussels according to Pesca restaurant

10 x Eating mussels in Amsterdam (and a little beyond)

10 x Eating mussels in Amsterdam (and a little beyond)

Tasting room A. van Wees, Amsterdam center