When in Amsterdam forget Mcdonalds and Burger King. Instead try out the vast range of delectable Dutch food available.
From Kibbeling (cubes of hot steaming battered fish which will have your tastebuds singing on a cold winters day) to delicious crispy Frites (legendary french fries smothered with creamy mayonnaise or ketchup served in a cone) which is sure to never let you look at the humble french fry the same way again. Both of these can be found in every corner in central Amsterdam.
Halal Food Options:
Artisani was our favorite go-to spot for delicious, thick home-made patty burgers, the perfect seasoned frites, huge, scrumptious hotdogs and tart, freshly made strawberry lemonade. The restaurant has a concept and taste similar to Shake shack.
Artisani is located in Osdorp Area (Tussen Meer 58-A)
Simit sarayi situated on Kinkerstraat boasts a large range of Turkish light food options and is a delectable halal breakfast option.
Piri Reis grand cafè is an authentic Turkish grand restaurant located next to Westermoskee Aya Sofya mosque which can be found off Kinkerstraat on Baarsjesweg road.
This hidden Turkish gem transports you back to Istanbul. Serving delicious food in a Turkish ambiance. Dont forget to try the cheesecake!
Infinity Kitchen is a smart restaurant serving finger-licking Moroccan influenced grills and Surinamese inspired cuisine. Also located on Kinkerstraat.
Istanbul restaurant near centraal station serves delicious Turkish food and is very conveniently located.
Meram restaurants are scattered all over Amsterdam and have a huge selection of Middle Eastern dishes on offer. They do not lie within the central Amsterdam area but one can easily reach them via metro.
Zohour lunchroom is a beautiful restaurant which serves delicious burgers, sandwiches and brownies.
Filled with smart Muslim ladies who love to lunch, they are located out of the main tourist area but can be reached easily by metro and a 10 minute walk. They are not open for dinner.
All the above restaurants do not serve alcohol and are muslim owned.
Amsterdam offers many Middle Eastern doner kebaab take aways in central Amsterdam with big halal signs outside.
For those of us with a sweet tooth, Amsterdam is a pure sugar heaven.
(I have not found any muslim-owned eatery that caters for the below dutch desserts.)
No Dutch experience is complete without ending off a meal with freshly made, melt-in-your-mouth, crispy stroopwaffels (Dutch waffle biscuit with slathered caramel between two biscuits) or fluffy Dutch poffertjies (mini crumpets) drizzled with melted butter and showered in icing sugar!
Albert cuyp market is your number 1 go-to place for cheap souvenirs and freshly made stroopwaffels.
After the carb and sugar overload, you can walk it off around the affordable Albert Cuyp markets and buy all your presents to take back home.
At the end of Albert Cuyp market (near McDonalds) is a halal family run butcher ISLAMITISCHE SLAGERIJ BADES operated by a father and son team who love what they do, serving fresh quality halal meat that is very reasonably priced.
Many eclectic spots exist in every corner of Amsterdam to relax, enjoy a latte, a slice of cake and free wifi. One of my favourites was Macaron by RJA on utrechtstraat 18a. The Ispahan is what dreams are made of. Luscious cream with a hint of rose water and bits of litchis betweem two perfect macarons (not muslim owned).
Amsterdam can be expensive when it comes to eating out. Supermarket prices are very reasonable but eating out can sometimes strain the wallet. There is a popular breakfast concept in Netherlands. Cheap affordable breakfast with good quality food can be found all over Netherlands at stores such as Hema, Ikea and laPlace (please note that they are not halal certified). They are very particular on what time the breakfast ends and won’t allow substitutions, but offer hearty tasty and cheap breakfast buffets.
Popular souvenirs:
And of course you can’t return home without shopping for some cute souvenirs for friends and family. Popular gift items include dtroopwaffels in a tin with dutch pictures, anything with an image of a tulip, as well as pens and fridge magnets.
Supermarkets like ALBERT HEIN are full of affordable stroopwaffels, biscuits and chocolates with Amsterdam signage on it, which are perfect for lightweight and delicious gifts.
Need to find a peaceful spot in the middle of the city with a spectacular view?
The sky lounge at the rooftop of the Double tree in the heart of Amsterdam next to centraal station is simply amazing. Although pricey (€7.50 for a Refillable Latte and some mini desserts), the views are unparalleled . (They do also have a bar at this premises).
For free beautiful views visit the beautiful OBA (public) library next door which is also a short stroll from the Centraal station.
The rooftop at the Nemo museum next door (one does not need to pay to enter the Nemo museum to enjoy the rooftop restaurant and views) is also a good choice.
All three options can be found within walking distance and next to the Centraal station.
If possible, plan your visit one hour before sunset.
Views from one of the above spots are on my must-see list to do in Amsterdam.
Mosques:
As over 14% of the population in Amsterdam is Muslim there are many mosques Alhamdulillah.
In 2010, there were 453 mosques in the Netherlands.
Here are some of my favorite mosques in Amsterdam:
Fätih Mosque
The former Jesuit church, in which the Fatih mosque is housed, is located on the Rozengracht.
The church was popularly known as De Zaaier (The Sower) and was completed in 1929. It served as a Catholic place of worship for over four decades. When the church closed its doors in 1971, it was used as a carpet store and then later a music store. The Turkish-Dutch mosque community purchased the property in 1981 and opened a mosque in 1982.
Intrestingly in Amsterdam alone, there are around six churches that have now been converted into mosques.
The style of this iconic building represents a modernized blend of gothic with the two front towers and a pointed arc. The interior is a room built from warm, yellow glazed brick.
With its beautiful stained glass windows and friendly congregation, the Fätih Mosque in Rozengracht is filled with a calming atmosphere and is one of the most beautiful mosques in Amsterdam.
I was touched when, after the Friday jumuah prayer, the old matriarchs of the mosque warmly embraced the strangers sitting amongst them. We all might have different nationalities, ethnicity and skin colour, but our faith makes us one.
The Fätih mosque is located near the Anne Frank museum and is a walking distance away from Dam square.
Westermoskee
This mosque is known in Turkish as Ayasofya Camii and known in English as Western Mosque.
Overlooking the canal, this serene and peaceful new mosque is definitely a must-see in Amsterdam.
It is situated on the bank of the canalized river Schinkel in the Chassébuurt in De Baarsjes in Amsterdam-West, just off Kinkerstraat.
It has a floor surface of 800 m² and up to 1700 people can pray salaah here, it is the largest mosque in the Netherlands.
Both mosques have women facilities.
In Schipol airport Amsterdam there is a meditation and multifaith prayer room.
Clean salaah facilities with fresh flowers, musallahs, burkahs and quraans are provided there.
It can be found in Schipol Airport Airline Departures section F.
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